Author Archives: Bodger

This afternoon.

Can this possibly end well?

British troops sent to Poland to assist with Belarus border situation (The Guardian)

Poland border: West condemns Belarus at UN over stranded migrants (BBC)

Getty

This morning.

This can only mean one thing.

They know their history?

No. The populist variant is mutating.

Via The Irish Times:

Surging Covid rates in some of Europe’s central and eastern states are demonstrating a worrying correlation between vaccine scepticism and populist politics.

The phenomenon is marked in the German-speaking states of Austria, Germany – particularly those parts which emerged from East Germany – and Switzerland, currently top of the European league of the unvaccinated.

All three are seeing surging Covid rates. More than 55 million Germans are fully vaccinated, but 22 per cent of adults remain unvaccinated, three times Irish levels.

And polls show a strong correlation between refusal to vaccinate and support for far-right parties like Alternativ für Deutschland and Austria’s Freedom Party….

Riiight.

The populist surge (Irish Times)

Graph: Financial Times

Here’s How.

The current affairs podcast presented by William Campbell (right) tackles covid scepticism.

It gets heavy!

William writes:

[Covid response critic] Norman Fenton (left) is a professor of mathematics at Queen Mary University of London; he regularly tweets about Covid 19 [challenging the official narrative and data], but do his sums add up? Hear us spar…

Listen Here

Here’s How

Gene Simmons of Kiss

For those fully jabbed.

He salutes you..

“If you’re willing to walk among us unvaccinated, you are an enemy. I don’t care about your political beliefs

“You are not allowed to infect anybody just because you think you’ve got rights that are delusional

“You don’t have the right to go through a red light — actually the government has the right to tell you to stop

“If they tell you you can’t smoke in a building, you can’t smoke in a building. And that’s not because they want to take away your rights — that’s because the rest of us hate it. We don’t want to smell your smoke.

“I don’t want to catch your disease. I don’t want to risk my life just because you want to go through a red light. This whole idea, this delusional, evil idea that you get to do whatever you want and the rest of the world be damned is really terrible.”

Gene Simmons, Kiss

Gulp.

That’s a lengthy tongue-lashing.

Any excuse.

Gene Simmons rips anti-vaxxers (The Hill)

Getty

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer

This morning/afternoon.

The National Public Health Emergency Team has recommended extending the use of Covid certificates to other areas outside of hospitality.

Via RTÉ News:

It is understood that NPHET does not specify where the certificates could be used, and any extension could require new legislation.

It is also understood that NPHET does not recommend the reimposition of social and economic restrictions for now, but warned that such a move cannot be ruled out in the future.

The recommendation was contained in a letter sent by NPHET to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly yesterday.

In it, NPHET also strongly advised the Government that people work from home, where possible, and that employers be supportive of the move.

NPHET recommends use of Covid certs beyond hospitality (RTE)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Bathgate, England, UK.

In fairness.

Thanks SOQ

Des Cahill

On Angela Scanlon’s Ask Me Anything…

… Maureen Catterson writes:

Fresh from her recent cinematic success with Deadly Cuts, and the lead role in Sunday night’s new drama on RTÉ One, Hidden Assets, Angeline Ball talks about how she started performing from an early and even starred on the Late Late Toy Show at 12 years of age….

After a very busy sporting summer, RTÉ sport presenter, Des Cahill tells Angela how it’s been an exciting time for him both professionally and personally. Home from covering the Olympics in Tokyo where ‘Daddy Des’ minded the Irish athletes and a busy GAA championship season…

Mayo actor and comedian, Stephen Mangan and Angela realise they’re actually related, even though it’s long-distance! Stephen who most known from his roles in Alan Partridge and Episodes, talks to Angela about his childhood, working with Ireland’s ‘favourite uncle’, Matt LeBlanc, and how the press created a feud between him and Megan Markle.

Angela Scanlon’s Ask Me Anything tomorrow on RTÉ One at 9:50pm.

RollingNews

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Tourism Imelda Munster TD

Yesterday.

Dail Eireann.

Sinn Féins Imelda Munster asked Catherine Martin, Minister for Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, about the policing of Vax passes and echoed the Social Democrats’ call for a snitch line.

Ms Munster said:

“We all welcome the reopening of hospitality, nightlife and entertainment, but I am sure the Minister will agree that the rise in the number of cases in recent weeks has been particularly stark.

We cannot blame this on any single sector but, clearly, the reopening of hospitality has had a part to play in that. We also cannot ignore that mask wearing requirements are very lax in nightclubs. People are exempt if they are dancing, but that is what one does in a nightclub. It is one thing if it is happening when everybody is fully vaccinated but some premises are not asking for Covid vaccine passes and in others, people are using passes that do not belong to them.

What is the Minister going to do about non-compliance? Has she made particular recommendations regarding non-compliance to ensure we curb the spread of Covid-19 and allow the reopening to continue?

Ms Munster added:

“What sanctions can non-compliant businesses in food and hospitality expect if they are not adhering? Regarding the percentage that is complying, the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, revealed last week that the percentage of people not having Covid certificates checked in pubs was 37%, which is quite high, and it was 34% in restaurants. That is quite serious given the way things are going.

“Again, what sanctions are there for businesses in food and hospitality that are non-compliant? Also, would the Minister support the call for a helpline for members of the public who do not feel safe in an environment where they see that Covid passes are not being checked or health guidelines are not being adhered to? Would she support that not only for patrons but also for workers in those environments.”

Minister Catherine Martin responded:

“Regarding the calls for a hotline, where a person has a concern that the requirements of the regulations are not being complied with, he or she may communicate this via the HSE live helpline on 1800 700700. It should be noted that anybody doing so would have to press number 3, which is the other issues category. It might be useful to tailor the helpline to allow members of the public to report specific instances in a more targeted manner. This is something we will communicate to the Department of Health, as the HSE is under the remit of that Department. It will a subject of discussion between officials in the Department of Health, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and my Department.

“Regarding what happens when there is non-compliance, the fines have been set out but, ultimately, there is the threat of closure. We are appealing to businesses that are not checking for certificates, because it is not fair to the other businesses and it is not fair for public health. For both reasons, to protect public health and to help the businesses that have been through such a tough time to keep their businesses open, everybody should abide by the rules.”

Tuesday: Get Snitching

RollingNews