Author Archives: Bodger

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan (top) and Taoiseach Micheál Martin (above) arrive for a cabinet meeting to sign off on the Government Climate Action plan which will…

…aim to have almost one million electric vehicles in operation in Ireland by 2030.

The plan going to Cabinet this morning seeks to chart a course for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 51% by the end of the decade.

It will identify the public service as a driver of change and all new vehicles purchased by the State from the end of next year will have to be electric where possible.

It also envisages that there will be half a million more daily journeys completed by either walking, cycling or on public transport by 2030.

Government plans to have one million electric vehicles on roads by 2030 (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Yesterday.

Department of Health, Dublin 2.

“I’d like to take the chance to talk to the children. The numbers we’re looking at now, it is not your fault. It’s not because you’re going to school.”

Professor Martin Cormican, Clinical Lead on Infection Control, HSE.

NPHET Briefing (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

A Far Green Country, the debut feature film of autistic Irish filmmaker Jonathan Victory, will be released on YouTube, on Tuesday November 9.

Via High Function Films:

A Far Green Country follows Jonathan as he explores iconic film locations from Lord of the Rings and other stunning sites throughout New Zealand. Filmed in the first month of 2020, Jonathan’s journey sees his plucky enthusiasm collide with the reality of health challenges presented by autism. Traveling alone for the trip of a lifetime, Jonathan pushes the boundaries of his limitations to live life to the fullest. Written, filmed, edited and directed by Jonathan Victory.

The YouTube premiere will be followed by an Instagram Live interview between filmmaker Jonathan Victory and Ian Lynam of AsIAm, Ireland’s national charity for the autism community at 9:20pm GMT on the afargreencountrytravel Instagram page.

Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, at the Coronavirus Press Briefing this afternoon

This afternoon.

The Department of Health, Dublin 2.

Via RTE News:

Prof Philip Nolan said NPHET is now asking people to cut down on social contacts.

“If you are planning to see 15-20 people next week it would be much better to see eight, nine, 10,” he said.

“Reducing the social contacts by 30 to 40% or equally seeing how much more careful you can be in each of those social contacts,” he added.

Dr Tony Holohan said cutting social contacts and being more careful has worked before.

He said it not as if people have abandoned all precautions and if there was no suppression the R number would be 6 to 8 but people have taken measures to bring it to 1.4.

He said people should think about rationing “the kind of discretionary activities you might undertake“.

Dr Holohan advised against in participating in high-risk social activities with vulnerable people.

Socialising at greatest level since pandemic began – NPHET (RTÉ)

Update:

Will do, Stephen.

‘The Last Comedy Club On Mars’

The high art of getting a laugh.

Keano writes:

‘We asked Dublin’s top comedians to gather together in the Last Comedy Club on Mars to discuss their comedy philosophy and perform a routine.

‘They said NO.

‘So instead we found a retired special branch detective, a woman who wants to reverse climate change, and a taxidermist. For one night only. Thankfully.’

FRO Life Experience

Blimey.

Don’t try this on the Dart.

Meanwhile..

This afternoon.

Via Independent.ie:

‘…Lead, not follow. Put public health and science before political capital, ego, popular headlines, the peeves of public servants, the laissez-faire desires of lobbies, focus groups, key voter-segments, sections of the commentariat. Make clear that nobody’s night out, no steak, no pint, no sushi is worth more than the health or life of a human being.

Equally, there is no acceptable level of death, from a disease that is preventable, in a pandemic.

Mask primary-school children, introduce saliva testing. Cheap, effective, self-explanatory.

Restore contact test and trace in schools. Nphet “examining” the high numbers in the five to 12 age group is a farce. School without mitigations is the culprit, unless Mrs Murray’s second class are clubbing on the sly or doing nixers on the night-shift in the local meat plant.’

Vaccines are not enough – case numbers prove we still need other Covid mitigations (Miriam O’Callaghan)

This afternoon.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Academic Áine Hyland (above) and bilingual activists outside the Dail at the launch of a discussion document demonstrating the case against proposals from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for the Irish leaving cert exam, currently under consultation.

Irish language, Gaeltacht and Student bodies behind the document want the reforms – which could lead to Gaeltacht and Gaelscoil Leaving Cert students facing a more challenging Irish exam than their counterparts in the wider secondary sector – rejected.

The document was prepared by Ms Hyland and Fíona Uí Uiginn, and responds to the Senior Cycle Draft Irish Specifications  published for consultation by the NCCA in February.

Tuigeann?

Kinda.

Amadán.

*clips ear*

Leah Farrell/Photocall Ireland

This morning.

Leinster House, Dublin 2.

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy at the launch of his party’s National Minimum Wage (Equal Pay for Young Workers) Bill 2021, which would remove the discrimination against 16-20 year olds who do not earn the same rate of the minimum wage as those older than them.

Don’t know they’re born.

Harrumph.

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

This morning/afternoon.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Members of the Social, Economic, Environmental Forestry Association of Ireland (SEEFA) protesting against Government delays in granting licences, which SEEFA say, is forcing imports of timber while Irish trees cannot be planted or felled and threatening 12,000 industry jobs

‘Time for change’ – SEEFA stages protest in bid to save forestry sector (Agriland)

RollingNews