Author Archives: Bodger

This afternoon.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

The Government has approved plans to reopen more parts of the economy including nightclubs – but only to those with a digital certificate.

Via RTÉ News:

The continued use of masks, vaccine certificates and physical distancing measures will remain in place for several more months.

Taoiseach Martin said that based on NPHET advice, those businesses that are due to reopen on 22 October, they can only do so once vaccine certificates are produced.

The Taoiseach has said the measures announced today will stay in place until February, under a recommendation from NPHET.

Some Restrictions To Remain (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Earlier: Hardcore Cranks

This afternoon.

Our friends at Currys PC World conducted a survey to find out how Irish people recycle their old products as part of its Go Greener campaign

The survey reveals:

95% of people think it is important to recycle electronic items

80% of people understand what product energy ratings mean

79% will consider water conservation when choosing a product that uses water

98% would recycle e-waste more if there were more collection point.

4% of Irish people have recycled an old appliance in the last 12 months.
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80% of Irish people understand what product energy ratings mean.

In fairness.

Currys PC World

From top: a caged Mink; Pamela Anderson in Dublin in 2006

This morning/afternoon.

The cabinet is expected to approve a bill banning fur farming in Ireland at their meeting currently underway.

John Carmody founder of Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN), who worked on the campaign to ban fur farming in Ireland for over twenty years, said:

“We said fur farming was cruel and wrong back in the 1990s when it was unpopular to do so, when politicians told us we were wrong and today they are joining the progressive calls to finally end this vile trade in early 2022.

“Because of protests, public education and most importantly the consumer turning their backs on fur, today high street stores and shops stock mainly vegan alternatives showing the future is one without suffering and cruelty.

“But now fur and leather need to go, and any other skin that comes from a sentient animal. A big shout out to Pamela Anderson and Anjelica Huston who reached out to government showing what celebrities and those with platforms can do for a cause.”

Cabinet to approve bill banning fur farming in Ireland (Highland Radio)

RollingNews

Everyone was there.

Last night.

Wren Hotel, Dublin 2.

A party to launch the festive showcase of gifts from Max Benjamin. Run by brothers Mark and David Van den Bergh from their studio in Enniskerry, county Wicklow, Max Benjamin is recognised worldwide for ‘home fragrance gifts using natural and renewable ingredients’.

Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

MCD’s Denis Desmond

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

Concert promoter MCD, which runs the Electric Picnic music festival, is facing claims of “abrasive management behaviour” within the business.

The company, controlled by US events giant Live Nation Entertainment, said it was examining the claims but did not provide any details, saying its internal affairs were private.

Confirmation that MCD is facing the issue came after The Irish Times submitted questions about the company’s response to complaints.

The reply was issued by MCD co-founder Denis Desmond, the driving force behind the business for decades. “We can confirm for the record that MCD is looking into allegation [sic] of breaches of the company’s dignity-at-work policy relating exclusively to abrasive management behaviour,” he wrote in an email. “The welfare of our staff is of paramount importance to us and we are looking at the allegation accordingly.”

MCD faces claims of ‘abrasive management behaviour’ (Irish Times)

RollingNews

This morning.

St Anne’s Park, Raheny, county Dublin.

Arf.

Thanks Alan Bracken.

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Arriving for a cabinet meeting to agree arrangements for the possible lifting of restrictions this Friday were, from top: Minister Eamon Ryan, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Meanwhile…

The National Public Health Emergency Team has advised that existing restrictions on hospitality should stay in place for several months.

If adopted by Government, it would see basic measures such as mask wearing, social distancing and Covid certificates remain in place until around spring 2022.

However, the NPHET advice does provide for ways to be found to allow other venues such as nightclubs open safely, including through the use of the Covid certificate.

This Friday was due to see an end to the requirement for physical distancing, or mask wearing outdoors, or indoor, in private settings.

There was also to be an end to the need for certificates of vaccination, or immunity or proof of having contracted Covid-19, for access to or engagement with any events.

Last night, coalition party leaders considered the NPHET advice and Government today must decide if some of the outstanding pandemic restrictions will be altered on Friday.

NPHET advises hospitality restrictions should stay (RTÉ)

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

This afternoon.

Earlier…

chief scientific advisor to the Government Professor Mark Ferguson said that while antigen tests are useful and provide an extra layer of protection, they are “not a solution”.

Although widely used in many European countries, antigen testing has been discouraged in Ireland as public health officials said the tests should be used in strictly controlled settings and warned individuals might receive “inappropriate reassurance” from a negative result.

Covid antigen tests ‘not a solution’, advisor says as experts ask why Ireland an ‘outlier’ (BreakingNews)

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