Author Archives: Bodger

Rachel O’Byrne from the cast of The Dead, An Opera at  the Gaiety theatre in Dublin on August 7-8

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

Vaccinated people should be allowed to go to the theatre if it means more venues would be able to open their doors to larger audiences, the general manager of Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre has said.

Ahead of the first live audience returning to the theatre this weekend for the staging of The Dead, An Opera – a musical adaptation of James Joyce’s famous short story – Laura McGuigan said the theatre would be open to it. “If it meant we could have more capacity, it would make sense,” she said.

She added that theatres would be well equipped to manage such a system if it gets the go-ahead from the Government. And she anticipated there would be broad support from the industry and theatre goers for any such moves.

Um.

Call for vaccinated patrons to be allowed go to the theatre (Irish Times)

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From top: The Merrion Hotel garden terrace; Attorney General Paul Gallagher

 

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

Opposition and Coalition figures criticised the apparent contradiction between a Government statement last night and its stance on events such as communions and confirmations.

…After Ms Katherine Zappone’s decision (to decline her appointment as a envoy on free speech to the UN), the Government said it had received advice from the Attorney General that social, recreational, exercise, cultural, entertainment or community events of up to 200 people were permitted under regulations.

Events held in dwellings, wedding receptions, sporting events or training events are not allowed under regulations, it said.

Meanwhile…

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Sinn Féin’s Health spokesperson David Cullinane said no one in government could seriously suggest that they believed that people could have an organised social event outdoors for up to 200 people, and Fáilte Ireland guidelines make it clear that multiple tables cannot be booked.

The fact that Fáilte Ireland are now revising its guidelines smacks of an attempt to retrospectively to get the Tánaiste off the hook, he said.

The industry itself is now seeking clarity, he said, adding “is it any wonder that people are confused?“

Government under pressure to clarify open-air gatherings guidelines after Zappone controversy (irish Times)

Public health guidelines on outdoor events to be updated (RTÉ)

Yesterday: “I have Decided Not To Accept This Appointment”

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Meanwhile…

Eamon Ryan’s chief-of-staff and Department of Children secretary general both attended Katherine Zappone’s controversial party (Independent.ie)

Meanwhile…


This morning.

Portland Row, Dublin 1

Kellie Harrington’s parents Yvonne and Christy and brother Joel (above) and neighbours celebrate her place in Sunday’s Olympic boxing final in the lightweight division after today’s semi-final win. She was the silver medallist in the light welterweight division at the 2016 Women’s World Boxing Championships.

Sam Boal/Rollingnews

Previously: Our Kellie

“I am saying that we need to trust parents. Parents know what’s right for themselves and how to protect their health. There’s a sense that we can’t trust parents. And I think that’s very unfair.”

“I’m looking at some everyday gatherings in bars, restaurants around the country, Croke Park at the weekend, concerts; I heard discussed last night 70,000 people attending Electric Picnic. Weddings, anniversaries birthday parties. That a parent cannot take their child along to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, that is simply not credible.”

“Its okay to have a bash in the Merrion Hotel with 50 people present. But it’s not possible for parents to take their child in to receive the sacrament. That is difficult for me and for priests and for parents.”

Archbishop of Dublin Dr Dermot Farrell on RTÉ News at One this afternoon

RollingNews

This afternoon.

“While I am honoured to have been appointed by the Government to be the Special Envoy on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, it is clear that criticism of the appointment process has impacted the legitimacy of the role itself.

“It is my conviction that a Special Envoy role can only be of real value to Ireland and to the global community if the appointment is acceptable to all parties.

“For this reason, I have decided not to accept this appointment, and I have communicated my decision to the Minister for Foreign Affairs.”

Katherine Zappone this afternoon.

Earlier: Well Now

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WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

This afternoon.

Via Reuters:

The World Health Organization is calling for a moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine boosters until at least the end of September, its head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday.

The move was to enable that at least 10% of the population of every country was vaccinated, WHO Director-General Tedros said.

The call to stop COVID-19 vaccine boosters is the strongest yet from the UN agency as the gap between inoculation rates in wealthy and poor countries widens.

“I understand the concern of all governments to protect their people from the Delta variant. But we cannot accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it,” Tedros added.

FIGHT!

WHO calls for moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine booster doses (Reuters)

Pic: Reuters

This morning.

On RTÉ Radio One.

Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, was asked by presenter Philip Boucher Hayes if Katherine Zappone’s party at the Merrion Hotel, attended by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar, violated covid guidelines.

Philip Boucher Hayes: “Would you, on the 21st of July, have said ‘yes’ to an event that was being sought for 50 people outdoors that wasn’t non-social meeting, training or educational programme essential to the operation of a business. Would you have said yes to that?”

Adrian Cummins: “Well a critical question here is was there food and beverage at the event. And I don’t know because I wasn’t at it. So I suppose, a cup of tea or sparkling water or a sandwich or whatever was offered at that event, then to my opinion, it doesn’t matter where it is on the island of Republic of Ireland, that is an outdoor hospitality event. And I think that’s where we have to…get all the facts on the table. What was the event? There must be a function sheet. And exactly how many people attended and was there food and beverage offered at the event?”

Anyone?

Meanwhile…

Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy, a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), at Leinster House this afternoon

This afternoon.

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