Author Archives: Bodger

This morning.

Good Morning Britain on ITV.

Richard Madeley goes ‘there'( @4.55) with clinical psychologist Susan Michie, director of The Centre for Behaviour Change and, perhaps uniquely, a member of both the UK government’s SAGE advisory panel on Covid and the Communist Party of Great Britain, seeking the overthrow of the UK government.

And you thought you were busy.

Labour candidate Ivana Bacik

This morning.

Ahead of Thursday’s by-election in Dublin Bay South…

…Via Independent.ie:

Fine Gael has angrily complained to RTÉ after the Labour Party’s Ivana Bacik appeared on a prime time TV show just three days out from the by-election in Dublin Bay South.

Ms Bacik is in a battle with Fine Gael for the seat and the Senator featured prominently on a programme called ‘National Treasures’.

RTÉ has strict rules about fair coverage of candidates during campaigns.

The incident is reminiscent of a row between RTÉ and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael during a by-election won by current foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney.

Fine Gael complains to RTÉ after Ivana Bacik’s TV appearance three days before Dublin Bay South by-election (Independent.ie)

Meanwhile…

Fine Gael Councillor and election candidate, James Geoghegan canvassing in Ranelagh, Dublin 6

This morning.

Via Una Mullally in the Irish Times:

He comes from an intensely privileged background, with two Supreme Court judges as parents, and two more as grandparents. He looks the part, he’s got the clichéd south Dublin accent (something I sympathise with, having one myself), and he has run a superficial campaign based on the brand of bland nothingness his constituency predecessor, Eoghan Murphy, espoused to cruise into a housing ministry, and we all know how that went.

But condemning Geoghegan based on his beginnings is unfair. It’s not his fault he had a remarkable head-start in life. Privilege isn’t some kind of original sin. But what is relevant is how you use that privilege. Geoghegan worked for Fine Gael’s John Bruton in Washington DC, and then got a job with a lobbying firm run by another Bruton adviser, Kevin Gilna. It’s a small world . Now I’m not saying working for a lobbying firm that represents for Big Tobacco is among one of the worst things one can do with one’s privilege, but it is up there.

Back in Ireland, Geoghegan drifted from Fine Gael and backed Renua, a right-wing, anti-abortion entity that looked for a millisecond as though it might make an impact, given how disproportionate its founder Lucinda Creighton’s profile in the political media was. Renua flopped, closing off that career path.

Fine Gael is asking people to vote for Geoghegan because he is in Fine Gael. But if we extrapolate “merit” from meritocracy, and compare Geoghegan’s record to those he’s leading in the polls – Ivana Bacik, Lynn Boylan, Claire Byrne, and Sarah Durcan – he’s not at the races. There is no comparison.

Fight!

Fine Gael’s By-Election Candidate? You Couldn’t Make Him Up (Una Mullally, Irish Times)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Oh.

RTÉ website this morning

This morning.

Via RTÉ:

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Waterford pharmacist Daragh Connolly said it was a “very exciting day” for pharmacists who were “delighted” to be at the heart of fighting Covid-19.

He said his own pharmacy had to close off its registration list for the 18 to 34 cohort as over 150 people had already registered….

How exciting?

Pharmacists get €35 per dose plus €10 for each patient entered into the ‘system’.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Pharmacies ‘excited’ as 18-34 cohort vaccinations under way (RTÉ)

From top: Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien Contents of the Affordable Housing Bill 2021

This morning.

The Affordable Housing Bill 2021 journeys through the Dáil this week.

But why is it “being rammed through the Dáil at breakneck speed”?

Asks Social Democrats Housing Spokesman Cian O’Callaghan, who writes:

“The Government want us to debate, consider and vote on over 100 amendments to the 45-page Bill in just three hours. That is less than two minutes per amendment. This is not feasible. Many of these proposals and changes, including those tabled by the Green Party, will end up in the bin. This is no way to do business.

“Very serious warnings about aspects of this Bill have been issued by the Central Bank, the ERSI and senior officials in a number of Government Departments. Unfortunately, the Minister is ignoring all of them. Instead, he has chosen to remain on the side of the big builders, and construction sector interests, who have lobbied for a Shared Equity Scheme that will keep house prices high.

“If the Minister believed in his plan, he would allow this Bill to be examined and debated. It is clear that he doesn’t. This Bill requires a full and comprehensive debate.

“The people struggling to secure an affordable home deserve better than this half-baked Bill.”

Anyone?

Affordable Housing Bill 2021

Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews



Saturday.

Anti Covid response ‘Enough is Enough’ rally and march from the GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 to Government buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin 2.

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Thank Finnerty it’s Friday.

It’s another warm summer weekend, so that’s our cue to spoil you lovely BS readers with  another music competition.

This week the theme comes courtesy of regular reader Capernosity & Function, who writes:

“For this week’s “Win Nick’s Golden Voucher” competition, to mark the quadrennial/quintennial gathering of European footballing nations across the continent I am suggesting a favourite song sung in a language other than English/Gaeilge.”

Good call.

Here’s mine.

Reply below to be in with a chance of bagging yourself a €50 Golden Discs voucher redeemable in any Golden Discs store.

The winner will be chosen by my online translator.

Please include a video link if possible, thanks.

Lines MUST close on Saturday 2.45pm.

Nick says: Good luck.

Last week’s winner: Scottser!

Golden Discs

Yes, but how free, etc., etc.

Tomorrow.

GPO, O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 at Midday.

Meanwhile…

Tomorrow afternoon.

The National Monument, Cork at 3pm.

Organisers promise a ‘family fun day, low on speeches and high on quality music’.

The Independent Campaign for Truth & Proper Healthcare Spokesperson Diarmaid Ó Cadhla said:

“Speakers at the event will address three core issues:

1. It will call on parents to “Protect Your Children” – Government plans the introduction of vaccines for children as young as 12 years. It will also call for an end to the oppressive face-covering policy in schools, which even denies the right of those with ‘reasonable excuse’ in law not to wear masks.

2. The Rally will call for the full re-opening of our society.

3. Saturday will also see the official launch of a new resource for business people, the Notice to Traders’ is published by the Irish Council for Human Rights (info@ichr.ie) and will be delivered to every business premises in Cork and nationwide in the coming weeks.

The advice from Government on the proper implementation of face covering laws has been absent, the Notice to Traders will help them avoid unintentional discrimination and consequent liability.”

Rally for Truth & Proper Healthcare

Meanwhile…

Coley!

This morning.

Radisson St Helen’s Hotel, Stillorgan, county Dublin.

Séamus Coleman, Republic of Ireland and Everton captain launching SPAR’s Better Choices summer 2021 campaign, bringing ‘healthier food and refreshment options into Irish homes, gardens and parks for all the family to enjoy this summer’.

Any mustard?

Never mind.

You probably get that a lot.

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland