Author Archives: Bodger

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly at Dublin Castle earlier

This afternoon.

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said 34.5% of the adult population have received a first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and 12.8% are fully vaccinated.

From today, people aged 52 years can register with the HSE for a Covid-19 vaccination.

Meanwhile…

The advice from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) on the use of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) and AstraZeneca vaccines in people under 50 is expected later this week, Minister Donnelly said.

Meanwhile…

Um.

Anyone?

Also: after you, etc.

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Take a parachute.

From top: Television presenter Aisling O’Loughlin (right); The Journal website; Aisling’s latest Instagram

‘….unlike many conspiracy theorists who have come to the fore in Ireland, O’Loughlin’s method of communication is somewhat novel here.

Rather than posting angry diatribes against global elites, she speaks in a calm, personal tone, advocating choice and understanding for those who are vaccine hesitant.

The opinions of those in favour of vaccines are sometimes sought, which presents an illusion of balance.

She uses phrases like “my body, my choice” – a slogan previously associated with the abortion referendum in 2018.

Her video messages also reference her status as a parent, framing her views as those of a concerned mother rather than a conspiracy theorist. And false and misleading claims are posed as questions, a subtle move that allows misinformation to be shared without being an outright lie.’

Later…

Although O’Loughlin is not an outward advocate for any specific alternative remedies, many of those who follow her and agree with her views are.

The Journal monitored dozens of Instagram pages which shared O’Loughlin’s videos in recent weeks and analysed accounts which liked her posts and posted supportive messages on her feed.

Supporters of her message included people who described themselves as holistic nutrition coaches, wellness advocates, energy healers, acupuncturists, homeopaths and massage therapists.

Later…

For now, O’Loughlin’s account remains active and despite being de-prioritised by Facebook, is easily accessible. She did not return requests for an interview or comment on her use of Instagram. In a recent post, she said she did not align herself with any political movement or tactics but aligns herself to “love” and “the question of truth and justice”

‘My body, my choice’: How some Irish wellness Instagram accounts became a hotbed of Covid-19 misinformation (The Journal)

KN writes:

…a really vicious article on Aisling O’Loughlin in The Journal. Regardless of where you stand [on Covid] this is pretty disgraceful…and probably why she seems to be the only Irish celebrity to openly question what is going on.

That’ll learn her.

Aisling O Loughlin (Instagram)

Aisling O Loughlin?

From top: At the Coombe, partners may attend the 20-22-week scan but for all other routine scans, a pregnant woman must attend alone; Social Democrat TD Holly Cairns

This morning.

Further to Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan’s assertion yesterday that there was “no good reason in public terms” that mothers should endure their births alone….

…Maternity hospitals and units are beginning to ease restrictions, including the Coombe and the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street – but some hospitals  are doing this more slowly.

Social Democrat TD Holly Cairns said:

“It is incomprehensible that women are still being denied the support of a partner as they attend scans and, in many cases, even during birth.

“This morning we heard that the numbers of covid patients in hospitals around the country had fallen to just 104. Meanwhile, there are just two hospitals with ten or more patients who have the virus.

Despite this, women are still being told that their partners are some kind of optional extra when it comes to attending at hospitals for scans and labour.

“It is increasingly looking like pregnant women are just expected, by some within hospital management teams, to endure stressful appointments, like anomaly scans, alone.

“Even going through labour alone is not deemed too high a price for women to pay – despite there being no public health rationale for the infliction of that trauma.

“The HSE has been stating for weeks that visitor restrictions at maternity hospitals should be lifted. The CMO has now publicly stated there is no public health grounds for their continued existence.

“Despite this, hospitals continue to deny women the support of their partners throughout their pregnancy and during birth.”

Ms Cairns added:

“It’s hard to avoid characterising this apparent determination to make women needlessly suffer as anything other than misogynistic and cruel. Having a baby should be a joyful experience and instead it is being turned into something distressing and stressful by these intransigent rules.

“In December, the HSE reclassified birthing partners as an “essential accompanying person” for the 20 week-scan. They now need to urgently reclassify them as an essential accompanying person for the entire maternity journey.”

Yesterday: ‘It was like being released from prison’ – mother tells of heartache of being without her husband after giving birth (Independent.ie)

RollingNews

Update…

Protests at maternity hospitals over restrictions (RTÉ)

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Arriving earlier for a cabinet meeting were, from top:From top Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan; Tanaiste Leo Varadkar and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

Mr Martin said that over the next five years over 50,000 social housing units will be built.

The Taoiseach added that the Government needs to do more in providing affordable housing and to give first-time buyers priority in the marketplace.

He said the immediate issue is to deal with the issue of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and their impact on first-time buyers…

Hmm.

Meanwhile…on a suggestion by the OECD yesterday that the country needs to reconsider the introduction of domestic water charges,…

…the Taoiseach said the Government will not be “going back” and trying to reintroduce water charges.

Mr Martin said the Government have been investing strongly in water infrastructure and will continue to do so, but that water charges “will not be coming back“.

Climate minister Eamon Ryan had said “we will not be going back to the water charges issue” and that the Oireachtas all-party committee has a plan in relation to water infrastructure and will “stick to that”

Housing issue is ‘number one priority’ – Taoiseach (RTE)

Earlier: A Limerick A Day

RollingNews

Roderic O’Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth

Yesterday evening.

Children’s minister Roderic O’Gorman sent out an appeal for ‘all persons affected by adoption or issues relating to knowing their origins or their early life information’ to contact him.

This morning, he brings to cabinet a bill that aims to provide information for people who were subject to illegal birth registrations, people who were boarded out, and to adoptees.

Minister O’Gorman wrote:

I wish to confirm that I will be bringing a Memorandum to Cabinet [this morning] to seek approval for publishing the heads of a bill to provide for access to birth certs and birth, early life and care information.

I will host an online presentation for those directly affected by this legislation to outline some key aspects and the next steps.

Access to this online presentation will be available on Thursday, May 20 at 4.30 p.m..

I am giving you an opportunity to put forward questions, by email, on the proposed legislation, which I can then address during the presentation. These questions can be sent to: questions@equality.gov.ie (active from 9am tomorrow, Wednesday)…

Referring to previous leaks to the press, Mr O’Gorman added:

Please note it is my intention that persons directly affected by adoption or issues relating to knowing their origins or their early life information are the first to hear about the legislation.

Previously: Rights Of Access To Personal Information Key To New Law (RTÉ, March 10)

RollingNews

Thanks Breeda

This afternoon.

Come on, man.

What’s the hold up?

*smacks arm*

Meanwhile…

Northern Ireland has had five suspected cases of blood clot cases linked to the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

That is from a total of 550,000 people given the vaccine up to 28 April.

The figure is in proportion to other suspected cases from across the UK including England (198); Scotland (18); Wales (9) and unknown (12).

Coronavirus: Five suspected AZ vaccine-linked blood clots in NI (BBC)

RollingNews

From top: The Argyll and Sutherland Regiment in Richmond Barracks; Eamon Delaney (right) with veterans at Islandbridge, Dublin in 1995

The Lion and the Shamrock.

A project devoted to the British Army’s legacy in Ireland with talks, tours, an online photographic archive as well as personal histories, many with the descendants of those who served in the two World Wars.

Created by Eamon Delaney, author, broadcaster and former diplomat,  who writes:

There does seem to be a tremendous, almost obsessive, focus on the events of 1916-21. By contrast, the legacy that I am exploring remains relatively undeveloped, or so I am finding, and people tell me.

World War One, in particular, is a huge experience which both communities shared in, but which I don’t believe cooperate on as much as they could.

When I set out, I hadn’t really planned on such a reconciliation ‘political’ role for the project but many people have encouraged me.

The plan is to cooperate, through public events (or virtually, these days) at which the descendants of WW1 veterans, and others, could share their experiences and those of their forbears. North and South.

FIGHT!

The Lion and the Shamrock