Author Archives: Bodger

Curry’s staff members Entela Lici (left) and Fiona Rudden

‘sup?

This morning.

Dublin 15.

Currys Ireland have raised €75,000 for Irish charity ‘My Canine Companion’to train up seven service dogs, making a life changing difference to children and their families living with autism. To celebrate the achievement, and mark Autism Awareness Month, the seven puppies in training visited the Currys store in Blanchardstown Retail Park.

Arf.

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

 

This morning.

Via Street Register:

The Russian rouble hit a two-year-high against the euro. However, it stabilized near Monday’s close. It is a week in which tax payments support the currency. Investors are also looking forward to a rate cut Friday.

After earlier reaching 75.95 at 8:17 GMT, 0.3% had been gained by the rouble to trade at 76.190 against the euro. This was its best mark since February 2020. The rouble was 0.1% higher against the dollar at 73.2.

Oh.

Russian rouble hits more than 2-year high vs euro before steadying near 77 -Breaking (Street Register)

Meanwhile…

European Union companies may be able to comply with Kremlin demands that they pay for Russian pipe gas in roubles, instead of dollars or euros which are part of the original contracts, without disrupting the bloc’s sanctions against Moscow for its illegal invasion of Ukraine in February.

EU mulls paying for Russian gas in roubles (Energy News Bulletin)

Shutterstock

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan arrives for cabinet.

Meanwhile…

…via Irish Examiner:

Eamon Ryan’s watering down of a proposed ban on the sale of turf still does not go far enough according to a Fianna Fáil TD.

The Green Party leader has now suggested that small rural communities of under 500 people will be exempt from a ban on the sale of turf, which is due to come into force in September.

…He is now due to meet a number of Fianna Fáil members today, including Barry Cowen, in a bid to ease tensions and hammer out an agreement.

Mr Cowen said the proposal to allow villages and areas with a population of less than 500 continue to burn turn sods is “senseless” as it won’t cater for relationships that exist between the commercial cutter and those families that need a supply that do not have their own resource.

“I could point to 10 or 11 villages and towns in Offaly, for example, that have a population of over 500 where there are pockets of them dependent on turf for their heating, for their water, for their cooking even, so they are a vulnerable cohort that just can’t be cut adrift.”

Barry Cowen among dissenting TDs challenging minister Eamon Ryan over proposed turf ban (Irish Examiner)

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

 

THis morning.

Dublin Castle. Dublin 2.

Earlier…

This morning.

Via RTE News:

Deliberations at today’s Cabinet meeting are expected to be dominated by the question of how best to provide assistance to refugees arriving from Ukraine.

It is believed Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath will tell colleagues that the projected cost of helping Ukrainians next year is €3 billion, up from a €2.5 billion estimate in March.

Latest figures show that 25,173 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Ireland.

Of that number, 16,788 have been provided with accommodation by the State. However, it is expected around 33,000 Ukrainian refugees will have arrived by the end of next month.

Projected cost of €3bn to help Ukrainian refugees next year (RTE)

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald

This morning.

Meanwhile…

Fight!

RollingNews

Tonight.

Earlier…

This afternoon.

Via Associated Press:

A rival bidder to Musk may not be stepping up any time soon, fearful of the byzantine task of moderating content on the platform, something that Musk has vowed to do less of.

“The Twitter Board could not find a white knight and with Musk’s financing detailed the clock has essentially struck midnight for the board which is why negotiations have begun to get a deal done,” said Dan Ives, who follows Twitter for Wedbush Securities.

Reports: Twitter in talks with Musk over bid to buy platform (AP)

Twitter set to accept Musk’s $43 billion offer (Reuters)

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien

This morning.

Update:

The housing minister’s plan, which goes to Cabinet tomorrow, seeks to speed-up the assessment and refurbishment of both State and privately owned large vacant properties which could house refugees.

It is understood that 529 buildings are currently under consideration and more than 100 are viewed as having the capacity to come on-stream in the “very short term”.

It is believed Mr O’Brien’s memo seeks to streamline the management of how such large vacant properties can be processed and become operational.

An inter-departmental committee has already been established to oversee the management of the plan.

Earlier…

Via RTÉ News:

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien is to bring a number of options to Cabinet today on medium and long-term housing options in response to the refugee crisis.

RTÉ News understands that this includes an expanded “voids programme” whereby vacant social homes will be brought back into use.

The measures will also include an expanded acquisition programme where local authorities will have greater flexibilities to acquire certain homes.

The minister will also consider using emergency powers, already available to him under existing legislation, whereby certain planning and procurement requirements can be exempted, where required, to speed up delivery in emergency situations.

Vacant social homes to be used to house Ukrainian refugees (RTE)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government is not contemplating a cap on the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving into Ireland.

Mr Martin said Ireland’s efforts were part of a Europe-wide response to the crisis, and while the country is not a military power, it can offer humanitarian assistance to protect women, children and vulnerable people.

He said Ireland’s response is still in the emergency stage, and it must be across all Government departments and agencies to ensure optimal co-ordination of the crisis.

It cannot be left to just one agency alone, he added.

Govt not contemplating cap on Ukrainian refugees – Taoiseach (RTE)