Author Archives: Bodger

From top: Professor Oran Doyle (above) and the Irish Times yesterday

“I assure the Deputy and other colleagues that with regard to penalties, religious services are non-penal in that there is no penalty attached to them.”

Minister for Health Stepehen Donnelly in the Dáil on Thursday, October 22, 2020

‘A priest in a Co Cavan parish says he has no intention of paying a €500 fine imposed on him for saying Mass publicly and he intends continuing to do so despite the ban on public worship under pandemic restrictions.

Cavan priest vows to continue saying Mass despite fine, Irish Times, March 24

Um.

Yesterday, during a podcast hosted by the COVID-19 Law and Human Rights Observatory, Oran Doyle, a professor in law at Trinity College Dublin asked:

“Why is The Irish Times, after the Minister for Health has confirmed in the Dail that religious services are not prohibited, happily reporting stories about priests being prosecuted for holding religious services, or threatened with prosecution for holding religious services?

“Do journalists not like, do they have the attention span of a goldfish that they can’t remember that somebody writing on exactly the same issue they were researching has just two weeks ago published an unequivocal Government statement that this is legally compliant, that they might put in a cross-reference in their article? No.

…”why aren’t there clarificatory statements from the Minister for Health to The Irish Times, ‘Editor, you have reported that, I just want to clarify this is not permitted’.  Why is a message not being sent from the Minister for Justice to the Garda Commissioner? ‘We see reports of police threatening prosecution for thing that are not prohibited and it’s Government policy not to prohibit them legally. Please clarify to all gardai that these matters are not prohibited.’ But there’s no evidence of that having taken place.

“…I think it’s, frankly, it’s outrageous.”

Listen to podcast here

Yesterday: Take Me To Mass

Previously: Mass Delusion

Meanwhile…

This morning.

At ease.

This afternoon.

Baggott Street, Dublin 2.

Brigadier General Brendan McGuinness, Commander of the Defence Forces COVID-19 Joint Taskforce, and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly at the technical briefing on Mandatory Hotel Quarantine in the Department of Health this afternoon.

The Defence Forces will be responsible for overseeing the mandatory detention of hot spot visitors in hotels at Dublin Airport.

Soldiers will be armed to the teeth and many are trained in close, hand-to-hand combat and giving ‘Chinese burns’.

Should anyone be thinking of making a run for it.

Or planning an escape committee to tunnel out.

Earlier: The Defence Forces Will Oversee The Project

 Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Um.

This afternoon.

Barbara Smyth tweetz:

OK, just so I’m not crazy here. Would someone type NPHET into their browser and do they get the same result as me.

Meanwhile…

Anyone?

This afternoon.

Leinster House, Dublin 2.

Sinn Féin’s  Eoin O’Broin TD and Senator Lynn Boylan in matching mask/coat combo (top) and Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly with Senator Rebecca Moynihan in a ‘Pro-Mask Is Pro-Worker’ face covering.

Masks are cool.

RollingNews

Mullahoran parish in County Cavan

Free Sunday?

Cavan-based?

KN writes:

…any of your readers opposed to restrictions living within 5km of Mullahoran, County Cavan? The parish priest there [Fr PJ Hughes] has bravely promised to celebrate mass on Sunday despite a fine and further threats for holding a service earlier this month. I believe he is within his rights to say mass for his parishioners  and wish other priests would follow his lead. I think anyone who is opposed to lockdowns – whatever your denomination or none – should  go to his mass!

PRAY! Fight!

Previously: Mass Delusion

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Leinster House, Dublin 2.

Independent TD for Cork South West Michael Collins (above) along with a coalition of  TDs speaking to media outside Leinster House today, as they call on the Government to ensure that churches are reopened for worship by Easter.

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Any excuse.

Robert French?

 

This morning.

Minister for the Environment and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan entering Government Buildings for a Cabinet meeting where he presented plans to legally commit the state to a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in an updated version of the Climate Action Bill.

Meanwhile….

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews


Last night.

Claire Byrne Live on RTÉ One.

“You see them [the DUP] chuckling and guffawing when people are trying to have a serious discussion. Laughing at the Irish language, laughing at Gaelic sports, the homophobia, the racism, all these things.”

GAA pundit Joe Brolly before being yanked off air.

Joe Brolly taken off air by Claire Byrne over DUP allegations during RTÉ United Ireland debate (Independent,ie)

Meanwhile…

FIGHT!

This morning.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Dublin Lord Mayor Hazel Chu passing an Extinction Rebellion protest outside Leinster House.

Mayor Chu is the Chair of the Green Party, but has announced she wants to run in the Seanad by-elections next month as an independent candidate.

She said:

“Though I am a Green member, I understand I am not endorsed by the party since the executive made the decision not to hold a selection convention. I also understand there is no pact in place with any other parties as confirmed by the leader at the last executive meeting. I am not looking for any support from the party since this was a personal choice to ensure that there is proper representation,”

“In the current climate, it is important to have women and minorities represented at this election. This choice, as I said, is a personal one, as is my candidacy. After spending the year speaking to children from all backgrounds that anyone can run for election I felt that it was essential I follow what I preach.

Hazel Chu to run as independent candidate in Seanad by-election (Irish Examiner)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…