Author Archives: Bodger

This afternoon.

Further to the decision by NatWest, the parent of Ulster Bank, to exit the Irish market…

…Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath has said customers ‘should not panic’, adding:

“The immediate priorities now are to ensure the staff are treated fairly and that the interests of their customers are protected.

“I welcome the fact that other Irish banks [AIB and TSB Permanant] are seriously examining the possibility of purchasing loan portfolios and other products from Ulster Bank. It is encouraging that the emphasis is being placed on engaging with institutions who can provide customers with full banking services in the Irish market.”

He added that Ulster Bank customers with tracker mortgage should be particularly careful when considering moving to another bank, as this could impact the terms they are entitled to.

OK.

PANIC!

‘Sad day’ for Ulster Bank staff and Irish bank industry – Donohoe (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman has said he is “not accepting” the statement by the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Home that they do not believe deleted audio testimonies from survivors are retrievable.

This morning.

Further to the decision to delete audio recordings of witnesses who gave evidence to the Mother and Baby Homes inquiry…

…the recordings were made when former residents were invited to tell their personal stories to the inquiry. Its final report said people were informed before they gave evidence that the recordings would be destroyed. But some witnesses dispute that and the Data Protection Commissioner has questioned the legal basis for the deletion.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Philip Boucher Hayes, Minister O’Gorman said:

“It responded to me on Tuesday saying they believe the audio files weren’t retrievable. I’m not accepting it. We all know how difficult it is to permanently destroy electronic information.

“So I’m going to be continuing to engage with the commission on that to see if there is any technical solution available to the retrieval of those files.”

Minister ‘not accepting’ commission statement on deleted testimonies (RTÉ)

Meanwhile….

This afternoon.

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore will next week introduce a Dáil motion to extend the timeframe of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission by one year. The commission is scheduled to be dissolved on February 28.

Deputy Whitmore, Soc Dem spokesperson for Children, said:

“We in the Social Democrats have a real concern that there is no legal basis for what the Commission has done here. We have written to the Office of the Data Protection Commission seeking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this and the legality of such destruction under Article 6 and 9 of the GDPR legislation.

“Pending all the questioning and potential investigations into this act, we are calling for an extension to the Mother and Baby Homes Commission. There are concerns that if it does wind down, investigations cannot be fully carried out and questions will remain unanswered as a result.

“Our Dáil motion is a call to buy more time for survivors in their search for truth and justice.”

Minister ‘not accepting’ commission statement on deleted testimonies (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Here’s How.

Host William Campbell (right) meets Eoin Ó Broin (left), Sinn Féin housing spokesman and TD for the Dublin Mid-West constituency since 2016.

William writes:

Fianna Fáil’s housing policies defy basic laws of economics, as exposed by FoI requests from Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin, but what about the rationality of Ó Broin’s own policies – the Here’s How podcast gives him a grilling.

Listen here.

Caution: It gets heated.

Here’s How

‘sup?

This morning.

Carlosfandango writes:

….why I do believe it’s Springtime calling!

Mr Hugh’s big sister, Little Miss Lette, is full of the joys this morning and it seems she knows we are coming out the other side of all this shite. So, I thought I’d share her with you on this fine (if a tad sharp) Spring day! Happy Thursday to you ALL.

Arf.

This morning.

Just Eat has confirmed that drone delivery will now be available to customers in Oranmore, County Galway.

Nicole Fenner writes:

Powered by Manna, the world’s first aviation-grade B2B drone delivery ‘as-a-service’ platform, and served-up in partnership with Camile Thai, the drone takeaway delivery service is set to go live for the first time ever on the Just Eat app from today

Dropped straight to the designated delivery point in under 3-minutes, 2kg weight limit applies. Customers will select their dishes on the dedicated Camile Thai drone delivery menu page on the Just Eat app, which will be available from 4pm– 8pm, Thursday – Sunday.

FLIGHT!

Just Eat drone menu here

From top: Donie Cassidy and Noel Grealish are being prosecute under the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act 2020

This afternoon.

Further to Golfgate…

Via Independent.ie

Former Fianna Fáil TD Donie Cassidy and Independent TD Noel Grealish will be summonsed before a Co Galway district court in relation to allegations that they organised the event.

Mr Cassidy was the chairman of the society and Mr Grealish was the president. The two other people to be prosecuted are not public figures and were involved in the organisation of the dinner at the management at the hotel in Clifden, Co Galway.

Two politicians to be prosecuted for Golfgate dinner Independent.ie)

Meanwhile…

Mr Justice Woulfe was sitting yesterday for the first time as a judge in the three-judge Court of Appeal alongside Mr Justice Birmingham and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy. It was his first public hearing since Chief Justice Frank Clarke told him last November that, as a result of his attending a golf event that the chief justice felt had breached public guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19, he would not be listed to sit until February 2021.

Good times.

Justice Seamus Woulfe sits with judge who subjected him to ‘traumatic’ ordeal (BreakingNews)

RollingNews

From top: The Stardust commemoration last Saturday: Gary Gannon on the plinth at Leinster House yesterday

This afternoon.

Dáil Eireann.

Further to a row over legal aid that may delay the start of the The Stardust fire inquests, due to begin in May….

….Darragh Mackin, solicitor for the families, said he had been unable to instruct barristers as the Department of Justice has not released any funding despite his application for their legal aid being approved.

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon told deputies:

“The delay in the commencement of the Stardust Inquest – due to the Department of Justice’s refusal to release funds – is absolutely unacceptable. Releasing funding to allow the legal team of the families to carry out research and preparation is essential.

“The Stardust Inquest will be one of the largest ever to be conducted in the State. It is vital that resources are provided in advance so that the families’ legal team can carry out research and preparations. There needs to be special arrangements for large-scale inquests like this. We should be following the good practice established at the Hillsborough Inquest.

“I am calling on the Minister for Justice to immediately meet with the legal representative of the families to resolve the issue of funding so that the inquest can begin without more delays.”

Previously: Stardust fire inquests delayed over legal aid row (Irish Times, February 13)

RollingNews

This morning.

The UK’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said the case of Princess Latifa (top left) is “concerning” and the pictures of her are “very distressing”, adding that people want to see that “she is alive and well”.

The Dubai princess has accused her father –  Dubai’s billionaire ruler Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum (top right) of holding her hostage in secret videos released yesterday, following attempts to flee the United Arab Emirates.

Princess Latifa: People want to see missing Dubai princess is ‘alive and well’, says Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (Sky News)

Yesterday: “I Was Particularly Tricked When The Photographs Went Public”

This morning/afternoon.

Details of a proposal to establish a mandatory hotel quarantine system, initially for visitors from 20 ‘hot’ states, are still being worked on by the cabinet. The legislation is ‘likely to take two to three weeks’ to come into law.

Via RTE News:

…It is agreed that those who stay in mandatory quarantine for 14 days will have to pay for their stay and will take a number of tests for Covid-19 during that time.

Private security firms are likely to be involved in the day-to-day running of the facilities but gardaí will have a role if any laws are breached.

It is also expected that the Defence Forces could play a part in the logistical planning to set up the system…

Mandatory hotel quarantining legislation could take three weeks to pass (RTÉ)

RollingNews