Author Archives: Bodger

Taoiseach Michael Martin with Fergal Keane on BBC News today

This afternoon.

In a wide-ranging interview with BBC News, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:

“I worry a bit about the post-Brexit noise from EU member states towards Britain and vice versa.

“I would tell one or two of them that they need to cool it, dial it down.

“This isn’t an ongoing battle between the UK and some of the bigger beasts of Europe. Let’s move away from that. They need to cool it. We’ll be collateral damage in all of that.

“Everybody needs to cool it a bit.”

Meanwhile…

He also indicated that any extension to the grace period for the NI protocol would be for a matter of months – “It can’t be a year,” he said.

The taoiseach also spoke about tensions in loyalist areas over the NI protocol and Irish Sea border in recent weeks.

Mr Martin said: “I don’t think the threats were as real perhaps, as might have been suggested, but you can see how it can tip over very quickly. And therefore we have to be very, very vigilant that it doesn’t,” he said.

He also talked about fears that such tensions could lead to a return to sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

“If we handle this the wrong way, and if things are handled wrongly, you could provoke that response” he said.

Meanwhile…

Asked about the possibility of a border poll to decide the political future of the island of Ireland, the taoiseach said:

“If we just see this as a simple numerical majoritarianism, we’re going backwards, not forward. And I don’t believe the future of the island of Ireland is about majoritarianism.”

He said it would be a mistake to have a border poll in the next five years.

Brexit: Micheál Martin calls on ‘big beasts’ of EU to ‘cool it’ (BBC)

Pic: BBC

A medic prepares to administer the Moderna vaccine at the HSE National Ambulance Service HQ last month

This afternoon.

In the Dáil sitting in the Convention Centre.

Independent TD Richard O’Donoghue said:

“At the moment, I’m getting calls in my office that people are still saying that there are frontline workers and carers waiting for their vaccine but yet there are people that are not involved in the health system are getting the vaccine…I got five phone calls again, yesterday, about people outside frontline services getting vaccines, that were not in frontline.”

Meanwhile, Independent TD Maurice Collins said:

“I’m getting calls from doctors, from nurses, from home help in West Cork that haven’t been able to acquire the vaccine yet. And, at the same time, I’m getting calls that some politicians, councillors, are getting it in places. Is this turning into a nod and wink situation?

“Where the vaccine will be given to some and not to more? These people, at the very least, they deserve to be offered the vaccine, the doctors and nurses and home help first, and home carers.”

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar told the deputies that the Government policy is very clear and there are only three groups of people who should be getting the vaccine at present – care home residents over the age of 65; care home staff; and healthcare workers including some admin and reception staff; people over the age of 85.

He added:

“If you have particular incidences, or particular examples of people who received the vaccine who shouldn’t, do let us know and we’ll follow that up.”

Anyone?

RollingNews

 

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris

On The Late Late Show.

Jennifer O’Brien writes:

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will join Ryan this Friday night to speak about his tenure in charge to date…

Former Ireland rugby head coach Joe Schmidt will be speaking about his decision to leave Ireland…

Katie Price will speak with Ryan about the complex needs of her eldest son Harvey as he turns 18…

With the return of First Dates Ireland to screens this week, Ryan will be speaking to four hopeful singletons from the series about their experiences of trying to find love during a pandemic…

Internet comedy star Stevo Timothy will speak to Ryan about a harrowing life-changing event…

…Sorcha Richardson will be in studio for a performance of her single, Don’t Talk About It.

The Late Late Show on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.

RollingNews

This morning/afternoon.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Gloria Nkencho, sister of George Nkencho, speaks outside Leinster House as the Nkencho family and TDs call for a public investigation into the Garda killing of her brother during a stand off in Blanchardstown last month.

Ms Nkencho said:

“I never thought I would be standing here in these circumstances, addressing the public about such a tragedy that’s happened to my family.

“This is an unimaginable pain I do not wish upon anyone. The death of my brother has caused a vacuum in my home.

“My mother described it as a wound that will never heal. My family are forced to relive the trauma when we walk past his room, walk down the stairs and see where we stood when he was shot and killed.

“We see the bullet holes in our windows.  This shouldn’t have happened. George did not deserve to die. He needed help, not bullets. My brother was a person, not an animal.

“We need a full public, independent investigation into his death. We need truth and we need justice. We need the public to come together and demand what is right. This is not a time for us to be divided. A life was taken, a life that mattered and meant something. My brother is gone and will not be coming back.

“What we can do is to ensure that his death is not in vain, that it never happens to another family again and that the most vulnerable people in our society are given the care that they need.”

George Nkencho ‘needed help, not bullets’ says sister as she calls for full public inquiry into shooting (Ferghal Blaney, Irish Mirror)

Previously: Looking For Answers

RollingNews

Taoiseach Micheál Martin

This morning.

Via RTÉ News:

On international travel, Mr Martin said the arrival of a new variant has given an added momentum and importance to the issue of border controls, which are important to delaying variants entering the country and reducing their transmission.

He said that with the move towards a mandatory quarantine, countries will be added to the list, and later today 20 other countries, including sub-Saharan Africa and the UAE, will be considered with regard to mandatory quarantining.

Mr Martin said people should not be undertaking non-essential international travel, which is a breach of Level 5 restrictions.

He added that Ireland has to think beyond mandatory quarantine as “otherwise in the medium- to long-term we end up as prisoners in our own country”.

Asked about the ban on inter-county GAA matches, he said this will be looked at again.

Govt looking at high level of restrictions until Easter – Taoiseach (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Templeogue, Dublin 6.

Thanks Halfahead

Meanwhile…

Um.

From top: Terenure College; John McClean

This afternoon.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Details of the abuse of children at Terenure College over a period of 27 years were outlined the ahead of the sentencing of rugby coach John McClean.

Via RTÉ News:

The 76-year-old is a former rugby coach and English teacher. He was also involved in fitting costumes on boys for school plays.

He abused nine victims in an office, eight during preparation for the school plays, three during sporting activities and three in the classroom.

The court also heard today that a school principal had been told about the abuse in 1979, but did not accept the allegations were true.

The details of what McClean did to six of the boys has so far been outlined in court.

The court heard they were 12, 13, 14 and 15 years of age at the time.

In their victim impact statements, the boys, who are now men in their 50s, spoke of how the abuse damaged their lives.

One said he can never forget it, while another spoke of subsequent failures in relationships with women.

Some told how they left the school early, did not complete State examinations and were deprived of an education in life.

Former Terenure College teacher abused boys in office, class, during sport and before plays (RTÉ)

Previously: Guilty

This afternoon.

He’s really angry.

Labour leader Alan Kelly said mandatory hotel quarantine needs to be introduced immediately.

Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, he said it is not good enough that it will be a number of weeks for the legislation that is being brought in to become operational.

Mr Kelly said that “we’ve locked up our people three times to stay within 5km of their homes, the choice into the future is do we continue to do that or do we quarantine people coming in”.

Meanwhile….

The Government is seeking to increase fines for non-essential international travel from €500 to €2,000.

Speaking in the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that around 60% of international travellers arriving into Ireland are returning Irish holiday makers.

He told Labour’s Duncan Smith that “there is a sense that €500 is not a sufficient disincentive to travel abroad“.

Plans to increase international travel fine to €2,000 (RTÉ)

Earlier: A Voice In The Wilderness