Author Archives: Bodger


“Labour has to consider what the lockdowns are doing to people’s minds and to people’s heads….you don’t realise that because you are far removed from what is going on in rural Ireland….do you want to keep them in the wilderness, is that what this is all about?”

This afternoon.

The Dáil at the Convention Centre, Dublin.

Independent Kerry TD Danny Healy Rae rails against the Labour Party’s National Aggressive Suppression Strategy Bill.

Calling it “Zero Covid by another name”, Labour leader Alan Kelly had earlier told deputies:

“We want to suppress and destroy the virus and basically ensure that we get it down so low to double digits that we can give Ireland the chance that 2021 will be different from 2020, because the people are at the end of their tether, and they need it.”

Labour wants Government to admit ‘Living with Covid’ plan is a failure (Irish Examiner)

Meanwhile…

FIGHT!

Last night.

Tuam campaigner Breeda Murphy and adoptee and activist Eunan Duffy discuss the refusal by Justice Yvonne Murphy (top) to take questions from TDs and Senators about her controversial report into Mother and Baby Homes.

Judge Murphy had asked for an alternative date for her appearance before a joint Oireachtas Committee on Children, but has now indicated that she will not attend.

The commission of investigation is to be dissolved on February 28.

This is the eighth episode in a series of shows with Eunan and Breeda dealing with Mother and Baby Homes across the island of Ireland and the issues facing birth mothers and adoptees. All are available on our YouTube channel.

Meanwhile…

Mother-and-baby homes were shrouded in secrecy and some witnesses who gave evidence to the inquiry were traumatised individuals who had never spoken to anyone about being in the institutions.

The confidential committee hearings were set up to allow survivors to describe their personal experiences in a non-confrontational way.

Anonymity was assured and their accounts and allegations were to be listened to without challenge.

Privacy was a concern for many witnesses and, given several said their pregnancies were a result of rape for which no-one was convicted, their testimonies were legally sensitive.

The Data Protection Commission said: “We have written to the commission with a number of questions around the deletion, and the legal basis for the deletion, of these records.

“We are awaiting their response.”

When asked about the deleted recordings, the inquiry told BBC News NI it had explained the matter in its final report.

“Witnesses were asked for permission to record their evidence on the clear understanding that the recordings would be used only as an aide memoire for the researcher when compiling the report and would then be destroyed,” the report stated.

Mother-and-baby homes: Questions raised over recordings being deleted (BBC)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen

This morning.

Further to the European Commission’s decision to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol without consulting Dublin….

Via RTÉ News:

[EC President Ursula von der Leyen said] “The bottom line is that mistakes were made in the process leading up to the decision and I deeply regret that. But in the end we got it right.

“I can reassure you that my commission will do its utmost to protect the peace of Northern Ireland, just as it has done throughout the entire Brexit process.”

…she strongly defended the EU’s decision to negotiate vaccine doses as one bloc, instead of individual member states going it alone.

“I cannot even imagine what would have happened if just a handful of big players, big member states had rushed to it and everyone else had been left empty-handed,” she told MEPs….

Hmm.

EC chief ‘deeply regrets’ mistakes over Article 16 (RTÉ)

Previously: I Von Der Who It Was

RollingNews

Vector Motors former car showroom on Goatstown Road, Dublin 14; proposed student accomodation on the site close to UCD

Goatstown, Dublin 14.

CIS Ireland writes:

A strategic planning application has been granted by An Bord Pleanála for a €18m student accommodation development of 239 bed-spaces at the Vector Motors Site…

€18m – Student Accommodation (CIS)

Previously: O’Reilly-Hyland pays over €6.6m to secure high-profile south Dublin lands (Irish Tmes, September 11 ,2019)

This morning.

P-p-pertinent advice.

Graupel?

Anne Marie McMahon (left) and Dr Shawna Coxon

This morning/afternoon.

The Government has today approved the appointment of two Deputy Commissioners in An Garda Síochána following their nomination by the Policing Authority; Anne Marie McMahon of An Garda Síochána and Dr Shawna Coxon of the Toronto Police.

Via RTE News:

Dr Shawna Coxon has been Deputy Chief of the Toronto Police Service for the last three-and-a-half years.

Her appointment and that of the current acting deputy commissioner, Anne Marie McMahon, to the two vacant positions has been ratified by Cabinet.

The Government has in the past three years appointed police officers from other police services, including current Commissioner Drew Harris, to senior positions within An Garda Síochána.

Dr Coxon has been a police officer in Canada for the past 24 years and served in a variety of roles, including community and covert policing.

Ms McMahon served in the force for 35 years and is currently in charge of Governance and Strategy

One of the new appointees will take responsibility for Human Resources and related matters, while the other will be in charge of Garda Operations including terrorism, organised crime, State security and intelligence…

Canadian deputy police chief appointed to garda role (RTÉ)

RollingNews/Toronto Police

RTÉ Investigates: Covid19 – The Third Wave.

Laura Fitzgerald writes:

This compelling docuentary takes viewers into the heart of Tallaght University Hospital where once again frontline staff face enormous challenges, in the latest surge of Covid-19. Revealing the true picture behind the ongoing headlines and daily numbers, the compelling documentary shows doctors and nurses fighting to keep Covid patients alive in the current third wave.

Needs more bubbles.

RTÉ Investigates: Covid19 – The Third Wave at 9.35pm on RTÉ One.

Pic: RTÉ

Labour Party leader Alan Kelly

This morning.

Labour Party leader Alan Kelly.

He’s had enough of mild-mannered suppression.

So macho.

Previously: Must. Have. Power

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Good times.