Author Archives: Bodger

A photo obtained by The Irish Independent shows the Labour Party boss unmasked on the Luas

This morning.

Via Irish Independent:

Labour leader Alan Kelly has apologised after the emergence of a picture of him not wearing a face mask while travelling on the Luas.

Independent.ie has obtained a picture of the Tipperary TD travelling on the Luas Green Line on Tuesday night. Mr Kelly is seen in the picture not wearing a face mask or covering.

The Labour leader apologised on Wednesday morning and said he was distracted while watching Manchester United’s Champions League encounter against RB Leipzig.

…The Tipperary TD has been to the forefront of campaigning on various issues around Covid-19 and in recent weeks has been challenging the Government on its plans to roll out a vaccine, including calling for a Vaccine Minister.

‘I was distracted watching Man United’ – Labour leader Alan Kelly apologises for not wearing mask on public transport (Independent.ie)

Kevin Gildeas Brilliant Bookshop, Dun Laogahire, County Dublin

This morning.

Via Irish Times Letters:

In response to Frank McNally’s mention (An Irishman’s Diary, December 5th) of the mini-furore regarding the lack of an apostrophe in the sign above my shop – Kevin Gildeas Brilliant Bookshop – I would like to point out that it is a matter of choosing aesthetics over grammar. An apostrophe would destroy the line of the words.

The shop will be open, to grammarians and others, from tomorrow, December 10th. A 46A (yes, you can get that bus there) will take you to Lower George’s Street, Dún Laoghaire. –

Yours, etc,

Kevin Gildea,
Kevin Gildeas Brilliant Bookshop
Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin

FIGHT!

Possessive Attitude (Irish Times Letters)

Apropos of Apostrophes – Frank McNally on the rise and fall of a controversial punctuation mark (Frank McNally, Irish Times, December 5)

Hic.

Repossession a new twist in Iveagh Market planning row (RTÉ)

Yesterday evening.

In fairness.

Tonight.

Via the medium of ‘telly’.

TV executive Helen O’Rahilly (top left), author of wildly funny ‘The Stairlift Ascends: Tweets from a Covid Cocoon‘ (O’Brien), about life in lockdown with her 91-year-old aunt, Monica, answers YOUR questions about her instant bestseller, RTÉ,  Jameson whiskey and rebooting Dr Who.

Previously: Answer A Broadsheet Reader

Ah here.

Also: Ew.

She has the metal strips.

Don’t worm out of this, Central Bankstards.

Thanks Alan Bracken

‘sup?

This morning.

Howth, County Dublin.

Martin McLaughlin (pic 6)  from “Nicky’s Plaice” fish shop on Howth Pier takes delivery of fresh fish caught by Joe Whitty (pic 2) from Waterford on his boat Tilly.

The EU kindly let us do this every day in our own waters!

Earlier: Peace In Our Time

RollingNews

 Jack Chambers, Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Gaeltacht Affairs and Sport; Sinn Féin TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn

This morning/afternoon.

Via Irish Times:

The Cabinet has approved an increased allowance for the party whips including an increase from €10,000 to €19,000 for the Sinn Féin whip Pádraig Mac Lochlainn. Sources confirmed that the assistant Sinn Féin whip will receive an increase from €5,000 to €9,500.

The Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil whips will receive €10,000 while the Green Party, Solidarity, Labour and Social Democrats whips will receive a €6,000 allowance.

Sources have also confirmed that a new system of extra payments for the three “super junior” ministers sitting at the Cabinet table will commence on Tuesday. They will share €32,000 worth of allowances between them – rather than getting a €16,000 allowance each.

[Jack Chambers, Hildegarde Naughton and Pippa Hackett have ‘waived’ this increased allowance, according to a Government spokesperson]

Cabinet approves plans to increase pay for judiciary (Irish Times)

Meanwhile…

Whip it back so.

This afternoon.

From top: Liz O’Donnell, Chairperson of the RSA, Hildegarde Naughton TD, Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics and Professor Denis Cusack, Director of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety at a media briefing for the Christmas and New Year Enforcement Operation in relation to road safety.

Meanwhile…

Helluva drug.

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

This morning.

Via RTÉ

1.6 million people who are receiving long-term weekly welfare payments will receive their Christmas bonus this week.

The Department of Social Protection said it will pay €390 million in total, mainly to pensioners, people with disabilities, carers and lone parents.

One of the first groups to receive the Christmas bonus are recipients of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP).

The Department said over 283,000 people who have been in receipt of a PUP payment – continuously or otherwise – for at least four months since March were paid the Christmas bonus this morning.

Anyone?

Hic.

1.6m people to receive Christmas bonus this week (RTÉ)