Author Archives: Bodger

This morning.

Blackrock, County Dublin.

More as we get it.

Above from left: the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath; The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, and the Minister for Social Protection, Community and Rural Development, Heather Humphreys outline changes to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme this afternoon

This afternoon.

Government Buildings, Dublin 2.

The budget deficit this year will now be €23 billion, up approximately €1.25 billion on the figure outlined in Budget 2021, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe announced at a press conference.

Via RTÉ

The increase reflects the anticipated €2 billion spend over the next six weeks on several income and business support schemes as Level 5 restrictions come into play.

This will mean that GDP is expected to decline this year by 3.5%, a further 1% decline on the forecast released at Budget time.

Mr Donohoe said that the enhanced Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) is expected to cost €105m a week, the new Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) €80m a week and the PUP €135m a week.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys said the enhanced PUP will be given at its current rate until January when it will then be reviewed….

Level 5 Covid restrictions to push Budget deficit up to €23 billion (RTÉ)

Julian Behal Photography/RollingNews

Ahead of Level 5.

What is an essential retail outlet?

Via Retail Excellence:

1. Outlets selling food or beverages on a takeaway basis, or newspapers, whether on a retail or wholesale basis and whether in a non-specialised or specialised outlet.

2. Markets that, wholly or principally, offer food for sale.

3. Outlets selling products necessary for the essential upkeep and functioning of places of residence and businesses, whether on a retail or wholesale basis.

4. Pharmacies, chemists and retailers or wholesalers providing pharmaceuticals or pharmaceutical or dispensing services, whether on a retail or wholesale basis.

5. Outlets selling health, medical or orthopaedic goods in a specialised outlet, whether on a retail or wholesale basis.

6. Fuel service stations and heating fuel providers.

7. Outlets selling essential items for the health and welfare of animals (including animal feed and veterinary medicinal products, pet food, animal bedding and animal supplies), whether on a retail or wholesale basis.

8. Laundries and drycleaners.

9. Banks, post offices and credit unions.

10. Outlets selling safety supplies (including work-wear apparel, footwear and personal protective equipment), whether on a retail or wholesale basis.

11. Hardware outlets, builders’ merchants and outlets that provide, whether on a retail or wholesale basis –
(a) hardware products necessary for home and business maintenance or construction and development,
(b) sanitation and farm equipment, or
(c) supplies and tools essential for farming or agriculture purposes.

12. Outlets providing for the repair and maintenance of mechanically propelled vehicles or bicycles and any related facilities (including tyre sales and repairs).

13. The following outlets, insofar as they offer services on an emergency basis only:
(a) Optician and optometrist outlets.
(b) Outlets providing hearing test services or selling hearing aids and appliances.
(c) Outlets selling office products and services for businesses or for relevant persons working from their respective places of residence, whether on a retail or wholesale basis.
(d) Outlets providing electrical, information and communications technology and telephone sales, repair and maintenance services for places of residence and businesses.

14. Any other retail outlet that operates an online or other remote system of ordering goods for purposes of collection at the retail outlet.

15. Outlets selling food or beverages whether on a retail or wholesale basis and whether in a non-specialised or specialised outlet –
(a) insofar as they sell food or beverages on a takeaway basis or for consumption off the premises,
(b) insofar as they are staff canteens operating for the exclusive use of persons working in, or at, a particular premises, or
(c) subject to paragraph 8 of Part 2, hotels or similar accommodation services insofar as they sell food or beverages for consumption on the premises by residents of the service.

Earlier: This Land Is Hemp Land

Level 5: Essential Retail as defined by Government for Level 5 (Retail Excellence)

At a glance: What does Level 5 mean? (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Labour Party Leader Alan Kelly TD this afternoon

This afternoon.

Leinster House, Dublin 2.

Any Level 5 pushback?

The Social Democrats said the prospect of some normality at Christmas is an incentive to work hard, but this time must be used to devise an agreed medium-term strategy, while Labour leader Alan Kelly said the hope of some Christmas celebrations will build social solidarity…

Oh.

Meanwhile…

 

Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald

Last night.

Speaking on [Newstalk’s] The Hard Shoulder, [Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald] said: “I accept that measures up to and including Level 5 may sadly be necessary.”

Anti masker.

You’re on your own.

Cabinet agrees to allow 25 mourners attend funerals during Level 5 (RTÉ)

Mary Lou McDonald Says ‘Restrictions May be Necessary’ (Newstalk)

RollingNews

Former Fine Gael European Affairs Minister Lucinda Creighton with her husband, and former Fine Gael senator, Paul Bradford in 2013

This afternoon.

FIGHT!

Previously: ‘Revise Current Policy And Consider An Alternative Strategy Tailored To Our Nation And Its People’

New Yorker writer and CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin

This morning/afternoon.

Via BBC:

A top US legal analyst has been suspended by New Yorker magazine after he exposed himself on a Zoom call. Jeffrey Toobin, 60, also a prominent CNN commentator, has been in demand as the US election campaign intensifies. The incident, first reported by Vice News, happened during an election simulation involving the New Yorker and WNYC radio last week.

New Yorker’s Jeffrey Toobin exposes himself in Zoom call (BBC)

Meanwhile…

‘…This piece has been updated with more detail about the call. The headline has been updated to reflect that Toobin was masturbating.’

New Yorker Suspends Jeffrey Toobin for Masturbating on Zoom Call (Vice)

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1

Stoner-filled breeding ground for the lurgy?

Or oasis of sanity in a world gone hatstand?

Only YOU can decide.

Previously: Free Your Mind

This morning.

Crumlin, Dublin 12.

Officers from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) conducted a search operation at a ‘compound’ earlier resulting in the seizure of 10 motorcycles, three cars and a sum of cash. Two people have been arrested.

Name those beasts (left to right), anyone?

RollingNews/@gardainfo