Author Archives: Bodger

Last night.

Voting in the Dáil chamber at the Convention centre on a People Before Profit motion calling for pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) to be restored to its previous rate of €350

People currently receive between €203 and €300 a week if they lost their job as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.

Yesterday: Comply Or The PUP Gets It

Clockwise from top: Dr Martin Feeley’s position with the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group was ‘untenable’ after criticising Ireland’s ‘Draconian’ response to Covid-19; Dr Marcus de Brun is currently under investigation by the Irish Medical Council for doing the same; Dr Patrick Morrissey was removed as chairman of Shannondoc for delivering a speech against restrictions and questioning case numbers

They wouldn’t muzzle it.

Now they must pay.

Via Limerick Leader:

Dr Patrick Morrissey, of Shannondoc has been removed from his position, after he delivered a scathing anti-Covid restriction speech against Nphet and the Government at a rally in Dublin at the weekend.

Dr Patrick Morrissey, who operates a clinic in Adare, told the Limerick Leader that a meeting of the Shannondoc board on Monday night concluded that he was to be removed from the board as chairman and director…

…Asked if it was fair that he was removed from his position at Shannondoc, Dr Morrissey said: “I think it’s a sad indictment of a country that we live in and the time we live in, that things are so polarised and there isn’t room for free speech, and that I would be penalised because of that. But I respect the board’s integrity and they have made a judgement.”

Limerick doctor ‘removed’ from role as chair of Shannondoc after Covid rally speech (Fintan Walsh, Limerick leader)

Previously: ‘I have Said All I Can‘

That’ll Learn Him

From top: Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly; Chief Medical officer Dr Tony Holohan

This morning

Claims that Dr Tony Holohan, the Chief Medical Officer said he spoke to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly both before and after NPHET met on Sunday, need to be addressed, say opposition TDs.

Dr Holohan said Minister Donnelly had been “clear about the level of concern that I would have, and had”.

Tanaiste leo Varadkar among others expressed surprise when NPHET’s Level 5 recommendation was leaked.

Meanwhile…

Via Newstalk:

Sinn Féin’s health spokesperson claimed that the Health Minister “allowed the impression to be formed that NPHET went on a solo run”.

Social Democrats co-leader Róisín Shortall said: “I am calling on the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD, to make a full statement of what he was told on Sunday morning and evening and what he did with that information.

“The country was distracted by an unseemly row between the Government and NPHET at precisely the moment when all attention should.”

Labour leader Alan Kelly (above) reiterated the calls for a Dáil statement from the minister, saying Minister Donnelly “must clear up this latest controversy”.

Donnelly Urged To Give ‘Full Explanation’ (Newstalk)

Last night: Disposable Heroes

RollingNews

This evening.

An Garda Síochána’s surreal Operation Fanacht ends its first day.

The highways are little safer.

Earlier: Comply or The PUP Gets It

Update:

Officers who spoke to The Irish Times were unapologetic about the long traffic jams caused in some parts of the country, saying Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had on Tuesday warned very clearly that delays were inevitable.

More than 130 static checkpoints erected on motorways and other arterial routes yesterday morning around the country were switched to the opposite side of the road later in the day.

It meant motorists delayed in the morning faced the same disruption in the evening; a strategy that was set to continue for the next three weeks.

Cruel and futile.

That’ll learn the rona.

Senior gardaí hope checkpoints and traffic jams provide ‘sharp shock’ (Irish Times)

A mural showing Dr Tony Holohan on Devitts’ Pub in Dublin by artist Niall O’Loughlin in May

Further to Tanaiste Leo Varadkar’s criticism of NPHET’s Level 5 plan stating it was “not thought through”, a clear rebuke to Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan…

Via Independent.ie:

Instead of taking Nphet’s advice on board but not accepting it, Varadkar’s calculated takedown displayed his nasty streak.

Rather than being honest with people and saying the Government feels there is an acceptable level of infection and death, the Government has muddied the water by blaming Nphet for giving bad advice.

Nphet has given its advice in good faith in line with its role and the scope of their expertise…

…The chief medical officer came back to his role, saw Nphet’s advice not being taken seriously and a Government failing to implement its own plan to live with Covid-19 through an utter lack of engagement and enforcement. So Nphet put forward a short, sharp shock to the political system and public at large.

Tony Holohan certainly overplayed his hand, but that didn’t justify Varadkar taking it upon himself to destroy a man’s credibility and character.

Oh.

From hero to zero on live TV (Fionnán Sheahan, Independent.ie)

RollingNews

Update:

From left, at top: Senator Marie Sherlock, Spokesperson on Finance Ged Nash TD, Senator Rebecca Moynihan, and Party Leader Alan Kelly

This afternoon.

Merrion Street, Dublin 2.

The Labour Party launches its alternative Budget 2021. Which includes:

ObairGhearr, a short term working scheme would save jobs, provide training and restore the link to incomes.

Tax increases targeted at wealth and assets, and the ending of wasteful tax breaks would raise €1.8bn to fight the pandemic, improve services and create jobs.

Overall Labour commits to a stimulus of nearly €5bn, and a further €6.4bn Covid-19 contingency.

Social Contract would protect workers, families and communities (Labour)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

At ease.

This afternoon.

Leinster House, Dublin 2.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Health David Cullinane (above) launches the Sinn Fein Alternative Budget Proposals for Health joined by Thomas Gould TD (second right); spokesperson on Mental Health Mark Ward TD (right); and spokesperson on Climate Justice, Senator Lynn Boylan (left).

Sasko Lazarov /RollingNews

This afternoon.

KN writes:

Trending all day…

WhyAreTheyDoingThis?

Meanwhile…

Ivor Cummins writes:

People keep asking #WhyAreTheyDoingThis?, and rightly so. Well here (above) is just one reason (in simplified form) – in a sense they have no choice, politically.

Yesterday: Data Logic