This afternoon.
Dáil Eireann, Leinster House, Dublin 2.
Following yesterday’s shenanigans…
…Independent TD and newly-elected Leas Ceann Comhairle [Deputy Chairperson of Dáil Éireann] Catherine Connolly on her first day as the first woman in her role.
G’wan the Catherine.
Yesterday: ‘Potentially 15 Government TDs Voted Against Their Agreed Candidate’
RollingNews /Oireachtas TV
This afternoon.
Department of Education, Marlborough Street, Dublin 2
Taoiseach Micheál Martin at a briefing on plans to reopen schools next month.
He said a comprehensive plan will be brought to Cabinet on Monday detailing a package of measures, including…
….around the well-being of children who have been absent from classrooms for several months.
There will also be special measures for students with additional needs and plans for children and teachers with compromised immunity.
Mr Martin said: “The objective is that schools will be fully open, and to keep everyone safe.”
Now kiss his ring.
Government spending this year likely to be €86bn versus original plan of €70bn according to Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath. pic.twitter.com/dgaKZiGKRZ
— Will Goodbody (@willgoodbody) July 24, 2020
This afternoon.
Hush now.
Meanwhile…
Via The Arts Council:
The Arts Council has welcomed Minister Catherine Martin’s announcement of measures to stimulate employment and activity in the arts and culture sector, saying it would invest in a range of schemes to support artists and arts organisations across the country.
As part of the €31 million package…said it would invest the additional resources in enhanced bursaries, commissions, projects and other supports for individual artists and practitioners, and in the arts organisations through which much of the work is made.
Minister Martin’s measures also include ;
Funding through the Creative Ireland programme to fund artists in local communities through local authorities; a music support scheme that will support all genres;.
€5 million to support the audio visual sector in de-risking the costs of productions to be rolled out in conjunction with Screen Ireland;
€5 million to help de-risk the costs of creating new theatrical works and other performances; €6 million in capital for arts infrastructure funding to accelerate construction in cultural institutions;
€2 million for the BAI’s Sound and Vision Fund; €3 million for a dedicated TV Drama fund to be run by Screen Ireland…
PLUS:
Funding to collaborate with national broadcast media to pay artists to produce material for national broadcast…
Anyone?
Previously: The One Per Cent
From top: Ruth Morrissey and husband Paul arriving at the High Court Dublin in 2018; Leo Varadkar yesterday
Do you think she should have been dragged through the courts till her dying day ? @SarahAMcInerney asking the question of Leo Varadkar many of us wanted answered all week.#todayrte #CervicalCheckScandal pic.twitter.com/ntm7BMFOrd
— Mick Caul (@caulmick) July 24, 2020
This morning.
Today with Sarah McInerney on RTÉ Radio One.
Former Taoiseach and now Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar defended his government’s decision to challenge Ruth Morrissey in court over misreading and misreporting of her cervical smear test.
Sarah Mcinerney: “Do you think she [Ruth Morrissey] should have been dragged through the courts until her dying day?”
Leo Varadkar: “I, I, I think it was, em, of course we all regret that that happened and bear in mind that these were decisions made not just by the laboratories but also the State Claims Agency which acts independently of politicians.
We don’t make these decisions as politicians they are made by the State Claims Agency, em, I, I, look it, I can’t understand the pain and difficulty and suffering she would have gone through and when it all started it was my fervent hope we would be able to settle all these cases by mediation and negotiation and many have been, this was the only case that went to a full hearing.
But sometimes the problem is mediation doesn’t always work…and that happens when there is a dispute about the facts which there was in this case. And I don’t want to go into the details of the case.
Some sections of the case she won, some she didn’t. The judgment in the High Court was slightly different, but it was really sad for her and her family that this became a test case, but it did become a test case, and one thing she achieved is the judgment from the Supreme Court settles all those points…”
Moving.
Previously: ‘Neither The State Nor The HSE Have Ever Apologised To Her’
Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin last night
Last night.
Brooks Hotel, Dublin 2.
Eamon Ryan won 994 votes to leadership challenger Catherine Martin’s 946 in a ballot of Green Party members.
Eamon Ryan said:
“It was a really close result. There is no two ways about that. The result could have gone either way. I will reflect on that.”
Catherine Martin said:
“There was diversity of opinion about going into coalition and about the programme for Government and that has been expressed but I believe we need to welcome those differences of opinion and be a welcoming space.
In relation to members that have left, I think it is very important that we engage with them.
I’ll be inviting them to talk to us and I’ll be asking them to stick with us.”
Last night: Perchance To Dream
Yesterday: Not With The Programme
Oh.
Wednesday night.
Gardaí seized €2,000 in deadly ‘Cannabis Herb’, €11,000 in cash and a high-tensile bow with arrows following a search of a residence in Dublin 7 by Bridewell Crime Prevention Unit.
A 44 year-old man was arrested at the scene.
He was all a quiver.
Quiver.
Suit yourselves.
Ireland’s policy of neutrality helps it avoid unpopular military entanglement. But it is in the EU where it shows true diplomatic dexterity https://t.co/Nz48NvYFMl
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) July 16, 2020
What can I say?
They love us.
*flexes biceps*
How Ireland gets its way (The Economist)
Thanks John Gallen
Attorney General Paul Gallagher speaking to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee outside a Cabinet Meeting in Dublin Castle yesterday
Attorney General who advised Government against rent hike freeze is also landlord – Irish Mirror Online https://t.co/ygEHuVoyXS
— Eoin Ó Broin (@EOBroin) July 24, 2020
This morning.
The Attorney General who advised the Government against a rent hike freeze is also a landlord, the Irish Mirror has learned.
The AG is required to disclose to the Taoiseach interests which could “materially influence you in or in relation to the performance of your official functions”.
Via The Irish Mirror:
Paul Gallagher is listed on the Residential Tenancies Board register as the owner of a five- bedroom house in Milltown, Dublin, along with his wife…
This is separate from the family home, which is located in leafy Ballsbridge, and another property that Mr Gallagher owns in Kerry.
A spokesman for the Attorney General told the Irish Mirror: “The matter was fully disclosed to the Taoiseach and the Cabinet.”
Last night.
Howth, County Dublin from Sutton.
Thanks Rémi
Eamon Ryan has been elected leader of the Green Party in a very close result – 48 votes between them. pic.twitter.com/TuZxZxCLft
— Sandra Hurley (@sandra_hurley) July 23, 2020
Tonight.
Earlier…
This afternoon.
Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.
Green Party leadership candidates Catherine Martin and Eamon Ryan attend a cabinet meeting ahead of an announcement of result by the party at 7pm.
More as we get it.
From top: Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration Roderic O’Gorman and Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht Catherine Martin; From left: Minister of State for Land Use and Biodiversity Pippa Hackett ,Minister for Climate Action, Communication Networks and Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar
Earlier: Not With The Programme
