Author Archives: Bodger

From top: Minister for Health Simon Harris (left) and People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny; A tweet from Mr Kenny this morning

On June 26,  2019, the Minister for Health Simon Harris signed legislation to allow for the operation of the Medical Cannabis Access Programme on a pilot basis for five years

In the Dáil on Wednesday, People Before Profit TD and medicinal cannabis campaigner Gino Kenny questioned the Minister on the “lack of progress” of the scheme.

He claimed not one person has been prescribed cannabis under the programme.

Gino Kenny: “On countless occasions over the past four years I have raised the issue of the medical cannabis access programme. This time last year the Minister announced that the programme would be functional. That was underpinned for,

I understand, the first time in medical history by a statutory instrument which allowed people to access medical cannabis legally. The Minister said he expected people to be prescribed medical cannabis by the Autumn. Does he know how many people have been prescribed medical cannabis under the programme? The answer is not one person.”

“Not a week goes by without parents of very vulnerable children ringing me to ask how they can get access to medical cannabis because their children are in desperate situations. I have run out of things to say to these parents. I can only say so much. They return to their doctors who tell them they do not know anything about the programme. Access has been four years in the making. It is referenced in the programme for Government, which is welcome, but the Minister has to give a commitment to parents and patients on getting access to medical cannabis under the programme. Can he give a commitment on this in his last couple of weeks as Minister for Health?”

Simon Harris: “While we might not agree on everything, Deputy Kenny’s sincerity and work rate on this is something I fully respect. He did a massive amount of work on this in the last Dáil and I know he will continue that in this Dáil.

“While I might not have gone as far as he would like, the Deputy certainly helped change and influence my position by introducing me to a number of people to whom this was very important. While he is right in the context of the compassionate access programme, we do need it open and I will give him a commitment to return to him with a written update on that within a week. There were a number of different elements and a number of people were repositioned during the Covid crisis. In my final days as a member of this Government, I would like to get the Deputy a written update and try to progress that.

“I say to the parents the Deputy is referencing that the ministerial licence scheme is available. While I know it is not ideal for everyone, I am signing them regularly – I think I signed two last week. In addition to that avenue, we have also come to funding support arrangements for a number of people under that. I want to get the compassionate access programme and I will get the Deputy a detailed written update this week.”

Previously: Gino Kenny on Broadsheet

Oireachtas.ie

Meanwhile…

 

Green Party TD Ossian Smyth

Dublin TD Ossian Smyth revealed that the Greens wanted to legalise cannabis but the idea was torpedoed by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael.

He told members: “In drug use, I argued for the legislation of cannabis.

“Fianna Fail and Fine Gael said no but what they did agree to was to extend the use of cannabis for palliative care because of course people who are dying should have any pain relief that they need and also to have a Citizen’s Assembly on drugs.”

Greens Party wanted to legalise cannabis but were shot down by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in negotiation (The Irish Sun)

Rollingnews

Tonight.

Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin

Via Irish Socialist Republicans:

Earlier this evening Ani Imperialist Action and Macradh activists unveiled a large banner on the ‘Victoria Monument’ in Dún Laoghaire that reads ‘Tear Down the Genocide Queen’.

Victoria, the English monarch presided over the Irish Genocide of the 1840s and the execution of the Fenian Prisoners. It is shameful to have a monument glorifying English Imperialism

Torn down by local Republicans in the 1980s, the monument was shamefully rebuilt by a pro imperialist Fine Gael council in the early 2000s.

Irish Socialist Republicans believe it’s long past time that the monument and all symbols of British Colonialism are torn down.

In the coming weeks the Campaign Against Colonialism will continue to be built.

FIGHT!

Yesterday: Meanwhile, On Sfort Road

Jack Teeling (above left) and Stephen Teeling (above right) at the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, The Liberties, Dublin 8 which re-opens its doors to visitors on June 29

Hic.

This morning.

Teeling Whiskey celebrates the 5th anniversary of the opening of its Teeling Whiskey Distillery in The Liberties to visitors.

Sinead writes:

Opened in 2015 it was the first new distillery in Dublin for over 125 years and started the revival of Dublin whiskey production.Over the last five years, Teeling Whiskey Distillery has become a stalwart in the vibrant Dublin tourism scene and has welcomed over 500,000 visitors over this time as well as being honoured as one of the best Whiskey Visitor Attractions in the World with over 19 awards from the Tourism and Whiskey community….

Meanwhile…

 

Sinead adds:

To celebrate, we would love to give  Broadsheet readers a chance to to WIN  a voucher for ‘A Teeling Trinity Tasting Tour’ for 2 People AND a bottle of Teeling Small Batch to take home! (As soon as the Distillery reopens).

This is a fully guided tour  where you can experience first-hand the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of a fully operational distillery followed by a tasting of Teeling Trinity – Small Batch, Single Grain & Single Malt. For a flavour of what you can look forward to, there’s a virtual tour online here

To enter, complete this simple rhyme:

There’s nothing like that feeling,

When you’re climbing the ceiling,

__________________________________,

__________________________________,

Lines MUST close at MIDNIGHT.

Telling Whiskey

Detective Garda Colm Horkan; Castlerea, County Roscommon

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ

Detective Garda Colm Horkan was shot at 15 times with his own official firearm in Castlerea, Co Roscommon, RTÉ News has learned.

Det Garda Horkan, who was from Co Mayo, was shot several times after he stopped a man driving a motorbike on Main Street in the town just before midnight. He died at the scene

…It is understood Det Garda Horkan was on patrol in the town when he got out of his vehicle to engage with someone.

He became involved in a physical altercation and called for assistance.

It appears the detective’s official firearm was taken from him during the incident and shots were fired at the garda.

Man fired 15 shots at garda with official firearm (RTÉ)

Earlier:

This morning.

RTÉ reports:

A garda detective has died in a shooting incident in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.

The shooting happened near Castlerea Garda Station on the main street of the town late last night.

The armed detective, who is from Co Mayo, was on duty on his own in Castlerea when he was shot just before midnight.

…It is understood the garda was on patrol in the town when he got out of his vehicle to engage with someone.

He became involved in a physical altercation and called for assistance.

It appears the detective’s official firearm was taken from him during the incident and a number of shots were fired at the garda.

Garda dies after shooting in Castlerea, Co Roscommon (RTE)

UPDATE:

In a statement the Garda Representative Association president Jim Mulligan has said:

“On behalf of the GRA, I extend our deepest sympathy to the family of our colleague fatally shot in the line of duty in Castlerea, Co Roscommon overnight.

“Our brave colleague died as result of injuries sustained when he was responding to an incident. He was based in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon, in the Castlerea District.

“A native of Co Mayo, he joined An Garda Síochána in 1995, and was an experienced detective greatly respected by colleagues.

“He is survived by his father, sister and four brothers.

“Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this very distressing time.

“Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.”

Physical Distancing guidelines for pubs

Kev writes:

Have you seen the actual guidelines proposed for bars (see above)?  They are either trying to kill the pub or destroy any sense of community a pub can provide. I would love to know why.

f_lawless writes:

There’s a feeling of inevitability about this descent into absurdity. The Irish ruling class don’t do accountability.

A policy reversal is unthinkable. Instead of holding their hands up and admitting the blanket shutdowns were an overreaction – that it’s time to open up and let citizens take responsibility for their individual behaviours, they’re now desperately trying to save face and keep the narrative going with these overly-cautious trade-off measures.

It doesn’t matter that nowhere in Europe has seen a sustained rise in cases after easing lockdowns or holding mass gatherings in recent times. Arbitrary numbers are plucked out of the sky.

How can any citizen have respect for an authority that will tell them to obey a 105 minute time limit for their own good when it’s plainly obvious that taking personal responsibility completely overrides that? If anything, setting a short time limit may encourage rapid binge-drinking in some.

Guidelines For Reopening Pubs (Fáilte Ireland)

Earlier: A Limerick A Day

 

From top: Neasa Hourigan, Roderick O’Gorman, Ossian Smyth, Catherine Martin (left) and Eamon Ryan

This afternoon.

Dublin city centre

Green Party members arrive to the broadcast of a Special Convention on the Programme for Government.

Martin urges members to ‘bring certainty to a precarious political situation’ (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Dartry Park, Dublin 6.

Carlosfandango writes:

Them bins are full lads.

1. Stop piling the poo bags on top of everyone else’s poo bags. Yisser just being Silly Billys.

2. What’s the story with the lads that are supposed to be emptying these bins?

Is there like a pandemic or something?

Anyone?

Monday: Plague Levels

 

Jean Kennedy Smith at a peace rally in Dublin in 1996 with then Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern

This morning/afternoon.

Jean Kennedy Smith, a US envoy who played a key role in Northern Ireland peace process, has died aged 92.

Via BBC:

Ms Smith was the second youngest of the nine Kennedy siblings, who included President John F Kennedy and Senator Robert F Kennedy.

A diplomat, activist and humanitarian, Ms Smith was the last-surviving child of Joseph P Kennedy and Rose Fitzgerald.

Ms Smith served as the US ambassador to Ireland in the 1990s, playing an important role in attempts to end sectarian violence in Northern Ireland.

In 2011, US President Barack Obama awarded Ms Smith the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour in the country.

That damn curse.

Jean Kennedy Smith: Last JFK sibling and US envoy dies aged 92 (BBC)

Rollingnews

 

From top: Newgrange; County Meath Poulnabrone portal tomb, County Clare

This afternoon.

Further to research by Trinity College Dublin revealed yesterday attempting to settle the question of the origins of Ireland’s prehistoric society…

…Historian Alison Sheridan, in Nature, writes:

The authors’ findings address key issues, such as the insularity of Ireland’s Mesolithic population, the immigration of Neolithic farming groups and the farmers’ relationship with the indigenous Irish Mesolithic fisher-hunter-foragers.

…The genetic data obtained from human remains dating to around 4700 bc (from Killuragh Cave, County Limerick, in southwest Ireland) and to around 4100 bc (from Sramore Cave, County Leitrim, in the northwest and Stoneyisland, County Galway, in the west) are the first DNA results for Ireland’s hunter-fisher-forager groups.

These Mesolithic Irish people were genetically distinct from their Mesolithic neighbours across the Irish Sea in Britain, suggesting a prolonged period of genetic isolation after these people sailed across to Ireland around 8000 bc.

..analysis of remains from Poulnabrone portal tomb (a single-chamber monument with a huge capstone and tall entrance stones) in County Clare, western Ireland, reveals the appearance of new genomic signatures.

This indicates the arrival in Ireland of people from elsewhere, from at least as early as 3800 bc, and is consistent with the idea that farming was brought to Ireland by immigrants.

[the] report has many other fascinating insights, including data on the probable skin, hair and eye colour of the ancient individuals, and the world’s earliest definitive evidence (dated to 3629–3371 bc) for a case of Down’s syndrome — in an infant boy, buried at Poulnabrone portal tomb.

However…

…there are also contentious issues, not least the use of social-evolutionary terminology. For example, it is questionable to characterize the society of those responsible for building the major Brú na Bóinne passage tombs as possessing attributes found in early state societies and their precursors, with all that that implies in terms of bureaucracy, centralized power structures and so on.

Moreover, in emphasizing the genetic affinities between Irish and British Neolithic farmers and those in Iberia (Spain and Portugal), the authors seem to fall into the trap of assuming that Ireland’s farmers had sailed up from Iberia — an argument for which there is no archaeological evidence….

Fight!

Last night: Hillbillies

Incest uncovered at the elite prehistoric Newgrange monument in Ireland (Alison Sheridan, Nature)

Pics: wikimedia