Author Archives: Bodger

From top: Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Speaker of the US House of Congress Nancy Pelosi at the Ireland Funds awards dinner on March 16; Speaker Pelosi welcomes Ambassador Dan Mulhall

March 16, 2022.

Washington DC, USA.

KN writes:

While I wish the Taoiseach a speedy recovery, do any of your readers share my general puzzlement at the sequence of events last week or even care to speculate on what [US House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi meant while introducing Mr Martin [a recipient of an Ireland Funds award]. Remember, minutes earlier, they were dining together and chatting. [Pelosi said]:

‘Congratulations again Taoiseach, and now I would invite the Taoiseach to the stage, but I have been informed that because the Taoiseach is on call as one of the leaders in the world his 2022 international Ireland Funds award will be given to ambassador Dan Mulhall…’

Cognitive decline or something more sinister?

We may never know.

Meanwhile…

“This evening, before we left to come here, all members of the delegation were tested for Covid-19 and the test on the Taoiseach was negative. But because a member of the wider delegation tested positive and while that test was being checked and rechecked, out of an abundance of caution, the Taoiseach was tested just as he left to come here and sadly, that test turned out to be positive. So, the Taoiseach has asked me to explain this and to deliver the speech on his behalf.”

Irish Ambassador to the USA, Dan Mulhall acceptomg Taoiseach Micheal Martin’s international leadership award from the Ireland Funds

KN adds:

When did he get the results? At the dinner table? Before he left? Did Nancy know? Does any of it make sense to you?

Anyone?

Previously: Rain On His Parade

PA/Ireland Funds

This afternoon.

Hmm.

Earlier…

This morning.

Earlier…

Ah here.

This morning.

Poll: Should mandatory face mask rules be reintroduced in certain spaces? (The Journal)

Update:

Um.

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Meanwhile…

Anyone?

It’s blowback!

This afternoon.

Further to the release last week of figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showing the price of fertiliser increased by 127% in the past year.

Social Democrats Agriculture Spokesperson Holly Cairns said:

“I met with local representatives of the Irish Farmers’ Association and the Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association this week to discuss the current challenges facing farmers and food producers, including the shortage of fertiliser.

“Since autumn, fertiliser prices have skyrocketed. Some farmers have only been able to buy a portion of what is needed for the year – while others have not been able to purchase any at all. This situation is made even worse with a shortage of supply which affects farmer’s capacity to grow sillage. The Minister for Agriculture must put in place a process to secure emergency access to fertiliser to prevent a crisis this winter.”

In 2020, nearly 266,000 tonnes of fertiliser compound was imported from Russia, close on 40% of Ireland’s total compound imports.

Deputy Cairns added:

“The Ukrainian conflict has again shown our dependence on global food chains. From potential shortages in wheat and sunflower oil, to the scarcity of fertiliser, we need a new approach to food security. The Department of Agriculture failed to learn the lessons from the pandemic. This crisis must be a wakeup call. We need policies that will ensure our food sovereignty.”

No poo, Sherlock.

Previously: Official figures confirm the soaring price of fertiliser

Shutterstock

 

Temple Bar, St Patrick’s Day, 2021

Temple Bar St Patrick’s Day 2022

This afternoon.

Several European countries, including Ireland, lifted their Covid curbs too “brutally” and are now seeing a rise in cases, the World Health Organisation has said.

Via RTÉ News:

WHO Europe director Hans Kluge told a press conference in Moldova that he was “optimistic but vigilant” about the pandemic’s development in Europe.

“The countries where we see a particular increase are the United Kingdom, Ireland, Greece, Cyprus, France, Italy and Germany”.

He said the main reason behind the increase was likely the BA2 variant, which is more transmissible, but not more dangerous than other variants.

But in addition, “those countries are lifting the restrictions brutally from too much to too few,” he said.

Several European countries – including Ireland – lifted Covid restrictions too ‘brutally’: WHO (RTE)

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan at Dublin Castle this morning.

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Opening the first National Climate Stakeholder Forum, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and Transport, Eamon Ryan, said:

“This National Forum is all about coming together, listening to different viewpoints and then working collectively to identify what we can do, and where challenges might exist, to deliver on our climate action ambitions. I am delighted to see representatives here from industry, civil society, trade unions, state bodies and agencies, and policy makers, as well as representatives from the National Youth Assembly on Climate.

“I look forward to hearing what will undoubtedly be lively discussions and, most importantly, listening to the innovative suggestions that are put forward to overcome any challenges that exist. This type of national dialogue is vital to ensuring that we are delivering on our transition to a lower-carbon future in a way that is inclusive, fair and effective.”

Minister Ryan opens first National Climate Stakeholder Forum (Gov.ie)

RollingNews

The results are in.

Last week, with a stunning Expedition Emerald watch from Huguenot Horology on offer, we asked you how long would you wait for a date before accepting you have been stood up.

You answered in your dozens.

Alas there could be only one winner.

Wubbelz wins the watch with this timeless memory:

“Waited over three and a half hours when I was a broke student in Bewley’s for a girl I was very much enamored with. The staff kept coming over as I nursed cold coffees, anxiousness turning to heartbreak. When i bumped into her the next day, i expected to be avoided, but she was FURIOUS. ‘Who do ye think you are ye ignorant so and so..’Well, as you may have guessed, right time, wrong Bewley’s. Anyway, 20 years married this year, so worked out OK!”

Well done, Wubbelz and thanks all.

Yesterday: is That The Time?

Previously: Wherever Green Is Worn

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney at Dublin Castle this morning

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Meanwhile, via RTE News:

Simon Coveney has said Irish troops could take part in a new rapid reaction force envisaged as part of the EU’s long term security and defence needs, which have been rapidly updated in light of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

“As regards a rapid reaction force, yes, I think there’s a good chance that we’ll be involved in that,” Mr Coveney said.

The rapid reaction force idea was approved by EU defence ministers as part of the so-called Strategic Compass, the EU’s new defence strategy which has been under discussion since November 2020.

He said that if there was a crisis “we could have up to 5,000 trained personnel that have trained together, worked together, have shared equipment, and are ready to go at short notice. And if Ireland chooses to be part of that, then of course we can be.”

Mr Coveney said Ireland had already been part of the development of so-called EU battle groups, and the rapid reaction force was building upon that structure.

Irish troops could take part in new EU rapid reaction force – Coveney (RTE)

RollingNews