Author Archives: Bodger

Today’s Irish Times

In today’s Irish Times.

Susie O’Connor writes:

“If we were to look at new ministers joining the Cabinet, who will leave? I would argue to change our Ministers for Health and Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs would be unhelpful to say the least. Even if they remain under the D’Hondt system, replacing the Minister for Finance with his experience of leading through financial recovery is a poor move.

“Moving further through the Cabinet, is it appropriate to change the Ministers for Business and Social Protection who are at the rapidly evolving frontline? And if the crisis deepens in relation to social order, will inexperienced ministers for justice and defence add value?

“Yes, there are constitutional questions relating to this, but if Covid-19 had hit six weeks earlier they would not arise. Extraordinary times need exceptional measures.”

The newspaper describes Ms O’Connor as “a business adviser with Genesis Management Consulting and a former government special adviser to Charlie Flanagan”.

According to her LinkedIn page, Ms O’Connor was a special advisor at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for two years, from 2014 to 2016; was a policy and communications advisor at Fine Gael for a year, from 2011 to 2012; involved in the operations and logistics of former Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s “winning General Election tour” in February 2011; and CEO of Young Fine Gael and a Fine Gael National Youth Officer for eight years, from 2003 to 2011.

Ms O’Connor was also the campaign manager of RTÉ journalist George Lee when he won a seat in the Dublin South by-election in June 2009.

She might be a little biased.

Coronavirus crisis is no time for rookie ministers (Susie O’Connor, The Irish Times)

This afternoon.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2.

Sophia writes:

Weir & Sons has made the difficult decision to close its doors and move to appointment only for the first time in 151 years.

Customers can still shop online on the Weir & Sons website where business is operating as usual. The decision was made with the safety of all staff and the well-being of customers in mind during the COVID-19 period.

Rollingnews

Here’s How.

The current affairs podcast hosted by William Campbell (right) meets Peter Boland (left), director of the Alliance for Insurance Reform.

William writes:

Peter speaks for an alliance of businesses about insurance costs. Are they paying way over a fair price? And, if so why?  And who is pocketing the money?  I ask the questions … and try to keep the Covid crisis in perspective.

Listen here

Here’s How

EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell (centre) in Monday’s virtual meeting

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ’s live tracker feed on the coronavirus…

The European Union’s decision-making process is being sorely tested by videoconferencing during the coronavirus pandemic, EU officials say,with one calling it a “catastrophe“.

A virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers yesterday was punctuated by technical problems, speakers who were unsure if they could be heard and a lack of translators.

“These video conferences don’t work very well, there are tech problems and the ‘Hello, can you hear me?‘ interruptions,” said a senior diplomat present at the video link.

“So people read out their prepared notes mostly. There is little scope for actual negotiations.”

“It’s a testing time for Europe. There are no summits, no ministerial meetings, less visibility,” the diplomat said.

Any excuse.

Live Covid-19: Range of non-essential services to close (RTÉ)

Previously: The Skype Is Falling

This morning/afternoon.

An Irish PE teacher, self-isolating at an undisclosed location, gives a lesson in home training.

In fairness.

This morning.

Government Buildings, Dublin 2.

Minister for Health Simon Harris speaking to the media on his way into Government Buildings in Dublin, as the Cabinet met to consider updated recommendations on tackling the coronavirus from the National Public Health Emergency Team. To wit:

The measures are likely to take in restaurants, cafés, hairdressers and a range of other service sectors regarded as non-essential.

Restrictions will also be introduced for outside gatherings.

While the measures will not be an exact replica of what has been announced in the UK, they will be significant.

Cabinet set to agree significant new restrictions (RTÉ)

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

This morning.

London, United Kingdom.

Nicole Smith tweetz:

This is my tube this morning. I live in Zone 4 and work in a Zone 1 hospital. I love my job, but now I’m risking my health just on the journey in….

Earlier: Containment

Thanks Bebe

Meanwhile…

RTÉ One’s Claire Byrne Live last night with the host (above) and Professor Sam McConkey (right) and Dr Matthew O’Toole

On RTÉ One’s Claire Byrne Live last night.

Ms Byrne, broadcasting live from her shed, told viewers that she had tested positive for coronavirus at the weekend.

A week ago, on the evening of March 16, Ms Byrne broadcast from the same location as she had been showing symptoms and was self-isolating.

Last night she said her symptoms had since “abated” and added “I’m not too bad at all actually”.

Ms Byrne said:

“Now I told you last week that I had gone into self-isolation because I was displaying some symptoms at the time. It was symptoms of a head cold that I thought I had.

“Since then I’ve been tested and that result was positive for Covid-19 and I’m one of the now 1,125 people in Ireland with coronavirus and as we learned today sadly two more people have died, bringing to six the number of lives claimed by this disease.

“And when we hear about those deaths, that’s what makes us all feel so worried and so anxious about this.

“So tonight what I want to do is to tell you about what happened to me over the last week. So I was here last week, I was talking to you, I was telling you about the symptoms I had of a head cold that my GP had referred me for a test.

Continue reading →

This morning.

Sebastian Stephenson writes:

Just thought I would give a quick update to let you know I have been updating the graph [with this source] and now it includes Northern Irish data.

Confirmed Cases Of Covid19 on the island of Ireland (Sebastian Stephenson, Visme)

Last week: Curveonavirus