Author Archives: Bodger

Incorrigible.

 This Day In Irish History tweetz:

This day 119 years ago – 19 February 1901 – Thomas O’Donnell, MP for West Kerry, spoke Irish in the House of Commons during his maiden speech. The Speaker of the House, William Gully (top), interrupted, saying O’Donnell could not “address the house in any other language than English.”

But what did he say, anyone?

Thomas O’Donnell?

Sinn Féin’s negotiating team, top from left Pearse Doherty, Eoin Ó Broin, Matt Carthy and Louise O’ Reilly at Government Buildings, Merrion Street, Dublin 2 yesterday

This morning.

Via Breakingnews.ie:

Pearse Doherty, Sinn Féin’s Finance Spokesperson, is adamant a coalition with Independents and smaller parties is possible.

“We’re not naive in this, there is obviously issues which need to be thrashed out with the party but what needs to happen is real, proper engagement,” said Mr Doherty.

“That is what Sinn Féin have been doing. That is why we hit the ground running last week with initial contacts with those parties.

“We want to tease out with them their appetite for really delivering on what the voters gave us and that was a clear direction that they wanted these big issues of health and housing and others resolved.

“So that is our first port of call.”

Doherty adamant coalition with smaller parties is possible as talks intensify (Breakingnews)

Earlier: Preferred Options

Rollingnews

This morning.

Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

Fingal County Council has become the first Local Authority in Ireland to launch a ‘Mobility Hub’ to “support accessible and sustainable travel “.

Via Fingal County Council

The hub comprises five parking bays with specific colour-coordinated functions including age-friendly, disabled, electric vehicle charging, bike rack (bike share and public), and car sharing.

The aim of the Mobility Hub is to encourage varied and sustainable types of transport in areas that are close to existing public transport links with high concentration of employment, housing, shopping, amenities and recreation.

Over the coming months, the Mobility Hubs will be rolled out on a phased basis across Fingal towns and villages….

Impressive move?

Or fresh restrictive madness?

Only you can decide.

Pic via Fingal Press Office

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Via The Irish Times:

Only about 8,000 of the 21,000 new homes built in the Republic last year were offered for sale on the open market, according to the Construction Industry Federation.

The federation, which represents most builders, says that the State acquired at least 4,400 new homes for social housing, while investment funds bought 95 per cent of the 3,644 apartments completed here last year.

95 per cent.

Just 8,000 houses built last year offered for sale on open market, says CIF (irish Times)

Thanks class wario

This morning.

Via Extra.ie:

Almost half of Irish people want Mary Lou McDonald to be the next Taoiseach, according to an Amarach research poll of 1040 Irish adults conducted for Extra.ie on February 16.

…The 50-year-old Sinn Fein leader was dramatically more popular among younger voters compared to both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael’s leaders — a staggering 52% of those under 35 polled said that they would like to see the president of Sinn Fein as the head of the Irish government.

Almost half of Irish people now want Mary Lou McDonald as Taoiseach — (Extra.ie)

Meanwhile…

 

When it comes to forming a new government, Sinn Fein combined with Fianna Fail is the preferred option for Irish voters, according to an Extra.ie poll.

The poll, carried out by amarach research, said for coalition formation, 31% of those polled would prefer to see a Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin combination while 30% would like to see a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael.

Just 9% wanted a Fine Gael/Sinn Féin government while 30% of people wanted a coalition that didn’t involve those three options. The poll, conducted on Monday, indicates that Sinn Féin would benefit more than any other party if there was a second election and receive an additional 10.5% of first preference votes.

Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail the coalition of choice for Irish voters — (Extra.ie)

A change is as good as a rest.

Or is it?

Rob Reeves writes:

I recently asked the people of Dublin how they feel Ireland has changed in their lifetime. I received a wide range of opinions on immigration, political correctness, entitlement and religion…

Rob Reeves Films

This afternoon.

The National Potato Conference  in The Red Cow Hotel, Dublin.

Speaking at the National Potato Conference Lorcan Bourke, fresh produce and potato manager at Bord Bia, said: “Today’s National Potato Conference positions the potato as ‘The Food of the Future’. He said:

“The crop has many benefits including its high nutritional content and its natural sustainability credentials.

These themes will feature in the wider EU-campaign, as we know that these are issues important to our target audience of people aged 18-34.”

Bord Bia launches potato consumption campaign – aimed at millennials (Agriland)

This afternoon.

Rutland Place, Dublin 1

Residents Helen Flanagan and Amy Ni Mhurchu outside their rented house joined by supporters and members of the Community Action Tenants Union Ireland (CATU).

The claim that their landlord who was subletting off someone else – whose loan was purchased by a vulture fund – did not give proper notice before telling them that they have to leave.  Helen and Amy say that they are willing to comply as long as they are treated with ‘fairness and dignity’.

Community Action Tenants Union Ireland (CATU)

Sam Boal/Rollingnews

This afternoon.

Government Buildings. Dublin 2.

Sinn Fein TD, from left,:  Matt Carthy, Louise Reilly, Pearse Doherty and Eoin Ó Broin, the party’s negotiating team to help forma new government.

Meanwhile…

Commenting after being told by the PSNI that the dissident Republican group New IRA is planning a bomb attack on the car of a Sinn Féin member, the party’s deputy leader Michelle O Neill said:

“We have been told this planned attack could happen anywhere in the north.
This is literally a threat against thousands of Sinn Féin members and their families in the north.
…This latest threat shows once again that these groups are in conflict with their own community.
…Let me be very clear. Sinn Féin will not be deterred from pursuing our objective of a united Ireland.”

Bomb threat against Sinn Féin members must be lifted – O’Neill (Sinn Féin)

Earlier: ‘Shadowy Figures’ And Morality For Millennials [Updated]

Rollingnews