Author Archives: Bodger

This morning.

Government Buildings, Dublin 2

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for European Affairs Helen McEntee with European Commission Chief Negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier  just days before the UK leaves the EU on January 31

Leah Farrell/Rollingnews

Meanwhile…

Fine Gael TD Helen McEntee, on yesterday’s The Week In Politics on RTÉ One, claimed Brexit was coming up on 90 per cent of the homes that she has been canvassing – disputed by Soc Dem Mick Caul.

Previously: “I’ve Yet To Hear A Single Person Mention It”

Channel 4 News writes:

Ben Kavanagh [from Kildare] is working as a teacher in Wuhan – the city under quarantine as the deadly coronavirus reportedly continues to spread across China.

Coronavirus makes for dismal lunar new year for Wuhan residents (Financial Times)

Morgen Scheißekopf writez:

“A Labour election poster I took on the Howth Road in Raheny on Saturday.

Notice the strategically protruding cable tie ends, one at animal eye height, one at child eye height and one at adult eye height.

“I contacted the candidate’s election team over a week ago and they promised to deal with it immediately. However Labour have a track record of not delivering election promises…”

Oh.

Halfahead writez:

Taken from Sutton on Saturday evening…

Save Poolbeg.

Meanwhile…


Seamus Mallon in 1998

This afternoon.

Seamus Mallon, former SDLP deputy leader and one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement, has died.

RIP.

Seamus Mallon, former deputy leader of the SDLP, dies (BBC)

Eamonn Farrell/Rollingnews

“Seamus Mallon was a force of nature.

In the darkest days of conflict, when hope was in short supply, Seamus represented the fierce thirst for justice that ran through the SDLP and through communities that had lost so much to political violence.

His passion for peace underpinned by truth, justice and reconciliation came from a lifetime as a proud son of Markethill where he was born, grew up and raised his own family.

It didn’t matter who you were, where you worshiped or what your politics were, there was always help to be found at Seamus’ hearth.”

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood

SDLP Leader pays tribute to the life and legacy of Seamus Mallon (SDLP)

Stop that.

It’s not a pacifier.

Or is it?

This afternoon,

Labour Party HQ, Dublin.

The Labour Party published proposals for new public childcare options.

To wit:

The party has pledged to roll out a pilot scheme which will at first benefit 6,000 children and will be targeted initially at parents who cannot afford to work and pay for childcare costs.

The applications process will involve a parent declaring their income and showing two quotes from commercial providers.

Initially if the childcare cost is more than 30 per cent of the parent’s net income, they will be eligible for inclusion in the scheme.

A spouse’s income is not included which means the calculations will be based only on one parent’s income, the party said.

From top: )l-r) Deputy Chair of Labour Women Hannah Deasy with baby Oliver (8 months), Labour election candidate Andrew Montague with his son Phillip (1.5 years), and Lorraine Mulligan with Harry Power (6 months); Aodhán Ó Ríordáin with Oliver Deasy Celin and Andrew Montague with son Phillip; Senator  Ó Ríordáin and baby Harry Power (6 months).

Any excuse.

Labour vows to slash the cost of childcare by up to two thirds (Irish Times)

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

This afternoon.

Fine Gael Election HQ, Dublin

Scenes from the launch of Fine Gael’s General Election 2020 manifesto in which party leader Leo Varadkar promises to:

Increase current health funding by €5bn over next five years.

Recruit 5,000 nurses and 3,840 primary care workers and to provide free GP care for under 18s.

Increase the point at which a single person pays the higher rate of tax to €50,000 euro and €100,000 for a couple.

Expand the Help-to-Buy scheme to help more people to buy their first home.

Increase the State pension by €25 a week, over five years.

Pledges on health, USC and help-to-buy in Fine Gael manifesto (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

Oh.

A cabinet seat for Michael?

Anyone?

Brendan Griffin?

Radio Kerry

Thanks Jerry