Author Archives: Bodger

This afternoon.

Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone (above) is answering questions from the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs.

It follows Elaine Dunne, of the Federation of Early Childcare Providers, telling RTÉ’s Morning Ireland this morning that many childcare providers were in immediate danger of closing due to insurance costs.

Ms Zappone said she has approved a “once-off Programme Support Payment” of an average of €1,500 to providers, costing a total of around €7million.

She said the payment will be made by December 28, 2019.

Ms Zappone said the recent insurance hikes follow the recent withdrawal of an insurance provider from the Irish market, Ironshore Europe, and confirmation that another could not be found.

The minister said, until recently, there were two insurance providers underwriting childcare providers and now there is only one: Allianz Ireland.

Ms Zappone said she acknowledges the situation is “undoubtedly” causing stress to childcare providers and worry for parents.

Creches scramble for insurance cover as premiums ‘double’ (The Irish Times)

Watch the meeting live in the video link above or here

An hour?

Yikes.

Um.

Con Kennedy writes:

Anyone else see the irony in Theresa Lowe (above) covering Madonna’s “Material Girl” on RTÉ’s ‘Christmas Then and Now’?

Previously: Sure Where In The World Would You Get It?

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

This morning.

Strasbourg, France.

“We won’t become a third country, as I’ve been hearing this morning, we’re going to become an independent, self-governing nation.

“You can delude yourselves this morning inside this cathedral that all is well, but it isn’t.

“People do not want to be run and governed by faceless bureaucrats like Michel and Von der Leyen.

“Did you hear them earlier? Dull as dishwater.”

Nigel Farage (top) says goodbye to his European Parliament colleagues.

FIGHT!

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

European Parliament, Strasbourg, France

Emily O’Reilly has secured a second term as the European Ombudsman following a vote in the European Parliament…

The former Irish Ombudsman, who secured 320 votes in the secret ballot, faced a tough battle to retain her position with a strong challenge from Estonian Judge Julia Laffranque.

O’Reilly secures second term as European Ombudsman (RTÉ)

Getty

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Fine Gael Wexford by-election candidate Verona Murphy

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ:

Verona Murphy has confirmed to RTÉ News that she is to be deselected as a general election candidate by Fine Gael.

Ms Murphy said she is going to take a break from politics over Christmas, and will assess her options in the New Year.

During the by-election campaign Ms Murphy apologised after claiming that some asylum seekers coming to Ireland have to be “deprogrammed” as they “carry angst” and may have been “infiltrated by ISIS”.

Murphy confirms she will be deselected as a Fine Gael candidate (RTÉ)

Previously: Verona Murphy on Broadsheet

Minister of State with special responsibility for Insurance, Michael D’Arcy (left) and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe

Asked about reports that some providers have seen massive rises in premiums of thousands of euro, Mr [Michael] D’Arcy said Allianz Insurance were more expensive than other options, and that two thirds of the market were covered by the company.

He said it was important to know that it costs around €60 per child for a crèche to get insurance cover, which they are obliged to have.

He said if there were 50 children in a crèche at €60 each the cost for insurance is around €3000, and each crèche must be insured….

Govt cannot stem rising childcare insurance costs – D’Arcy (RTÉ)

Last night.

Department of Justice, Dublin 2

Members and supporters of The Sex Worker Alliance Ireland (SWAI) hold a candlelit vigil to mark International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Sex Workers.

The Alliance says that less than 1% of sex workers report crimes against them to the guards.

EamonnFarrell/Rollingnews

Splutter!

John Kelly writes:

I spotted this blatantly sexist advert in a shop window in St Stephen’s Green shopping centre [Dublin 2] yesterday.

Can you imagine the uproar if that was a bloke lifting a woman’s skirt for a sneaky look at her under-carriage?!

FIGHT!

Rowing across the Atlantic.

Without cox!

Robert Collins (top left) writes:

so, I signed up for a rowing race across the Atlantic – the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in 2020. A friend of mine, Kev O’Farrell (top right) and I will row 5000km from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean.

We’re doing this for both the amazing adventure of it and hoping to raise some good money for the Childrens Medical Research Fund who raise money for childrens hospitals around Dublin. Kev is a social worker in Crumlin Childrens Hospital…

The Salty Pair

Anyone?