This morning.
Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow wind warning for the whole country for tomorrow from noon until midnight.
It also issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford from 4am tomorrow morning until 7pm tomorrow evening.
Sigh.
This evening.
At 6pm.
To mark International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers…
Sex Workers Alliance Ireland will host a candlelit vigil outside Leinster House. The group writes:
Together we will honour those who have suffered violence and lost their lives due to the dehumanising stigma and marginalisation created by criminal laws.
This year the extent to which our laws both actively harm sex workers and fail to protect us have come into sharp focus. Two workers have been prosecuted and sentenced to jail for the crime of working together for safety. One of these workers is pregnant.
We now know that violent crime against sex workers has increased by 92% since the law came into effect in 2017. Less than 1% of sex workers would report crime against them to the police. Recent spates of attacks and robberies on sex workers show that the law is failing to protect us.
Every sex worker we speak to wants to work with another worker for safety. Our so-called brothel-keeping laws prevent us from keeping ourselves safe.
This is the final IDEVASW before our law is reviewed in 2020. We must be listened to as the experts in living and working under this law.
Candlelight Vigil: End Violence Against Sex Workers (Facebook)
Previously: “It Is An Extremely Dangerous Piece Of Legislation”
Gulp.
Conor Ryan writes:
My take on ordinary people voting Tory in last week’s election in the UK…
Fight!
From top: Sophie Toscan Du Plantier; Ian Bailey (left); John D Fitzgerald SC
This morning.
On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
Barrister John D Fitzgerald SC spoke to Rachel English about the decision yesterday by Mr Justice Donald Binchy, in the High Court, to endorse a European Arrest Warrant issued by France for West Cork-based British former journalist Ian Bailey.
Mr Bailey was arrested and released on bail following the endorsement and will appear in the High Court again on January 20th, 2020, but his case will be up for mention this Friday.
The endorsement of the warrant marks the third time that French authorities have sought Mr Bailey’s surrender in relation to the death of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was found dead outside her holiday home in Schull almost 23 years ago, in December 1996.
The issuing of the warrant, and yesterday’s endorsement of the same, followed Mr Bailey being convicted of Ms Du Plantier’s murder in his absence in a Paris court earlier this year.
The three-judge Cour d’Assises in Paris imposed a 25-year prison sentence on him in his absence. Mr Bailey did not attend the French court and had no legal representation. He described the proceedings as a “farce”.
Documents which emerged in November 2011 showed that the late former Director of Public Prosecutions Eamon Barnes believed the Garda investigation into the murder was “thoroughly flawed and prejudiced” against Mr Bailey.
Mr Bailey has always denied any involvement in Ms Du Plantier’s death.
Further to this…
Rachel English: “This isn’t the first time that France has requested Ian Bailey’s extradition. What happened before?”
John Fitzgerald: “No, it’s not the first time. And this is in fact the third. This represents the latest in a series of requests by the French authorities stretching back almost 10 years.
“The Supreme Court refused to surrender Mr Bailey for the first time in 2012 on a number of grounds, the most important perhaps, for present purposes, of which was that we [Ireland] at the time didn’t prosecute for extraterritorial offences, unless those offences were committed by an Irish citizen.
Estrangement is a bad habit, you get used to not seeing people – Brian Kennedy
WATCH: @KennedySinger made this special film for #CBLive about how he came to terms with being estranged from most of his family and how he is planning to spend Christmas. pic.twitter.com/FpYmU4o4q1
— Claire Byrne Live (@ClaireByrneLive) December 16, 2019
Last night.
Claire Byrne Live on RTÉ One.
Singer Brian Kennedy (top) discusses the silent Christmas night had by many in Ireland involving turkey for one and – for whatever reason – no family involvement whatsoever.
How estranged are you, anyone?
From Arthur Mee’s Children’s Encyclopedia
Um.
Tom Moylan writes:
Three types of Irish people – from a 1950s British children’s encyclopedia…
Rubbish.
*measures forehead*
“I can’t get this balaclava on for love nor money”
‘Thick As’
A comedy short set in Belfast made for Channel 4’s ‘Comedy Blaps’.
Directed by Fergal Costello, produced by Luke Mason and starring Ian Beattie, Tracey Lynch, Chloe Hodgens, Tara Cush and Shane Todd.
Thick As (Comedy Blaps, Channel 4)
Thanks Laura Gaynor
Data from the National Claims Information Database
This morning/afternoon.
Via The Irish Times:
The cost of motor insurance claims fell 2.5 per cent between 2009 and 2018 but premiums rose 42 per cent, according to a Central Bank report …
The first comprehensive study of premiums and cost claims in Ireland appears to cast doubt on industry claims that the higher cost of car insurance is the result of spiralling payouts and increased claims, resulting in low profitability.
It found that the average cost of claims per policy fell from by 2.5 per cent from €437 in 2009 to €426 in 2018 while average premiums jumped by 42 per cent from €498 to €706.
The report, based on data from the National Claims Information Database, also revealed the industry here generated an operating profit of 9 per cent. The average level of profitability in the UK is 5 per cent.
Full report here
Motor insurance premiums up 42% even though claims fall, Central Bank report finds (Irish Times)
This morning.
Blessington Lakes, County Wicklow.
Thanks Stephen Stewart
This morning/afternoon.
State Street Corporation, Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin 2.
Members of Extinction Rebellion deliver ‘Three Christmas gifts’ to the State Street Corporation on behalf of the oil, coal and gas industries and “for the billions in State Street managed assets that enable these industries to destroy our planet”.
Festive.
