Author Archives: Bodger

This afternoon.

Outside Leinster House.

Members and supporters of Extinction Rebellion hold a protest in response to comments about climate change made by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at the launch of the government’s first progress report on its Climate Action Plan last Thursday.

Yesterday the Sunday Business Post reported that Mr Varadkar said:

“One thing that we definitely face as a result of climate change is warmer winters. We’re already experiencing warmer winters, and that actually means using less energy because it’s warmer and people need less heating, and it also means fewer deaths as a result of cold weather.

“It’s interesting that when you do look at those things, that there is a ledger, and there are benefits and there are downsides. The downsides outweigh the benefits but we need to be aware of them too.”

Meanwhile…

The group tweetz:

“… let’s take a look at Leo Varadkar’s ledger.”

Fewer deaths and warmer winters due to climate change: Varadkar (Aiden Corkery, Sunday Business Post)

Pic: Extinction Rebellion Ireland

 Dublin Institute of Technology lecturer, journalist, FOI sleuth and founder of investigative news site Noteworthy and Right To Know, Ken Foxe tweetz:

“Here’s another unusual ‘quirk’ from the ‘clock-in’ system for TDs & Senators. Even though they’ve only to record attendance for 120 days a year, they get paid for 150 overnights.”

TAA?

Related: Why do TDs living a relatively short drive from work in commuter towns get €15,000-a-year in “accommodation” expenses? (Ken Foxe, 2016)

Neeraj Jain (above) who was killed while cycling to work last Friday: I BIKE Dublin plan a week of activities to mark Mr Jain’s death

Following the death of Neeraj Jain who was cycling to work last Friday morning when his bike collided with a cement mixer at the back of the builkding site of the National Children’s Hospital….

….I BIKE Dublin is organising a series of actions this week to draw attention to “the fatal neglect of our roads by critical public services”.

Mr Jain, from Faridabad, India, moved to Ireland in 2018 to pursue a Masters degree in Engineering in UCD and was working with Deloitte in Dublin.

Ciarán Ferrie of I BIKE Dublin writes:

This week, I BIKE Dublin will hold a series of actions targeting those State institutions that bear responsibility for the safety of people who cycle in this city….

We demand that the killing of Neeraj Jain marks a turning point – and that those responsible for safety on our streets ensure that no more cyclists are killed.

I BIKE Dublin demands:

A commitment from those responsible for the safety of our roads that there will be no more deaths of people who cycle.

We demand this commitment from:

Owen Keegan, CEO, Dublin City Council

Shane Ross, Minister for Transport

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris

Anne Graham, CEO, National Transport Authority

Moyagh Murdock, CEO, Road Safety Authority

Dr. Sharon McGuinness, CEO, Health and Safety Authority

Dublin City Council to immediately fast-track a programme of physically protected cycling infrastructure in the Dublin City Council area. NB The space for this can be taken from private motor traffic lanes and on-street car parking and not from pedestrians; this history of reallocating space from pedestrians is completely unacceptable.

Dublin City Council to immediately release all statistics in relation to the 5 axle HGV ban, including the names of companies in violation and the frequency of violations.

Dublin City Council to install speed cameras to measure the worst streets in Dublin for speeding motorists.

An Garda Síochána to desist from all social media activities pending an independent review by the Garda Ombudsman into derogatory and insensitive communications dating back to 2017 (following inappropriate tweets from the @gardatraffic account which make jokes about bicycles on the same day that Neeraj Jain was killed).

I BIKE Dublin

Last Friday: This Morning

Pulling with my Parents.

Via RTÉ 2:

Luca (26) grew up in Castleisland and having lived in Cork for a few years decided he missed the simple country life and moved back home…

Luca has been on tinder on and off for a couple of years…..Mum and Dad want him to find someone that has their head screwed on and knows where they are going in life. Mum’s preference is a teacher or nurse and she s hasn’t met any of his previous girlfriends as Luca knows she probably wouldn’t approve…..

Pulling with My Parents at 9.30pm on RTÉ 2.

This morning.

A letter to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, signed by more than 1,000 people, has been published on page three of The Irish Times.

In the letter, the signatories are calling for a “new conversation” about the constitutional future of the island of Ireland.

Over 1,000 sign ‘new conversation’ open letter to Taoiseach (The Irish Times)

Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland tweetz:

The M Hotel, former Treacys Hotel in Monaghan. In apartheid South Africa, white people and black people weren’t allowed to sit on same park bench. This is Ireland in 2019 where asylum seekers are forbidden to go into a bar, use main entrance, or sit with Irish people.

Meanwhile…

Last Friday evening…

Lucky Khambule, of MASI, on RTÉ News.

Related: Sarah McInerney: Direct provision strategy has made us withdraw our welcome for migrants (The Sunday Times)

Tesco, unspecified store, Dublin.

Killian Nolan writes:

Depending on which aisle you choose in Tesco you could be paying 245% more for your 200g bag of Walnuts.  Baking aisle (€1.75) much much cheaper than the snacking aisle (€4.29).