Author Archives: Bodger

Gavan Reilly tweetz:

Meanwhile: the European Parliament has rejected a resolution asking member states to step up search-and-rescue for refugees in the Mediterranean.

Fine Gael’s four MEPs voted against; it lost by two.

Watch the vote result emerge – to applause – here

MEPs reject migrant rescue resolution (EU Observer)

Previously: ‘Our Naval Service Is Part Of It’

Into Harm’s Way

UDPATE:

Green Party MEP Grace O’Sullivan has tweeted:

Sad, sad day for me. An MEP vote around supporting the rescue of drowning migrants in the Mediterranean has been defeated.

How did the Irish MEPs vote?

Myself + Ciarán Cuffe voted for the motion…along Anderson, Carthy, Flanagan and Wallace.

All 4 FINE GAEL voted AGAINST.

I do not think FG was motivated by racism, heartlessness or anything like it.

Their group argued that rescue efforts act as a ‘pull factor’.

We in @GreensEFA do not agree, but we need to work together on a better outcome for those affected. Hateful language has no place in this.

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ:

A spokesperson for Global Trailer Rentals Ltd (GTR) has confirmed that it owns the refrigerated trailer in which 39 people were found dead in Essex yesterday.

GTR is based in Dublin but also has locations in counties Louth and Monaghan.

The spokesperson said the trailer leased on 15 October from Global Trailer Rentals’ yard in Co Monaghan at a rate of €275 per week until it is returned.

The company has contacted the incident team in Essex police directly and gave them information about the person and company that leased the trailer.

Irish company confirms it leased refrigerated trailer at centre of Essex tragedy (RTÉ)

Yesterday: In Essex

This afternoon.

Director of Commercial and Marketing at Bohemians FC Daniel Lambert tweetz:

A year ago today I was stressed as f*ck, funny looking back, acted 100% correctly which was later acknowledged, six-figure sales in 8 hours, we would have made millions…

Still the league’s best-selling shirt ever & truly global publicity.

Like winning the Lotto & losing the ticket.

Mmf.

Context

Previously: Natty

From top: Fine Gael TD Seán Kyne, Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley, Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin

This afternoon.

In the Dáil.

TDs are making statements in respect of the ‘Votegate’ report.

Fine Gael TD Seán Kyne (top) branded the actions of the TDs involved “thoughtless, cavalier and arrogant”.

He also said their behaviour has “damaged” the Dáil.

Watch live here

Earlier: Meanwhile, In The Dáil

Concert promoter Peter Aiken at Dublin’s RDS last year

This afternoon.

Robert MacNamara, in the Echo, reports:

Concert promoter Peter Aiken has said is he is unaware that developers plan to begin work on the Live at the Marquee site at the end of next summer, bringing the long-running concert series to an end.

Speaking to the Echo this morning, the man who has brought the likes of Brian Wilson, Elton John and Bob Dylan to the tent at the docklands since it’s first staging in 2005 said he has not been in contact with site owners Glenveagh Properties about plans for the site’s development.

…Up to 1,000 homes are expected to be built on the land.

Responding to news being reported in the local media this morning that 2020 will be the last year of the much-loved concert series, Mr Aiken said: “I haven’t heard that, I don’t know anything about it.”

Marquee promoter unaware of developer plans on concert site; annual series set to end in 2020 (EchoLive)

Rollingnews

Last night.

William Street South, Dublin 2.

the launch of Fanta’s limited edition flavour Dark Orange with Halloween FM at Bloody Mary’s with spooky choons from DJ Fionnuala Moran.

From top: Niamh Cullen and James Patrice; Maja Moranska and Orla Burke; Rebekah O Leary and Maria Murphy; Audrey Hamilton; Lawson Mpame, Tara Byrnes and Phil Costello; Filomena kaguako and Lorna Duffy; Kimberly Brophy; Joel Mawhinney and Madison Cawley; Ethan Mawhinney , Lucy Blaney and Kayman Power.

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

The Phibsborough Centre, Dublin 7

Many brutal returns.

Overshadowed in Dublin writes:

Hi Radio Broadsheet. Please play a song for my neighbour who’s 50 today….

Brand New Retro: Phisborough Shopping Centre (Brian McMahon, Totally Dublin)

Thanks Paul McCarthy

This morning.

At the Public Accounts Committee.

The committee’s chair Fianna Fáil TD Seán Fleming read from a letter outlining the costs to date related to the Public Services Card.

The letter sent to the committee was from secretary-general of the Department of Employment and Social Protection, John McKeon, and stated the cost of the card has, so far, amounted to €67.8million.

Reading from the letter, Mr Fleming said:

“€36million of which is in respect of staff costs, related to the administration of the SAFE process and then there’s €31.8million has been paid – broken down as follows: €29.2m to the card production company, set-up costs of €26 [million]….that doesn’t add up. It might have been €2.6 [million] perhaps. And they have desk and card activation at €2.64million.”

The Irish Times reported on the letter this morning, stating that, from the €67.8million figure, €36million was spent on staff costs, and:

“€29.2 million was spent on the card production company, €294,000 was spent on facial matching software and maintenance, and €2.3 million was spent on departmental hardware and ‘systems development’.”

Mr Fleming said representatives from the department are scheduled to come before the Public Accounts Committee in a few weeks and that members will then get to ask them specific questions about the card.

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy asked that they be asked about the lifespan of the card, what the projected cost is, and if there are any storage costs in relation to the card.

She also added:

“I note here that ‘we don’t have biometrics’ , according to the department but ‘we have facial matching software and maintenance’. It’s not a gigantic amount of money but that, to me, suggests biometrics.”

Watch the Public Accounts Committee meeting live here

Public Service Card cost nears €68m as enforcement order ‘imminent’ (The Irish Times)

Previously: Public Services Card on Broadsheet