Author Archives: Bodger

From top: *Sam eating from a cardboard sheet on Grafton Street on Tuesday night; Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty; Tánaiste Simon Coveney in the Dáil today

This afternoon.

During Leaders’ Questions in Dáil Éireann.

Sinn Féin deputy leader Pearse Doherty raised the picture of a five-year-old boy *Sam (not his real name) eating a pasta dinner given to him by a homeless charity while kneeling on a piece of cardboard on Grafton Street in Dublin on Tuesday night.

Just over two weeks ago, the most recent figures from the Department of Housing showed there were 10,345 people (6,490 adults and 3,848 children) living in emergency accommodation in the final week of August.

The figure represent a decrease of seven adults but an increase of 70 children compared to the figures for the final week of July. 

This afternoon, Mr Doherty addressed Tánaiste Simon Coveney when he said:

“The photograph showed a five-year-old boy eating his dinner off a sheet of cardboard on the ground in this city.

“Sam is the boy in that photograph, he’s five years old. He goes to school like any other child but Sam is homeless.

“Sam and his mum live in emergency accommodation like thousands of other families in this state.

“The Homeless Street Café, the homeless group, who met Sam on Tuesday night, made clear that his mother is trying her best to provide nutritious home-cooked meals for her children

“But, like so many parents of the homeless children of this state, they live in emergency accommodation that strictly forbids them from cooking meals for their children.

“That is Sam’s life, Tánaiste. Without a home, without the comfort and security which should be a right for every children [sic] in this State.

“That’s the life of nearly 4,000 children like Sam that have been condemned to this type of nightmare.

“There is only one place our children should be on a Tuesday night. And that is safely tucked up in their beds, in their home, with their families.

“The moral stain of child homelessness in Ireland is creating a lost generation. Children who are having their childhood stolen from them, right before our eyes.

“Stunting their development, harming their education, exposing them to hardships that no child deserves and that no society should accept.

“Behind the statistics, Tánaiste, the Minister for Housing tries to bamboozle the public with, there is a stark and dark reality of our housing crisis.

“A crisis that your government has manufactured, a crisis that many are profiting from, from the suffering of others.

“We’ve over 10,000 people recorded as homeless at the end of August of this year.

“That’s the seventh month in a row where we have those figures recorded – a 365 per cent increase during a five-year period of unending, uninterrupted, economic growth.

“And these figures don’t even provide the full picture, Tánaiste, they don’t include the women and children living in domestic violence shelters, funded by Tusla, they don’t include the adults and children living in hostels that aren’t funded by Government departments.

“And they don’t include those still living in Direct Provision, despite having secured their leave to remain.

“This is the Republic that you and your government are building. These are the parents and children you’re failing, children like Sam.

“This is not a republic of opportunity that cherishes all of the children of the nation equally.

“It is a national shame.”

More to follow.

Earlier: Dear Sam

Yesterday: ‘Sam’

Fianna Fáil deputy leader Dara Calleary; Tánaiste Simon Coveney

This afternoon.

During Leaders’ Questions.

Fianna Fáil deputy leader Dara Calleary asked Tánaiste Simon Coveney about the Brexit deal agreed between the UK and the EU this morning – but rejected by the DUP.

He specifically asked if Mr Coveney could confirm the deal will ensure there are no border or customs checks on the island of Ireland.

He also asked if he could confirm the Good Friday Agreement is “intact” by way of this deal.

And he asked if members of the Irish government – Mr Coveney himself, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar or any of their officials – “engaged” with members of the Democratic Unionist Party in “recent days” to “see if the Irish Government can assuage their concerns, whatever they are, around this deal”.

Mr Coveney said he urged caution and while there is an agreement between UK and Brussels, “that isn’t the end of the process”.

But he said the deal recognises “all of the issues we have been raising over the past three years”.

He said it will “protect” the people on the island of Ireland, and peace and trade on the island.

He added:

“It will ensure that there are no checks, whether they be sanitary and phytosanitary, whether they regulatory cheeks, whether they be live animals, or indeed whether they be customs checks in the context of goods travelling and being traded north and south, and south and north. I think that is a very significant achievement.”

He also said:

“The bit that has changed in the Withdrawal Agreement relates to Ireland. Much of the Irish protocol remains the same on issues like the CTA and so on. But the provisions which were previously referred to as the backstop have changed.

“But we have always said that if we can replace the backstop with something else that does the same job on the key issues that I outlined earlier in terms of protecting the peace process preventing a hard border and protecting  Ireland’s place in the EU single market and customs union, if we can achieve that, then we will always look favourably on a new approach.

“As long as the outcomes were guaranteed and I believe they are. And that is why I think this is a deal that is worth supporting because it protects core Irish interests.”

Watch Dáil proceedings live here

Earlier: Done Deal

Today’s Irish Mirror cover with an image taken earlier this week in Dublin city centre taken by The Homeless Street Café

Babs Bear writes:

Dear Sam, These men – @MurphyEoghan @LeoVaradkar and  @simoncoveney – are in charge of the care of our homeless and want us to accept it’s OK for you to eat your dinner off cardboard, on a pavement, in our capital city.

It’s not OK. Sam. You’re 5.

Yesterday: ‘Sam’

Part of the print edition cover of the current issue of the Dublin Inquirer

This week.

Illustrator Eoin Whelehan and writer Dara T Higgins have created the cover for the current print edition of the Dublin Inquirer.

In the newspaper they write:

“This is a protest poem, in pictures. Because that’s all we have. Words, images and a sense that not all is right in the capital.

“The spaces that once existed to do things, studios for art or rehearsal, spaces in which to perform, to sell, or to show, are disappearing. The names of venues read like they should be on the foot of a cenotaph. The fallen in a cultural war.”

View their protest poem and read their article in full here

Dublin Inquirer



‘sup?

Via Dublin Zoo:

Dublin Zoo is thrilled to announce the birth of a baby western lowland gorilla, born to mother Vana (top) and father Bangui (elsewhere).

This is the second baby gorilla born in Dublin Zoo this year.

On Saturday first-time mother Vana gave birth to the healthy infant at approximately 12.40pm.

So far, keepers have been unable to determine the sex of the infant….

Dublin Zoo

Pics: Patrick Bolger

RTÉ Europe Editor Tony Connelly; tweet from Mr Connelly

RTÉ Europe Editor Tony Connelly has tweeted that a Brexit deal has been done.

In the past few moments, Mr Connelly told Seán O’Rourke, on RTÉ Radio One:

“A deal has been done. There is a text which has been concluded and we’re expecting a statement from Michel Barnier in the next while.

“But this is extremely important because EU leaders are arriving and, as of five minutes ago, they haven’t got a text to look at. So a text has now been concluded.

“All of the outstanding issues on VAT, consent, customs, everything now, appears to have been concluded.

“But, of course, we don’t know for sure if the DUP are fully satisfied and on board but from the Brussels’ perspective, a deal has been done.”

Asked if he knows if the DUP has accepted the deal or if this is a deal between London and Brussels, Mr Connelly said:

“Well, that’s the nature of these negotiations, it’s a team of British negotiators with a mandate from No 10 Downing Street and a team of EU negotiators with a mandate from the member states.

“So this, one presumes, has gotten over the line on the basis that Downing Street is happy with it. By extension, one assumes that the DUP must be on board. But again we’ve had scenarios in the past where the DUP haven’t been on board so we just have to wait and see how this plays out.”

More as he gets it.

The European Commission has released the above letter from President of the European Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker to President of the European Council Donald Tusk.

UDPATE:

BREAKING: EU-UK reach agreement on Brexit deal (RTÉ)

UPDATE:

UDPATE:

Chief Brexit Negotiator for the European Union Michel Barnier holds a press conference on this morning’s developments.

UPDATE:

The revised withdrawal agreement can be read here

 

Leader of the DUP Arlene Foster; a statement from the DUP this morning

This morning.

The Democratic Unionist Party released a statement saying the party cannot support the current Brexit deal that is being negotiated between the UK and the European Union.

DUP says it cannot support current Brexit deal being negotiated (RTE)

Meanwhile, earlier this morning.

Just after 1am.

RTÉ Europe Editor Tony Connelly tweeted the latest on Brexit:

Ok, here, late in the day, is what RTÉ News understands EU and UK negotiators have agreed as the revised backstop. Bear with me…I’ll break it down into Customs and Consent.

Customs: Northern Ireland is legally in the UK’s customs territory, but would it would apply the EU’s rules and procedures on tariffs.

Northern Ireland would also be aligned with the rules of the single market for industrial goods and agri-food products, meaning both regulatory and customs checks and controls on the Irish Sea for goods going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.

However, the extent of the controls would be reduced thanks to a series of tariff exemptions.

There would be an automatic exemption for personal goods and possessions carried by those travelling back and forth between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, or, for example, if an individual was moving house.

However, there would potentially be a broader category of goods and tradable products that could be exempt from tariffs and controls if there was no risk whatsoever of such goods entering EU’s single market across the land border.

These categories of goods would be decided on in the future by the Joint Committee of EU and UK officials by consensus.

The Joint Committee was established in the original Withdrawal Agreement as a way for both sides to manage the new arrangements.

The intensity and scope of Irish Sea checks would be limited by a risk-analysis. However, the EU would, through the Joint Committee, have a veto over which kinds of goods would enjoy an exemption from tariffs and controls.

There would also be a system of rebates for goods shipped from Great Britain to Northern Ireland if those goods attracted an EU tariff that was higher than the UK tariff.

Consent: The mechanism essentially provides a qualified opt-out of the revised backstop arrangements via the NI Assembly.

Northern Ireland would take on the new customs and regulatory regime for four years after the end of the transition period, which is due to conclude at the end of 2020.

At that point Stormont would have to take a view as to whether or not to opt out of the new arrangements.

If Stormont voted to opt out, then there would be a two year cooling off period, during which all sides would have to find an alternative way of complying with the Good Friday Agreement and avoiding a hard border.

If at the end of the two years no alternative was found, then the Protocol would lapse, meaning Ireland would be back to a hard border scenario.

However, if the Stormont Assembly were to collapse during that period, then the default would be that the Protocol arrangements would continue to apply (ie, the revised backstop).

But there will be also be important variations on how Stormont votes for a potential exit.

If Stormont decides to use a simple majority vote, which is seen as less favourable to the DUP, then if that vote to opt out does not succeed, then Stormont would vote again four years on an opt out.

However, if Stormont decided to go for a cross-community majority vote, which is seen as more favourable to the DUP, and the vote did not pass, then Stormont would have to wait another eight years before having another opt-out vote.

Complex, convoluted, politically fraught, but does it square the circle? It’s a weighted approach that gives the DUP cover but the opt out might never take effect because if a hard border looms SInn Féin could just collapse the assembly and the default is the revised backstop.

This morning, Mr Connelly tweeted:

Senior EU official: consent issue is not currently the subject of last minute negotiations.

Senior EU official: at a certain point some [leader] will say before we approve the text we need to study it, we fully trust the Commission, but that could be a problem.

Senior EU official: People are waiting for the text, they are waiting to translate it into 23 official languages.

Senior EU official: consent is a key question. Is it the issue which remains open at the level of negotiators? That issue was discussed and there was agreement. But of course nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. But Barnier was clear that on consent there was agreement.

Senior EU official: there could be another summit before the end of October.

EU-UK agreement reached over customs, consent in post-Brexit future (RTE)

Marc Power

Last night.

Near the Odeon Cinema on the Malahide Road in Coolock, Co Dublin.

Marc Power was the victim of a pre-planned homophobic attack.

Gardai are currently investigating.

Last night, Marc wrote on Facebook:

I’ve just been the victim of a premeditated homophobic attack here in Dublin. Went to meet someone off Grindr. Was met with a group of teenage boys with weapons. They tried to kill me with these weapons. They were trying to hit me on the head with hammers.

They didn’t manage but I’m in the emergency room in hospital with facial injuries and my car was destroyed. I’m ok but fu**ing angry. I need to find out why Grindr allows violent scum to open accounts.

Gardai investigating after homophobic thugs lure gay man to cinema before beating him with hammer in North Dublin (Dublin Live)

Gay man victim of horrific homophobic attack in Dublin (GCN)

Thanks Frillybiscuits

This afternoon.

Members and supporters of the Mental Health Warriors demonstrated outside the gates of Leinster House.

The group, which is calling for 24/7 mental health services and more funding for mental health services, included Fiona Twomey (red coat) whose 11-year-old daughter Milly from Templeogue, Dublin, took her life in 2016.

Kathy Maguire (third picture), from Newbridge, Co Kildare, also took part in the protest.

Kathy’s daughter Maxine, aged 25, died by suicide in February 2017.

Meanwhile…

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar; Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald

Earlier today, during Leaders’ Questions, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the protest would be taking place today.

She also recalled the death, by suicide of Grainne Gault’s daughter Elisha on St Patrick’s Day last year, and told him Grainne would be taking part in the protest.

Ms McDonald told Mr Varadkar that, over the past two years, 744 people in Ireland died by suicide.

She added:

“The Government’s failure is most evident in the child and adolescent mental health service, CAMHS, which is on its knees.

“It is crumbling while families and communities cry out for help, which the Government is not providing. Staffing shortages have led to CAMHS beds lying empty and children waiting months for mental healthcare.

“In August, 2,440 children were waiting for mental health services. Half of those children were waiting at least 12 weeks to be seen, while 748 were waiting six months. That is far too long to wait when a young person’s health, and possibly life, hangs in the balance.”

In his response, Mr Varadkar told Ms McDonald:

“Since 2012, the budget for mental health services has increased by 44%.

“I doubt one could find such a large increase in mental health funding in any seven-year period in Irish history.

“An additional €40 million for mental health was announced in the budget last week, which brings the mental health budget to over €1billion for the first time.”

He added:

“The Deputy will be aware that the rate of suicide in Ireland has fallen by about 30% in recent years.

“Of course, any suicide is one too many, but we all welcome the fact that suicide rates in Ireland are dropping. It also reminds us that there is more to do.

“The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, who has responsibility for mental health, informed me last week that the CAMHS waiting list is down 25% and still falling.

“That is a very positive development, on which we need to build. We have also invested in improving psychological services in primary care, by hiring an additional 114 assistant psychologists, for example.”

The Taoiseach added that, last week, a 24-hour mental health helpline was established for the first time.

He said:

“People often do not know how to access the 1,000 or so different mental health services out of hours, whether in the evening, at nighttime or on weekends. That helpline, which is based in the National Ambulance Service, is making a real difference.”

Ms McDonald, during her response, said:

“The death of Elisha Gault, the child I mentioned, was not captured in the official statistics.

“She is not officially recorded as a death by suicide. Instead of claiming – I believe erroneously – that deaths by suicide are falling, the Taoiseach would be better served by looking at those real live statistics and understanding that they do not represent the full picture.

“The Taoiseach rattled off figures to me, citing a figure of €40 million. However, only €14 million of that is new money. That is a fact.”

Transcript via Oireachtas.ie

Leah Farrell/Rollingnews and Mental Health Warriors (second pic)


From top: Google Map from Westport to Turlough in Co Mayo; Google Streetview image of N5 between Castlebar and Turlough; Leo Varadkar with Minister for Rural & Community Development Michael Ring at yesterday’s announcement of a €240m Mayo road upgrade

Yesterday.

Rural and Community Development Minister and Mayo TD Michael Ring confirmed that the Government will spend €240million on upgrading the N5 Westport to Turlough road in Co Mayo.

The upgrade is planned to include 20km of dual carriageway and a 2.5km link to the N59, while Mr Ring said it will be the largest ever Government investment in Mayo.

He also reportedly said people in the area have been waiting for the road project for 25 years.

Further to this…

Green Party’s Saoirse McHugh last night tweeted about the news, saying:

“This will take a journey of 20mins down to one of 15 mins.

What a phenomenal waste of money.

Who is this even for!?

Perhaps, instead of spending years ploughing up the countryside for a road nobody has ever mentioned wanting, we could start local energy projects?

Rural Ireland isn’t emptying out because of lack of roads.

Farmers can’t sustain themselves, markets and small shops are gone because of big supermarkets, there are no fish left and even if there were the piers are falling into total decay.

We need a proper vision for rural Ireland where small producers and processors can survive.

We need intervention in the housing market so people can find somewhere to live.

We need agricultural reform, fisheries reform, public transport, etc.

I’ve lived in Achill most of my life and have never ever heard anybody talk about needing a dual carriageway.

And all this in the middle of a CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY EMERGENCY.”

Minister Michael Ring dismisses suggestion €241m road project for Mayo is ‘parish pump’ politics ahead of an election (Independent.ie)

Rollingnews