Author Archives: Bodger

This afternoon.

Thornton Manor, Wirral, Cheshire, England.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a three-hour meeting – at online sleuth Coleen Rooney’s 21st birthday party venue – where the pair emerged with the following statement:

Hmm.

Varadkar and Johnson say they can ‘see a pathway to a possible deal (RTÉ)

Inside Boris Johnson’s Brexit mansion where Coleen Rooney celebrated her 21st birthday party (Liverpool Echo)

Pics: Noel Mullen via Rollingnews

Update:

“I think all sides would like there to be an agreement next week at the council if possible, and obviously there’s a further deadline after that, the 31st of October, so I would say a short pathway rather than a long one.

“What this is about is securing an agreement that works for the people of Ireland and also the people of Britain and Europe. If it works for the people of Ireland, what it means is, avoiding a hard border between north and south.

“That’s always been our primary objective, ensuring that the all-island economy can continue to develop, and that north-south cooperation, envisaged by the Good Friday Agreement, can resume. Those are our objectives, this has always been about achieving those objectives, and I think today they can be achieved.”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this evening at Liverpool Airport heading back to Dublin.

Festival Of History tweetz:

So much on today for the Dublin Festival of History. Theories by Rowan Hamilton (top) and Schrodinger (above) impact today’s technology – Luuk Coopmans will explain in The School of Theoretical Physics, Burlington Road, at 6.30pm – this is rocket science…I think…

From left: Fine Gael general election candidate Mary Newman Julian; Offaly Fine Gael TD, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy

Offaly Fine Gael TD, Marcella Corcoran Kennedy has claimed the Green Party’s budget proposals are “positive proof that they have an anti-rural agenda.”

“Implementation of Eamon Ryan’s alternative budget would result in higher taxes, ongoing roads projects being shelved and future projects cancelled in Offaly,” the former junior minister stated.

“The Greens’ budget document does not contain a single policy on the biggest issue facing Offaly and country – Brexit,” she added.

“The Greens have indicated they will increase VAT on fertiliser at a time when farmers are already under pressure.

“They have also called for a re-introduction of a €10 air travel tax on all passengers departing Irish airports. This would negatively impact our tourism industry, a critical part of the rural economy already facing the threat of Brexit.

From an article in the Offaly Express on Tuesday.

‘A bit rich’ – Green Offaly councillor hits back at Fine Gael criticism (Offaly Express)

“The Green Party’s budget proposals are positive proof their leadership knows little about real life in rural Ireland, Fine Gael general election candidate Mary Newman Julian has said.

Implementation of Eamon Ryan’s alternative budget would result in higher taxes, ongoing roads projects being shelved and future projects cancelled in Tipperary.

And on top of this, Ms Newman Julian said the Greens’ budget document did not contain a single policy on the biggest issue facing Tipperary and the country – Brexit.

“The Greens have indicated they will increase VAT on fertilizer at a time when farmers are already under pressure.

“They have also called for a re-introduction of a €10 air travel tax on all passengers departing Irish airports. This would negatively impact our tourism industry, a critical part of the local economy in Tipperary, already facing the threat of Brexit.”

From an article on Tipperary Live, also on Tuesday.

Rob writez:

This is pretty much the same article from two different Fine Gaelers…

Anyone?

Tipperary FG candidate slams Budget proposals from Green Party (Tipperary Live)

Previously: ‘Propaganda Is Something You Pay For’

“Part Of Our Deal Is That We Don’t Have Any Moniker Such As ‘Advertorial’”

 

Thom McDermott, at the Gaiety School of Acting, writes:

We made a little video for World Mental Health Day with our students reading lines from famous films…

World Mental Health Day

Gaiety School of Acting

Meanwhile…

Via Brian Bilston

 

 

This morning.

Across Dublin city centre.

Members and supporters of I Bike Dublin stage a ‘slow cycle’ demonstration, as part of this week’s Extinction Rebellion events.

Pics: Rainer Melzer, Onyerbike, and Cllr Donna Cooney

Alternatively…

From Catherine Byrne (third left) yesterday; Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Daithi Doolin

This morning.

Further to revelations in the High Court that officials from Dublin City Council were aware and recommended that protection money be paid to two violent criminals so that council houses could be built in west Dubli.,

On Today with Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio One.

Sinn Féin Dublin City Council councillor Daithí Doolin has said that that he informed the former Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, the then Minister for Housing Simon Coveney, and junior housing minister and Fine Gael TD Catherine Byrne, and a number of Garda superintendents and assistant commissioners about matters concerning extortion on Christmas Eve, 2015

Cllr Doolin said he his requests for an urgent meeting were ignored. He said he wasn’t aware that Catherine Byrne TD had discussed the matter with the council (which she said yesterday).

Cllr Doolin said:

“we required a meeting for a comprehensive response. One person almost lost his life. over this. He was doused in petrol and set on fire…There was silence at the time..I tried to roar it from the  rooftops and was met with deafening silence.”

More as we get it.

Earlier: No Payment Were Made By The City Council

PricewaterhouseCoopers in Bangkok, Thailand; advert for job at PwC in Bangkok

David writes:

“I noticed the following role for “Office Boy” by PwC accountants in Thailand. This could be seen as ageist and sexist, but hey it’s not in a first world country. I thought it was interesting that reputable companies are happy to act like this in other countries.”

Anyone?

Building relationships, creating value?

Office Boy (Global Careers, PWC)

Moore Street, Dublin 1, in 1972

“I took these photos in 1972 in the street market in Moore St in Dublin.

“Urban renewal was gathering pace and the ILAC Centre was being planned and people wondered about the future for these street traders.

“Well, after 47 years the end is nigh, so here is my salute to these tough resilient women – my mother shopped in Moore Street when I was growing up.”

Michael Foley on Facebook.

Spaghetti Hoop asks:

Is that Éilish a Dó there with the plastic headscarf (pic 3)?

Anyone?

Meanwhile, Spaghetti Hoop adds:

‘1972 is before my time but in the 1980s, my mum parked quite handily (and free) on Moore Lane on a Saturday and we gathered veg and fruit from the Moore Street gals on the way back to the car after a day of shopping and a jorum + Cidona in Madigan’s.

Never bought the meat; bluebottles crawling all over it in the Moore Street butchers.

‘Course at Hallow’een time, my pockets were full of bangers, crackers and stink bombs: WMD for the 31st. Fruitful times…’

Michael Foley (Facebook)

Previously: After 200 Years

Dublin City Coucil offices on Wood Quay, Dublin 8

Last night.

Further to revelations at the High Court that officials from Dublin City Council were aware and recommended that protection money be paid to two violent criminals so that council houses could be built in west Dublin in 2016 and 2017.

Dublin Editor of The Irish Times Olivia Kelly reports:

Dublin City Council has denied it paid protection money to two west Dublin criminals to stop violence and intimidation at social housing construction sites in the Ballyfermot area.

…In a statement on Wednesday the council said it “does not condone the payment of protection money by any of its contractors” and “no payments were made by the City Council to the individuals concerned”.

Meanwhile…

The Herald newspaper this morning.

Dublin City Council denies paying protection money to criminals (Olivia Kelly, The Irish Times)

Yesterday: I Know Nothing