Author Archives: Bodger

Simon Coveney (left) and Boris Johnson in Dublin in 2017

“Boris Johnson is outlining a very clear and firm position but it is a totally unreasonable position that the EU cannot facilitate and he must know that…”

“We all want to get a deal but, at the moment, nothing credible has come from the UK government in terms of alternatives to the backstop.”

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney this morning.

Meanwhile…

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps insisted Britain had made alternative proposals to replace the backstop, and it was wrong of Ireland and other EU countries to suggest otherwise.

“It’s just not true,” he said.

“So it’s a cover when they keep saying: ‘You are not putting forward ideas’- we are putting forward ideas”.

Johnson ‘totally unreasonable’ in backstop dispute – Coveney (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

The storm is upon them.

As Dorian spun into the warm, open waters of the Atlantic Thursday, concern grew about the storm’s projected path towards the United States, where it is expected to strike as a major hurricane over the upcoming holiday weekend…

Dorian to strengthen through Labor Day weekend, make US landfall as major hurricane (AccuWeather)

Cycling advocate Oisin O’Connor meets Shane Ross.

James Gallagher writes:








Yikes!

This afternoon.

Peter Marks Studios, Dublin

A selection of designs by the Council of Irish Fashion Designers at the presentation to the public of its Autumn Collection.

Terrifying Bewitching.

Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Apple HQ, Cork

Even among those employees who were concerned by the ethics of the programme, there has been anger about how the job losses have proceeded.

“I’m relieved this information came out,” said one former contractor who asked to remain anonymous due to a still-active non-disclosure agreement, “although I was involved in the work and I just lost my job. Discussions around ethics in this job was a constant between workers, but we don’t know how to bring it up.”

But, they added, “Apple, recruiting through vendor companies in Ireland, take absolutely no responsibility in the employment of contractors and their treatment in work.

They do what they want, and when they’re done with your project or they screw up (like what just happened), they tell your vendor company to let you go, which they do … It’s been coming at them for over a year.

How could they not see this coming? Did they think about protecting their employees at all? Or just their reputation?”

“We’ve all been laid off after the scandal, with no protection against this. More than 300 at once just in Cork, with no redundancy, just one week’s notice.”

Meanwhile…

“It is not acceptable that workers can be made unemployed with no notice given and then paid off with just one weeks’ pay. Apple are responsible for the position these workers find themselves in and Apple cannot just turn their backs and ignore the workers’ plight.”

Solidarity Cork North Central TD Mick Barry

Hundreds of Cork-based Apple contractors lose jobs after hearing Siri users private conversations (The Journal)

Apple ends contracts for hundreds of workers hired to listen to Siri (Guardian)


From top: Oliver Cromnwell (left), Boris Johnson; Fine Gael Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment Richard Bruton and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphries at Dublin Castle this afternoon

 

This afternoon.

Further to yesterday’s tweet by Minister of State Michael D’Arcy that Boris Johnson’s decision to seek a suspension of the House of Commons was the “most anti-democratic” decision by a prime minister since Oliver Cromwell established a “protectorate government” in the 1600s.

Ireland’s business minister Heather Humphreys said: “First of all, minister D’Arcy has removed that tweet. As far as we are concerned, we are not going to comment on internal British politics.”

The Irish communications Richard Bruton, another member of the Fine Gael party, said: “We are not going to get involved in British politics because they have a lot of decisions to make.”

Brexit: Irish minister compares Boris Johnson to Oliver Cromwell over suspension of parliament (The Independent.co.uk)

Michael D’Arcy slapped down by Helen McEntee for comparing Boris Johnson to Oliver Cromwell (Independent.ie)

Earlier: A Limerick A Day

Rollingnews

This afternoon.

On the set of The Letters by director Robbie Walsh (far right).

Actor John Connors (second from left) instagramz:

On set for for Robbie Walsh’s new feature “The Letters” a story about four women who fell victim to the Irish state’s cervical [cancer] scandal. A really important film. I play the nurse! Great to share a scene with my old mentor Kathleen Warner Yeates [above centre] who is eclectic in this film. Don’t miss this one.

The Letters (Kickstarter)

Last week: Innocent Boy Wins Love Of Virgin

Dublin’s Google Docks in the Grand Canal Dock; extract from Department of Justice submission explaining why Data Protection Commission should be only ‘partially included’ in the Freedom of Information Act

Journalist Ken Foxe tweetz:

If you ever wondered why there is such incredible levels of secrecy surrounding the Data Protection Commissioner, arguably Ireland’s most important state agency. They need to be able to provide “guarantee of absolute confidentiality” to the giant tech firms based in Ireland.

The above is an extract from a Dept of Justice submission explaining why Data Protection Commissioner should be only “partially included” in the Freedom of Information Act.

Will post the full record to @Thestoryie later on.

The Story