Author Archives: Bodger

This morning.

Dublin 1.

Former solicitor Michael Lynn arriving at the Criminal Courts of Justice. Jury selection is continuing at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for Lynn, who is charged with stealing €27 million during the Celtic Tiger from a number of financial institutions.

Court told former solicitor Michael Lynn stole €27m (RTE)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Broadcaster Sean O’Rourke

This morning.

Via Irish Times Letters:

For many years now there has been ongoing discussion regarding the salaries paid to RTÉ presenters. If I recall correctly, one of the arguments presented by RTÉ management was the need to keep their high earners on board, to protect the advertising revenues generated by their shows.

This argument suggests that there is a queue of suitors in the form of independent radio stations ready to snap up RTÉ talent at the first opportunity.

We now see a situation where, arguably, one of RTÉ’s finest current affairs presenters of the last decade is out of contract and open to offers. It will be interesting see how RTÉ manages this situation and even more interesting to see how the independent stations react.

If RTÉ does not seize the day and re-engage, it will bring into question the validity of their stated argument. If one or indeed all of the independent stations decide not to pursue the services of this established and available broadcaster, it will bring into question the business acumen and understanding of RTÉ.

Seán Malone,
Dublin 16.

FIGHT!

Irish Times Letters

Previously: Putt Me Back On

RollingNews

Fianna Fáil TD Sean Fleming

“Rather than just complaining and [asking] ‘What’s the Government going to do for me?’, you can actually have a serious impact on your own finance, but it involves people having to do some work themselves.”

Sean Fleming on RTÉ Radio One’s Drivetime

Last night.

Meanwhile…

“I did not intend to imply people shouldn’t complain about the cost of living, that wasn’t my intention and for that I apologise.

“I was urging people to also shop around for best value, in addition to the measures being taken by the Government.

“The Government and Fianna Fáil take the issues around the cost of living very seriously. We are taking action to help ease the cost of living pressures many are currently facing.”

Sean Fleming TD

This morning.

Sean Fleming apologises for ‘tone deaf’ cost of living remarks (RTE)

RollingNews

This afternoon.

Following a State Of Emergency declared in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada….

Via CBC

Ottawa police dismantled a logistics camps on Sunday night used by truckers and their supporters where they could assemble fuel and materials, just hours after the city declared a state of emergency, giving it the ability to bypass normal procedures.

Police have said they have made seven arrests so far, with most charges along the lines of mischief, as well as having about 60 investigations underway as law enforcement steps up its response.

Later, a hearing will commence regarding a lawsuit calling to hear arguments in a proposed multi-million-dollar class-action lawsuit by Ottawa residents who want trucker protesters encamped downtown to stop the honking.

Police raid on Ottawa protest camp is strongest show of enforcement yet (CBC)

Earlier: Unmovable

The memorial wall in Glasnevin Cemetery on Saturday

This afternoon.

Joe Duffy’s listeners decry his support for the oft-vandalised Necrology Wall at Glasnevin Cemetery, containing the names of Black and Tans among the dead.

Friday: Wall Wounds

RollingNews

 

This afternoon.

“The priority right now is that we can bring in a range of measures that would cushion the blow for many, many people out there who clearly are suffering the impact of price rises and that is the agenda at the moment.

“The Minister for Public Expenditure and the Minister for Finance are working on ideas around that.”

“We have indicated more broadly that we are looking at charges, we are looking at costs that people have to bear. You will recall last week the Leaving Cert fees were waived, so we are looking at a range of charges that we could reduce costs for people in their ordinary, everyday lives.

“We want to do some measures like we did in the Budget, targeting people on low incomes to weather this particular inflationary cycle.

“We all need to be realistic in terms of what’s achievable.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin this afternoon.

We’re all in this together.

Govt has to plan for ‘medium term’ cost of living increases – Taoiseach (RTE)

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Via Telegraph Women:

A 2021 YouGov poll found that a third of us jettisoned our bras during those long months of lockdown.

Meanwhile, researchers in breast health at the University of Portsmouth and St Mary’s University, have reported a 70 per cent slump in bra wearing, with 25 per cent of women saying they have no intention of going back.

*jiggle*

Illustration via @telegraphwomen

This morning.

National Museum of Ireland, Collins Barracks, Dublin.

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Alison Gilliland (second left) with, above from left: Diana, Silvia and Jamirka from the Alam Boliviana dance group. who with, top from left: Ediones Dinis, Rose Silva and Debora France, from dance group Samba Da Nice Brazil, helped tlaunch the 2022 St. Patrick’s Festival.

Beats Riverdance.

Fight!

Huge St Patrick’s Day festival planned for Dublin (RTE)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews