Author Archives: Nick Kelly

Sinn Féin Senator Paul Gavan

Yesterday.

Seanad Eireann.

During a debate on the Sinn Féin-sponsored Safe Access to Termination of Pregnancy Services Bill 2021, which would ensure ‘free and unencumbered access to facilities providing legal termination of pregnancy services’, Pro-Life Senator Ronan Mullen said:

“When the Bill was first introduced in November, part of the justification cited for its introduction was supposedly intimidatory protests outside abortion facilities in Limerick city instigated, it was claimed, by abortion opponents.

“My colleague, with whom I get on with very well personally, Senator [Paul] Gavan, repeated that allegation and more today when he talked about people targeting other people who are going into facilities to access abortion.

“…I must say to Senator Gavan that it is one thing to say that on the basis of information he believes to be correct, but one month after the Senator said what he said in December 2021, the University of Limerick Hospitals Group issued a public statement confirming that they had received no complaints about protests outside the hospital.

“The hospital spokesperson acknowledged that they were “satisfied that there is no issue with regard to safety of access at University Maternity Hospital Limerick”. It was not just the Garda Commissioner, it was also the Limerick hospital.

“I would have expected then that Senator Gavan would correct the record, but I recall no effort being made to correct the record by Senator Gavan or others who disseminated the false and unfounded allegations against, let us call them, the pro-life supporters in the first instance. I wonder if this is because it suits a political agenda to allow a lie to go halfway around the world because the truth will still not have its boots on?”

[After prolonged argument across the chamber]

Senator Paul Gavan said:

“The specific issue Senator Mullen raised was in relation to University of Limerick Hospitals Group and its statement. I have nothing to apologise for. I have no reason to correct the record of the House because what the hospitals group said was that it did not record any complaints. We know a great number of complaints were made – indeed, the people in the Chamber today are witnesses to those complaints. Therefore, there is no need for me to correct the record of the House. I must say on the record that in the six years I have been here I have never accused anyone in this Chamber of telling lies. I am disgusted such a charge was made against me today.”

Anyone?

Previously: Limerick hospital group says it has no record of anti-abortion protests

“In South Africa it is a lighter disease, but in Europe it has been a serious, serious illness, which is what the politicians want me to say. There has been a lot of pressure from European scientists and politicians who have said ‘Please don’t say it is a mild illness‘.

“They are accusing me of lying, of downplaying Omicron because of how it has been in Europe … in their minds, it is impossible for a disease with more than 38 mutations to be mild.”

Dr Angelique Coetzee, who discovered the ‘Omicron strain’.

Omicron pioneer ‘pressured’ to exaggerate seriousness (SA Daily Telegraph)

Gulp.

Meanwhile….

Yesterday.

French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin sitting at a great distance during a meeting in Moscow, Russia yesterday.

Meanwhile…

Ah here.

Macron refused Russian COVID test in Putin trip over DNA theft fears – sources (Reuters)

Getty

Yesterday.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

In fairness.

Meanwhile…

CADA – Drinkin‘

Sauce code: file under indietronica.

CADA is Colum Jordan: a musician, producer, graphic designer and visual artist from Dublin. Drinkin’ is an ode to going on the lash and includes a sample of John B Keane extolling the virtues of ‘wheeskey’. It can be found on the album Fugue State.

Colum writes:

“A self-shot piece of hyperrealism, filmed in the artist’s home in January, it melds generative, audio-reactive CGI with real footage. It was shot over two days in January during the couple of hours in the late morning when the sun would flood through the house.”

Drinkin’ can be streamed here:

Nick writes: Jordan: The Comeback.

CADA

Barry Tierney – Colours On Canvas

I remember Cork city in the rare oul’ times.

Kinsale troubadour Barry Tierney (top) writes a love letter to The Rebel County ahead of the release of his second album.

Barry writes:

“It’s a montage of events that happened in and the famous places and people of Cork City and County. It’s produced by Conor O’ Sullivan and has some of my favourites musicians playing on it including Isaac Alderson and Jason Turk. It’s a pretty special song. I think you’ll like this one…..up the People’s Republic!”

Nick says: The star of the county Cork.

Barry Tierney

West Ham United Manager David Moyes (left) picked cat-kicking pariah Kurt Zouma (right) for their game against Watford this week

This afternoon.

Further to shocking pussy-footing shenanigans in British scoccer.

Via Football365:

‘Not for the first time, David Moyes has put himself in the Johnsonian position of having ‘rank gormless stupidity’ as his most plausible defence. Because the alternative is far worse.

‘…But really we shouldn’t be surprised Moyes got this so wrong. For all the goodwill his West Ham efforts have generated, he has shown his hand more than once.

Those vaccination comments were horrendous. Moyes said: “We talk so much about diversity. If we want diversity, players should have a choice about whether to take the injection or not. We have to respect everyone.”

‘Even if we overlook the inherent stupidity at the heart of this view which requires us to accept that anti-vaxxers have the double whammy of exercising personal freedom over their body but also to override everyone else’s personal freedom over their own bodies, we’re still left with that use of ‘diversity’. Like we said: it’s either crass, uncontestable stupidity or a nasty, disingenuous attempt to co-opt something noble and admirable to defend twats.

‘If we want diversity, perhaps we also have to respect players’ choices about whether to kick their cats and film it.’

Yikes.

Catty.

Moyes is Johnsonian in defence of cat-kickers and anti-vaxxers (Football 365)

Getty

The 194 members of the World Health Organisation (WHO), including Ireland, have begun a process that may give the Constitution of the WHO precedence over a country’s constitution in the event of another pandemic

This afternoon.

Via  anonymous on Telegram

‘The fact that everyone is suddenly backing away from restrictions is just a game. From today  the WHO will hold an emergency meeting and deliberations in Geneva on expanding its ability to target (take over) all member states in the event of a pandemic and “any other type of threat or disaster.”

‘WHO wants member states to sign a new treaty on Covid-19, which expands the 2005 treaty. Once signed by the Minister of Health, the WHO constitution (as per Article 9 of the same) will take precedence over a country’s constitution (189 countries have signed the 2005 treaty) during natural disasters or pandemics.

‘Since the definition of pandemic was changed a few years ago, they will be able to impose obedience on any country and impose WHO guidelines on the public, which will be mandatory, not just recommended. And that sounds like power over the country and the world.

‘A Swiss militant (Dr. Astrid Stuckelberger, who has worked for the WHO for 20 years) warns that every country should send a public letter of protest to the WHO, saying that the Irish people do not accept that the signature of the Minister of Health should decide the fate of millions of people without a referendum.

‘It is very important to send this letter from every Country to WHO in Geneva. They want all countries to sign this letter before May 2022 so that time is counted. If you are a member of the Assembly, please send such a letter to WHO. ‘

An international treaty on pandemic prevention and preparedness (European Council)

‘sup?

Good times.

Meanwhile…

Damn Mammy state.