This morning.
Gaiety Theatre, Dublin 2.
A clash of cultures as Ryoko Yagyu (right) who plays Odette in Ballet Ireland’s ‘Swan Lake’ (running at the Gaiety until the November 16) with Suzie Seweify (left) as Princess Jasmine in the Gaiety Panto ‘Aladdin’ (November 24 until January 5, 2020).
Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland
From top: Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny; Lucia and Jim O’Farrell and their late son, Shane
This afternoon.
At 1pm, the Dáil will vote on a Fianna Fáil motion regarding the terms of reference into a review of Shane O’Farrell’s death by Judge Gerard Haughton.
On Tuesday night, after Fianna Fáil moved its motion, Sinn Féin introduced an amendment.
SInn Fein TD Martin Kenny said:
“Sinn Féin has tabled an amendment to the motion, which we will move. It is a very short amendment and relates to the relationship, official and unofficial, of Mr. Gridziuska with An Garda Síochána handlers of informers.
We feel, as would anyone looking at this situation, there is an issue here that has not been recognised heretofore and that needs to be included in any scoping exercise or fair review of what happened because we believe that that particular issue has in many cases around the country led to tragic circumstances.
This is only one of such tragic circumstances.
The Minister’s pronouncement that he is determined to recognise that the law has to be followed and to ensure that it is followed properly in all of this would sound good if we were in a situation where people could see evidence of that.
The evidence before us is that the Government is continuing to shift the situation to one side and to ensure that that will not happen.
I hope that the Minister will withdraw the Government amendment this evening, that both the Government and Fianna Fáil will accept our amendment, which was tabled in good faith, and that the Government will support the amended motion to ensure it delivers on this.
Supporting this motion, which undoubtedly will get through when it is voted on at the end of this week, is only one thing. It puts in place a motion that does not bind the Government but it needs to step up to the mark and ensure it delivers for this family.”
Later, Fianna Fail TD Jim O’Callaghan said:
“I have not had an opportunity to consider the Sinn Féin amendment but, to judge from what Deputy Adams stated, the issue Sinn Féin seems to want to have included is whether or not the Lithuanian man was in any way involved in working as an informer for An Garda Síochána.
I had never heard that before, I am not aware of it and I do not think it has been suggested before.”
Transcript here.
More as we get it.
Previously: Shane O’Farrell on Broadsheet
Chief Superintendent Declan Daly
Last night.
An Garda Síochána issued an alert to sex workers after they announced they were investigating seven attacks on sex workers since mid-October.
They also appealed for any sex workers who have been attacked to come forward without fear.
The Irish Times reported:
Investigators are working closely with the injured parties involved and treating the victims with “the utmost sensitivity and confidentiality”.
Detectives attached to Operation Quest – which focuses on securing convictions against individuals involved in organising prostitution – at the Garda National Protective Services Bureau are liaising with local units.
They have issued an appeal to others who may have been subject to a similar attack to immediately report the incident.
Further to this..
Chief Superintendent Declan Daly spoke to Bryan Dobson on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
Bryan Dobson: “So to be absolutely clear here. A sex worker, who is assaulted, comes forward to the gardaí and speaks to you will not face prosecution? That simply doesn’t arise?”
Declan Daly: “Absolutely. That’s not even a consideration. The consideration is the welfare and the harm and the danger that they’re in at the moment.”
Dobson: “Do you have advice for sex workers, given that your suspicion presumably is that these attacks are ongoing and are organised and systematic.”
Daly: “Yeah I think they need to be very vigilant at the moment. Particularly when, if they’re taking online clients because that’s the medium through which these attacks are starting. So I think they need to be very vigilant in relation to that and obviously if they are concerned about a client, well obviously they just vacate the appointment or cancel the appointment.”
Dobson: “And are there precautions they can take?”
Daly: “Well, it’s very difficult because I suppose the nature of the work is that, is difficult, is that it’s people that they don’t know and I suppose, I mean they can simply, at the moment, and we’re working very diligently and quickly to resolve this issue.
“So they could, if they were of a mind to, forgo online appointments and maybe deal with people whom they know from previous encounters.”
Dobson: “Clearly, they’re very vulnerable, they’re very isolated and very exposed to this kind of attack.”
Daly: “Yeah, correct. I mean working in the prostitution industry are a lot of vulnerable people. There’s a high element of exploitation in that industry so we’re very concerned for the safety and welfare of these people.”
Listen back to Morning Ireland item in full here
Previously: Mass Surveillance On Sex Workers?
Currently doing the ’rounds’.
Sent in anonymously.
Say it ain’t so, Joe?
Public Accounts Committee chairman Seán Fleming
This morning.
At the beginning of the weekly Public Accounts Committee meeting.
Chairman Seán Fleming referred to figures that the PAC received from the National Transport Authority – after they were “shocked” to discover last week that the “majority of the staff” in the NTA are outsourced contracts.
Mr Fleming said: “We never met a State organisation before where the majority of the day-to-day staff are not direct employees.”
He said the 10-year-old organisation has 118 direct employees and 148 people sourced through agencies.
Mr Fleming explained that, after learning that last week, they sought a breakdown from the NTA in regards to pay and other matters.
He said the cost of employing the 118 direct employees is €8.7million and that of the 148 outsourced workers is €21.6million.
Mr Fleming further said this works out at an average of €73,728 per employee and €139,189 per outsourced worker.
Meanwhile, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy asked that the committee write to the NTA to find out, among other matters, where the money from advertising on bus shelters goes.
Watch live here
Studio apartment.
€1,150 Per month
Victoria Street, Portobello, Dublin 8 (Daft)
Studio apartment.
€1,200 Per month
Hatch Street Lower, Dublin 2 (Daft)
Carlosfandango writes:
Seeing this a lot on Daft now. Yes, it’s a bed in a kitchen..You can cook the bacon before you get up. No, they are not bedside lockers. This. Is. Your. Life.
Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey leaving the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire last month
Tonight.
Fine Gael’s national executive is due to meet at the party’s headquarters on Mount Street Upper in Dublin 2.
On the agenda is a motion from the party’s Dún Laoghaire branch calling for a review of the constituency’s general election candidates.
The motion is widely viewed as a move against Maria Bailey, following her decision to sue a Dublin hotel after falling off a swing at the premises.
It reportedly passed 88 in favour and 66 against on October 31 when a vote was taken at the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire.
Previously: 88 In Favour, 66 Against
Meanwhile…
Separately…
Last night.
Fianna Fáil leader Mícheál Martin released a statement saying Seantor Lorraine Clifford-Lee (above) is “genuinely sorry” for the comments she made on Twitter.
Ms Clifford-Lee is running for a TD seat in the Fingal by-election on November 29.
Mr Martin also said in the statement: “I believe that everyone should get a second chance.”
If you’ve ever wanted to know
Why a pigeon is short of a toe
Perhaps it lives where
People cut hair
Which can cause their digits to go
John Moynes
More to follow.
The votes are in.
Last week, with a voucher worth a princely €25 to spend at Golden Discs on offer, I asked YOU to name your favourite song that mentions another song or artist?
You answered in your dozens.
But there could be only one winner.
Third Place:
Bagatelle – Summer In Dublin
Slightly Bemused writes:
“I was singing a song I heard somewhere, called “Rock ‘n’ roll never forgets.
When my hummin’ was smothered by a 46a and the scream of a low flying jet.” For those interested, Rock ‘n’ Roll Never Forgets, by Bob Seger:
Runner up:
Ian Dury & The Blockheads – Reasons To Be Cheerful Part 3
Danny writes:
Some of the singers and performers mentioned:
Buddy Holly
Good golly, Miss Molly
The Bolshoi Ballet
Levi’s and Scotty (Moore)
We’re Willy Harris (skiffle star)
Listening to Rico (Rodriguez) went on to play with the Specials
Shostakovich
Smokey Robertson
John Coltrane
Adriano Celentano (Italian singer)Lots more famous people, but all the above involved in music. Actually I saw him [Dury} perform in the ill-fated Stardust a few weeks before the tragic fire and when I was there the escape door were chained and locked.
Winner:
The Replacements – Alex Chilton
Brian Ahern writes:
“Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes ’round
They sing “I’m in love. What’s that song? I’m in love with that song.”
Alex Chilton of Big Star fame or course!
Last week: Win Nick’s Voucher
Thanks Bertie Blenkinsop
