Category Archives: Misc

Minister for the Environment Eamon Ryan

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

The fine for parking a vehicle on a footpath, cycle lane or bus lane is to double to €80 from next month.The Department of Transport said the increased fixed charge penalty rate would come into force on February 1st. The fines apply on all public roads and will be enforced by gardaí and local authority traffic wardens, it said.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said the increased penalty aimed to encourage road users to be more considerate and to promote active travel.

“These increases should help improve the safety of all vulnerable road and footpath users by creating a more effective deterrent to these specific forms of illegal parking,” he said.

Conn Donovan, chair of the Cork Cycling Campaign, said the increased fine was a “baby step” in the right direction and that a campaign to catch people who parked on footpaths, cycle lanes and bus lanes was required.

Fine for parking on cycle lanes and footpaths to double (Irish Times)

RollingNews

Nippy, in fairness.

Meanwhile…

Via Kerry Louise Bray on Telegram:

I was in town [Dublin] yesterday, met someone I know who is a Special needs Assitant and he told me the kids are all sitting in their jackets during class because they have to keep windows open to stop the transmission of the virus.

Our government cares so much about our youth it didn’t even think of investing in ventilation…

So they are sat in classrooms freezing their butts off with windows open and having to wear masks 7- 8 hrs a day…

We can still go to the bar though and not have to wear a mask.

Maybe we should move the kids into bars…. and let them do classes from there. Would make about as much sense as this governments regulations

Anyone?

Novak Djokovic and his father, Srdjan in 2017

This morning.

Via BBC:

Novak Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia, a top official says, as the men’s world number one tennis player faces deportation over Covid vaccination rules.

“He is free to leave at any time that he chooses to,” Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said.

The Serb star remains in immigration detention in Melbourne after being denied entry on Wednesday.

A court challenge is due on Monday, a week before the Australian Open begins.

Now more uncertainty surrounds the schedule of the tournament that Djokovic has won nine times. A 10th win would see him become the men’s most successful player, with 21 Grand Slams.

ABC News is reporting that Czech player Renata Voracova also had her Australian visa cancelled on Friday and is being detained in the same immigration hotel.

Novak Djokovic visa: Australia says tennis star not being held captive (BBC)

Meanwhile…

Gulp.

Dr Anne O’ Connor, Chief Operations Officer, HSE

This morning.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said the HSE is not doing a “blanket shutting up” of services but has advised hospital sites to pull back where they need to.

Ms O’Connor said there will be some “inability” to do some scheduled work and some people will be left waiting as a result.

“There are certain things we have to do. We can’t just shut up, we have to respond to emergencies and people who are very sick people, and people with time dependent care needs, people with cancer surgeries, cardiac procedures etc.,” she said.

She said Covid-19 is impacting all of their services, not just hospitals and staff have to be redeployed to into areas where they are needed such as emergency departments and residential care.

HSE expects challenging week amid Covid case increase (RTE)

Rollingnews

South Korea’s ruling party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung (above) has proposed that the country’s public healthcare insurance should cover hair loss treatment.

South Korea is a country where
You should go if you’re losing your hair
As the bold Lee Jae-Myung
Says cash should be flung
At the bald. Do you think that’s fair?

John Moynes

Getty

In case you missed it.

VMTV Tonight show.

Further to alarming new year alcohol price hikes – with the cheapest can of beer now €1.70, and a typical bottle of wine no less than €7.40 and a bottle of spirits at least €20.70 – Ian O’Doherty makes a sound case for reasonably-priced hooch in a nanny state off her meds.

Hic.

This morning.

Newstalk.

Dr Ciara Kelly refutes claims from BodyWhys, the Eating Disorder Association of Ireland, that RTÉ One’s Operation Transformation had the potential to have a “negative impact on mental health” and was “triggering” to many users of the service.

Via Her.ie:

RTÉ has now defended the new season, which aired on Wednesday night, due to its more “holistic” approach.

“In this year’s series, for example, the weekly check-in (the part of the show where the leaders meet the experts) incorporates an overall health check looking at a range of health indicators including blood pressure, cholesterol, hydration, sleep quality and psychological wellbeing.

Viewers have long expressed their concerns about the show, with some calling it “fatphobic”, and have criticised the “humiliating” and revealing Lycra outfits worn at weekly weigh-ins.

RTÉ responds to Operation Transformation concerns (RTE)

Meanwhile…

Hello you.

ESB writes:

Broadsheet off the jelly…

*triggered*