Category Archives: Misc

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet at COP26 yesterday

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ News:

As of 8am, there were 493 people in hospital with the virus, down 22 on the same time yesterday.

Of these, 90 were in intensive care units, down one from yesterday.

Mr Martin said the use of antigen testing is increasing and if people “collectively remain cautious we can avoid the need to have a backward return to restrictions”.

The Health Service Executive said it has issued by post 6,976 antigen test kits to people who are close contacts of a confirmed case.

Mr Martin also said he spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet at the COP26 summit in Glasgow, who told him that Israel’s booster campaign had been “very successful and impactful” on the latest wave of the virus there.

Mr Martin said that “no one can guarantee anything”, but the vaccines work and Ireland was in a different position to last year.

Rise in Covid-19 cases ‘very concerning’ – Martin (RTÉ)

Oh.

Meanwhile…

Only for the jabbed?

You’ve changed, man.

Billy Bragg?

Oh, you know.

Segregated the country based on medical status.

Not crazy busy.

This afternoon.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Minister for Justice and new mother Helen McEntee arriving at Leinster House for the first time since the beginning of her maternity leave in April on the birth of a son, Michael.

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

This afternoon.

Social Democrats TD Holly Cairns (above) launched a Bill that would extend maternity, adoptive and paternity leave to councillors.

Ms Cairns said:

“Just 24pc of councillors around the country are women. If we ever want to substantially increase this proportion, then we must make changes to make a career in politics a more attractive prospect for women. The bare minimum required, in this regard, is maternity leave.

“My Bill, which I have launched today, would extend maternity, adoptive and paternity leave to councillors.

“Many political careers are launched in the local politics arena – but the lack of maternity leave acts as a limiting factor for women and a barrier to their participation in public life. It also denies the country of the representation of strong female political candidates, many of whom feel unable to progress a career in politics because of structural barriers that are placed in their way.

“Currently, female councillors must obtain a resolution of a local authority in order to avail of leave when they give birth. In 2021, it is bizarre that a reformed system of maternity leave, and other family leave, is not yet available to councillors. My Bill would ensure that leave is an entitlement – which does not require a resolution to be passed.”

RollingNews

This morning.

A State of Emergency – The Story of Ireland’s Covid Crisis by Richard Chambers (Harper Collins

Later…

Gulp.

Previously: That’ll be The Déise

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (left) and Britain’s Duchess of Cornwall at a reception last night following Britain’s Prince Charles’ address to COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland

Until now.

“You all carry a heavy burden on your shoulders, and you do not need me to tell you that the eyes and hopes of the world are upon you to act with all dispatch, and decisively because time has quite literally run out.”

“The recent IPCC [UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] report gave us a clear diagnosis of the scale of the problem. What we will do with a growing global population, creating ever increasing demand on the planet’s finite resources.

“As we tackle this crisis, our efforts cannot be a series of independent initiatives running in parallel, the scale and scope of the threat we face a call for a global systems level solution based on radically transforming our current fossil fuel based economy to one that is genuinely renewable and sustainable.

“So there’s going to be my plea today is for countries to come together to create the environment that enables every sector of industry to take the action required.”

“Here we need a vast military style campaign to marshal the strength of the global private sector with trillions at his disposal, far beyond global GDP, and with the greatest respect, beyond even the governments of the world’s leaders.”

Britain’s Prince Charles to the COP26 climate change conference

Fight!

Six of the most melodramatic warnings from COP26 (The Spectator)

COP26: ‘Not yet where we need to be’ on climate, Merkel says — as it happened (DW)

Reuters/Getty

Um.

This morning.

Via Eilish O’Regan in the Irish Independent:

It’s a tempting prospect. But could a speedy roll-out of Covid-19 booster shots be the key to avoiding a return of restrictions this winter and saving Christmas?

It takes just one booster jab this time around to reboot the defences of a fully vaccinated person in only two weeks.

Boosters could potentially do a lot of the heavy lifting. But how far across the population do you go with the offer of a booster? It’s a dilemma that will not go away.

It’s for your own elf.

Explainer: how the fast roll-out of booster shots could be key to saving Christmas (Independent.ie)

 

Above from left: Paul Byrom (Wicked Warlock), Chris Corroon, (Dame Lola) and Aisling Sharkey (Red Riding Hood)

This morning.

Unidentified forest, Dublin.

The launch of ‘Red Riding Hood’, the Helix Theatre panto produced by TheatreworX Productions starring tenor Paul Byrom and newcomer Asling Sharkey in the lead role. From Friday, November 26 to January 9, 2022.

Rec Riding Hood (The Helix)

Leon Farrell/RollingNews


The Ballyboyz – Balloween

And now for something completely brilliant.

Take it away, lads:

“The Ballyboyz stay nostalgic yet cold this Winter with their new track BALLOWEEN. The tune showcases the two brothers swapping verses over a Thriller beat that just sticks. BALLOWEEN music video creates an eerie suspense throughout the watch.

“The BallyBoyz bawl out in true hip-hop fashion paying tribute to the movie culture and its association with rap music throughout the ages. Happy Balloween!!”

The film was directed by Dee The Antisocial and the music was written and performed by Spaceman Steve and Dee.

Beat by DJ Green.

Nick says: Ballyboyz in the hood.

The Ballyboyz

Yesterday afternoon.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and former Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn greet the United States Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen.

Ms Yellen gave keynote address at an event hosted by the Institute for International and European Affairs, telling the assembled:

“I think we have agreed that 15% is the global minimum tax. Now, of course, individual countries may choose themselves to establish a higher tax, but I expect many countries to adopt a 15% tax.

“It works for many countries. I don’t think that’s something that’s going to be reconsidered as a global minimum.”

US Treasury Secretary says 15% global minimum corporation tax rate won’t be reconsidered (RTÉ)

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Hmm.

RollingNews