Category Archives: Misc

Above from left: Minister of State with Responsibility for Law Reform James Browne TD; Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys TD; and Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman

This afternoon

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

The Government has agreed to provide up to 500 additional places for Afghan family members.More than 670 Afghan nationals have already been granted permission to reside in the State this year.

Via RTÉ:

Minister for Justice Heather Humphreys said the new reunification scheme announced today will apply to family members who are vulnerable in Afghanistan or who have fled to a neighbouring country.

She said the Government is very conscious of the plight faced by people in Afghanistan following the takeover of the Taliban.

Ms Humphreys said that more admissions under existing schemes are also expected in the weeks and months ahead.

The Government said it will be up to the Afghan people in Ireland to apply to get their relatives here.

Meanwhile…

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth Roderic O’Gorman said that almost 400 humanitarian visas have been issued following the takeover of the Taliban, with 150 of those visa holders already in Ireland.

He said these visas are being given to frontline human rights’ defenders, people who work in supporting women’s non-governmental organisations, journalists, members of the LGBTI+ community, and those who are particularly vulnerable to the Taliban takeover.

Mr O’Gorman said these people have full refugee status on their arrival in Ireland.

The minister said those arriving from Afghanistan will not go into direct provision.

Govt to provide up to 500 extra places for Afghan family members (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Arrrghhh!

This morning.

Tayto Park, Ashbourne, county Meath.

A troupe of terrifying tykes help launch ‘Tricky Trail at Tayto Park’, a brand-new family adventure experience at Ireland’s only theme park and zoo, which will open on Saturday, October 23.

Ian writes:

‘Tricky Trail at Tayto Park’ is the ultimate Halloween treasure hunt for kids. This new 45-minute experience, will be filled with spooky stories, spell casting, magical performances, and fun! Pre-bookings only.

ALSO…This October (23rd & 30th) enjoy a Halloween night out with friends and family as Tayto Park After Dark returns from 6pm – 10pm as part of a special night entry.

Tayto Park

Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) has called for the dissolution of the Inner City Helping Homeless charity following allegations of sexual abuse against its late founder Anthony Flynn (above)

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ News:

In a statement, the DRHE called for more vetting for those working unofficially with the homeless.

“The DRHE is strongly of the view that greater regulation, vetting, and scrutiny is required for organisations/charities that set themselves up as service providers for homeless persons, including the provision of on-street food services.

“Several such organisations not funded by the DRHE have come into existence in recent years and the DRHE and our partner agencies will be endeavouring in the coming months to bring the necessary expanded scrutiny and regulation to all such organisations.”

The statement added that the Inner City Helping Homeless charity was not funded by the DRHE.

Inner City Helping Homeless gave two weeks’ notice on Monday to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement and the Charities Regulator that it intended to ask the High Court to appoint an inspector.

It is understood that there is at least €750,000 in bank accounts connected to the charity.

Homeless authority calls for charity to be wound up (RTÉ)

Yesterday: Winding Up

Rollingnews

Katherine Zappone in this morning’s Irish Daily Mirror

Hello you.

Katherine Zappone refuses to answer questions as she’s pictured in New York for first time since UN job scandal (Irish Daily Mirror)

Stephanie Keith/Irish Daily Mirror

 

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Arriving for a cabinet meeting to discuss the further lifting of covid restrictions. mica redress and the housing crisis were, from top: Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien and Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

RollingNews

This morning.

Compiled using 12 data indicators that span virus containment, the quality of healthcare, vaccination coverage, overall mortality and progress toward restarting travel and easing border curbs, the Ranking captures which of the world’s biggest 53 economies are responding best—and worst—to the same once-in-a-generation threat.

The Best and Worst Places to Be as We Learn to Live With Delta (Bloomberg)

Meanwhile…

This morning.

92% of adults vaccinated but children aged 5-12 ‘unlikely’ to get their jab this year (Irish Examiner)

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Project Veritas released the third video of its COVID vaccine investigative series apparently showing two Johnson & Johnson officials on hidden camera who argue that children do not need to take the COVID vaccine in part because of the potential long-term side effects.

Johnson & Johnson: Children Don’t Need the ‘F*cking’ COVID Vaccine Because There Are ‘Unknown Repercussions Down the Road’ (Project Veritas)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

From top: Peter and Mark Keaveney at the opening of their first branch in 1961: The brothers today

This morning.

Grafton Street, Dublin 2.

Brothers Peter and Mark Keaveney celebrate the 60th anniversary of Peter Mark. Founded in 1961 on Grafton Street, Peter Mark has now become one of Ireland’s most recognisable brands with 67 salons on the island of Ireland.

In hairness.

RollingNews

Tokyo, Japan

This morning.

Via Forbes:

The Japanese government will lift the country’s near five-month-long Covid-19 state of emergency at the end of this week, a move that comes as daily new infections continue to decline sharply

The decision to lift the national state of emergency comes just a day before Suga’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) selects a new leader to succeed him. Earlier this month, Suga announced that he would drop out of the leadership race and resign from his role amid sinking approval ratings.

57.4%. That’s the percentage of Japan’s population that has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 according to Bloomberg’s tracker. After initially being criticized for a slow start, Japan’s vaccine rollout quickly gathered pace over the last few months.

Japan Is Lifting Its Covid-19 State Of Emergency After Five Months Of Restrictions (Forbes)

Previously: Foreign Substance

Getty

Meanwhile…

Oy vey.