Category Archives: News

news as it is happening-ish

The airstrip on Inishbofin which has not been brought into use.Dayum, girl.

Nearly €9 million [of public money] has been spent on providing two airstrips in West Connemara – both of which are now overgrown with no possibility being opened in the near future. The airstrips at Cleggan and on Inishbofin [above] were built more than five years ago but then plans to provide an air link between the two locations hit a brick wall through lack of funding. The airstrips are currently falling into a dilapidated state.

 

€9million wasted on airstrips grounded by grass (Declan Tierney, Connacht Tribune)

Cora Staunton and John O'MahonyJohn O’Mahony TD with Cora Staunton in happier times.

Fine Gael TDs John O’Mahony and Anthony Lawlor and Senator Michael Mullins were said to have been “emotional”, with Mr O’Mahony having to leave the room to compose himself, but saying he wanted to engage on the legislation.

Heavens.

Any excuse.

FG rebels tell Taoiseach they won’t support abortion bill (Fiach Kelly and Fionnan Sheahan, Irish Independent)

Pic: Michael Donnelly

letterletter2

A letter from eleven consultants to the Irish Times today questions Dr Peter Boylan’s opinion at the inquest of Savita Halappanavar.

It repeats  the line about the best maternal health care in the world also used by Enda Kenny at this morning’s protection of pregnancy press conference.

Sara Burke has long been championing the real statistics (see below) of maternal healthcare in Ireland.

In reality, we’re average.

Previously: Dr Peter Boylan and Breda O’Brien: The Transcript

Savita Halappanavar inquest (Letters, Irish Times)

Not the ‘best in the world’ (Sara Burke, Medical Independent)

pb

“My agenda is the protection of the lives of women and equal respect for the unborn,” he said. “I take grave exception to people extrapolating from my wish to see women get the best care available to attempt to brand me as something that I’m not, which is pro-abortion.

“I’m as much ’pro-life’ as any obstetrician in this country, but I do recognise there are times when terminations of pregnancy need to be done.”

He praised the Government’s legislation as “very good” and would give the clarity needed.

“We need legislation in order to be able to our job. All this does is meet the requirements set out by the Supreme Court and by the European Court of Human Rights. It is no less or no more than that.

“I’m an obstetrician, not a psychiatrist, but I’m puzzled by what is meant about caring for a woman who is suicidal. I would be grateful if the people who are talking about it should clarify exactly what they mean and how far they are willing to go.

“No legislation on this issue will please everybody. That’s just in the nature of the issue. It’s the same all over the world. There is nothing unique about Ireland in that regard.”

 

Dr Peter Boylan also spoke on today’s ‘Morning Ireland’.

Listen here.

Letter ‘an attack on my professional opinion’, says obstetrician (Ronan McGreevy, Irish Times)

Earlier: Toxic Culture