Category Archives: News

news as it is happening-ish

Hugh_Lewis_election_imageembassy

Last month, Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown People Before Profit Councillor Hugh Lewis (top) wrote an article critical of people before Prophet Israel in the Southside People.

The Israeli Embassy in Dublin replied with a kind invitation for Cllr Lewis to see Israel for himself.

Hugh, however, was among the MV Saoirse crew taken in international waters last year, brought to Israel, imprisoned for a week, handed a ten year ban and then deported. His ‘crime’ was entering Israel illegally.

Still, he does get a chance to meet the Deputy Ambassador.

*tremble*

Lying Again: The Israeli Embassi Just Can’t Stop (ZazaFL)

Time To See The Other Side Of The Story (Soutside People)

(Pic: People before Profit/ screengrab: Zazafi)

90291514

Two nuns who were involved in running Magdalene laundries have hit back at criticisms of the four congregations which operated the 10 such institutions in Ireland up to 1996.

In interviews to be broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1’s The God Slot at 10 o’clock tonight “Sister B” said: “All of the shame of the era is being dumped on the religious orders.”

When asked whether an apology might be appropriate after the McAleese report on the laundries, “Sister A” responded, “apologise for what?”

Now, now, don’t dress it up in vague platitudes, sis.

Previously: Result!

Magdalene nuns hit back at critics and defend their role (Patsy McGarry, Irish Times)

(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)

burgermaticx

Diets laden with pies, sausages, and ready meals can lead to an early death, a major study has shown.

Research involving half a million people highlights links between processed meat and heart disease and cancer. It also shows that people who eat a lot of the meat products have a significantly greater chance of dying prematurely than those consuming low amounts.

High processed meat consumption led to a 72 per cent increased risk of dying from heart disease, and an 11 per cent increased risk of dying from cancer.

Processed meat ‘linked to early death’ (PA/Irish Times)

(E Dubya @ bt3a)

Christine+Lagarde+IMF+Managing+Director+Christine+enur2WV14T3l

In an interview in today’s Irish Times, Christine Lagarde – head of the International Monetary Fund sez:

“We want Ireland to be a success,” and added she wanted to see how the IMF and the Irish authorities could best plan for a successful conclusion to the programme while making sure there would not be a relapse.

“That is what I am most concerned about,” Ms Lagarde said.

“Clearly the world economy avoided collapse last year and I am very concerned that, by moving into a semi-complacent mood, people risk a relapse.”

Asked about the risk of a relapse in Ireland, she said: “Our sense is that it is better to plan than to get caught afterwards with a need for support down the road.”

Surgical knickers ahoy.

Kenny says main goal after two years is to exit bailout (Mary Minihan, John McManus, Irish Times)

(Pic Getty Images/Zimbio)

ECHR2 ECHR3 ECHR4 ECHR5

ECHR6

Stras

Louise O’Keeffe, behind her lawyer above, began her case against the Irish Government in the European Court of Human Rights today.

Teacher Leo Hickey sexually abused Ms O’Keeffe when she was eight and attending Dunderrow National School in Co Cork in 1973.

In 1998 Hickey was convicted of 21 sample charges involving 21 children from 380 charges.

Ms O’Keeffe has tried to hold the State liable but the High Court dismissed her case, as did the Supreme Court.

It’s believed 200 similar cases have been dropped since the Supreme Court case.

The State tried to stop Ms O’Keeffe’s application to the ECHR, arguing her failure to sue the Diocese of Cork and Ross, which owned the school, showed she didn’t exhaust legal avenues in the Irish court system.

Watch today’s proceedings in Strasbourg here.

Cork woman’s abuse case opens in the European Court of Human Rights (RTÉ)

(Hat tip for video: Conor O’Mahony)

Denisnew

In today’s Irish Times, Colm Keena writes about the possible implications of an INM debt writedown, pointing to the company’s largest shareholder Denis O’Brien’s considerable wealth and his tax affairs.

He sez:

“Last year he bought the Irish business support firm, Siteserv, for €45.4 million. As part of the deal the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, which incorporated Anglo Irish Bank, wrote off 70 per cent of a €150 million debt Siteserv had with Anglo. Now INM is reportedly seeking the write-off of up to a quarter of its €400 million bank debt. How much is being asked of the Irish banks is not known.”

 

“No-one is arguing that it is better that companies with unsustainable debts be allowed collapse rather than have their debts reduced to manageable levels. But giving write-downs to companies that are wholly or in part owned by non-resident billionaires who appear to be flush with cash, raises the kind of issues referred to in the OECD report. This is especially so when so many people on moderate incomes are being levied with extra taxes, while also struggling with debts which the banks, and the Government, say should not be written off if the debtor can pay, least it create a moral hazard.”

 

Would An INM Write-Down Involve Moral Hazard? (Colm Keena, Irish Times)

Previously: $5billion, Eh?

Denis, Dividends, Debts and Paying Back Anglo

fehily

Householders will begin to receive property tax assessments next week and those who don’t respond by the end of June will face stiff penalties, the Cabinet has been told.

The chairwoman of the Revenue Commissioners, Josephine Feehily (above), briefed Ministers yesterday about the operation of the new tax which has caused anxiety among Government backbenchers about the likely public reaction.

Letters will be sent to the country’s 1.6 million householders in the coming weeks giving them six options for paying the local property tax.

She expressed confidence that the Revenue would be able to get a compliance rate of 97 per cent when the system was up and running.

Well that’s just great.

Estimates for property tax to be issued from next week (Stephen Collins, Irish Times)

(Eamonn Farrell/Photocall Ireland/PA)

Kiberavote

Kenyatta1

About a third of the ballots have been counted from yesterday’s presidential election in Kenya with deputy prime minister Uhuru Kenyatta (above) showing an early lead over Raila Odinga, at 54% to 41%.

Vote officials have told how the number of spoiled votes has been “worrying” while voter turnout has been about 70%.

Nineteen people were killed on the coast of Kenya, with four police officers murdered in Mombasa, yesterday.

Kenyatta is supposed to face charges at the International Criminal Court next month over allegations he helped engineer the post-election violence in 2007-08, when more than 1,000 people were killed and 600,000 displaced.

Kenyatta’s running mate William Ruto is also facing charges in the ICC. By joining forces, they have united two of Kenya’s biggest rival communities, the Kikuyu and Kalenjin.

The violence of 2007-2008 broke out after then candidate Odinga accused incumbent President Mwai Kibaki of rigging the results. Eventually, the post of Prime Minister was created for Odinga, while Kibaki served as President.

Last month, after efforts were made, but failed, to block Kenyatta from running, Chief Justice Willy Muntunga claimed he received this letter, signed from the banned militia group, the Mungiki, which was involved in the previous violence:

Mungiki

An investigation questioned the rationale of ithe letter as it was dated February 13, the night before the court ruled not to block Kenyatta and Ruto, and not delivered until February 18, four days after the court’s dismissal.

Kenyan presidential candidate facing criminal charges takes lead (Guardian)

Live video coverage from Kenya’s Daily Nation here.

Pics: From top Al Jazeera, SoftKenya and Kenyan Daily Post