Category Archives: News

news as it is happening-ish

UP TO 500 people may have to move out of their newly built homes in Ballymun in north Dublin because of damage caused by the defective building material pyrite.

The presence of pyrite is suspected in up to 140 houses and apartments in two new estates built to rehouse residents of the former 1960s high-rise flat complex.

Preliminary tests carried out on stone samples in the houses in Owensilla and part of the Carton estate came back 50 per cent positive for pyrite – a sufficient level for 140 occupied homes to need a full assessment.

140 more homes in rebuilt Ballymun affected by pyrite (Olivia Kelly, Irish Times)

(Laura Hutton, Photocall Ireland)

No, wait. Not happier.

THE NUMBER of people engaging in some form of personal exercise has increased sharply since 2009, at least partly because many people have more time as a result of the recession.

The Irish Sports Council, which published the figures yesterday, believes the rise in unemployment and reduced working hours for many people have overcome what was previously the biggest barrier to increased exercise – the lack of free time.

More Free Time Means People Are Exercising More (Tim O’Brien, Irish Times)

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THE IRISH boxing team lined up shoulder to shoulder on the stage at the National Stadium for the final curtain call before moving to Assisi, Italy, for their last training camp. The only missing face was the star turn herself. Mindful of responsibilities, Katie Taylor provided a statement apologising for the no show.

“My sincere apologies,” said the statement. “Every session is crucial . . . Each day between now and my first contest in the Olympic Games has been planned to the last detail . . . I am aware of the expectation that is on me . . . For me a medal in London will be another gift from God in a life so full of blessings.”

A medal at the Olympics may mark both the high point and the end for Ireland’s modest boxing star if her father and coach Pete has his way – Pete hopes his daughter will retire after London.

Mmf.

Olympics Could Be Final bow For Taylor (Johnny Watterson, Irish Times)

(Mark Stedman, Photocall Ireland)

Widespread brawling. 40 admitted to A&E. Six treated for stab wounds. Two deaths.

The aftermath…

Ahead of a meeting with gardaí to review the Swedish House Mafia concert, Denis Desmond (middle), of promoters MCD, said he was “100 per cent” satisfied with the level of security provided.

…Asked whether he would go ahead this summer with the David Guetta concert in Marlay Park, which will attract a dance-oriented crowd similar to that attracted by Swedish House Mafia, and with Oxegen, due to run again next year, Mr Desmond said: “Yes absolutely. You cannot be held to ransom by thugs.”

 

Promoter Defends Security At Concert In Phoenix Park (Ronan McGreevy and Genevieve Carbery, Irish Times)

Previously: Tell The Cat To Chill

Lost Weekend

(Leon Farrell, Photocall Ireland)

A SENIOR Minister has called for a rerun of the referendum on parliamentary inquiries to ensure there is a proper investigation into the banking collapse.

Minister for Energy and Communications Pat Rabbitte said yesterday that he would like to see the issue put before the people again in a calm and considered manner.

“I am in favour of the Government seeking to run again a referendum that would give a parliamentary committee the proper investigative powers to get to the bottom of what happened in the banks.

Badum…

He added that Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness, chairman of the PAC, was probably the wrong person to head an inquiry into the banking collapse. The Minister said the public would have concerns about a former Fianna Fáil minister being in charge of the inquiry.

Tish!

Rabbitte Urges New Referendum On Powers Of Inquiry (Stephen Collins, Irish Times)

(Laura Hutton, Photocall Ireland)

Above: ‘The Beeches’, Roosky, Co. Leitrim

ONE IN 10 unfinished housing estates identified last year by the Department of the Environment has been completed or made safe, new figures show.

Of the 2066 ghost estates identified last year, 211 have been ‘resolved’ but only 75 of these have been ‘taken in charge’ ie. completed to the satisfaction of the local authority.

The rate of resolution of estates has varied widely. Almost a quarter of those that have been successfully dealt with, either through completion or safety work, are in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, yet this local authority had one of the lower levels of unfinished estates at 61, of which 45 have been satisfactorily addressed.

In Roscommon, 235 problem estates remain unresolved and just 14 have been dealt with. Of Sligo’s 237 unfinished estates, just four have now been completed or made safe.

 

One In 10 Ghost Estates Completed Or Made Safe (Olivia Kelly, Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)

A full 7.2% less than he earned in 2010.

The chief executive receives double the annual salary of Taoiseach Enda Kenny and €151,000 more than President Michael D Higgins. He also earns more than most Irish semi-State bosses.

Mr Delaney’s remuneration has been the subject of much negative comment in recent times given the economic climate and the fact that the FAI receives about €3.4 million annually from the Irish Sports Council.

He has also come under scrutiny recently after video footage of him drinking with Irish fans in Poland at the Euro 2012 championship appeared on the internet.

Delaney Nets €400,000 As FAI Cuts Club Grants By €377,000 (Ciaran Hancock, Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)

HISTORY WILL be made this morning on the French/Swiss border, as most of us are munching cornflakes or struggling to work through the rush hour. Scientists at Cern, the European centre for nuclear research, are expected to announce the discovery of the Higgs boson – what people can’t resist calling the “God particle”.

And while its announcement won’t stop the cornflakes going soggy or make the traffic go faster, the final discovery of Higgs will rank as one of the greatest scientific achievements of all time.

News of the discovery was reportedly ‘leaked’ yesterday in a video from CERN, which turned out to be one of several pre-prepared announcements, depending on the official outcome.

World waits for revelation of ‘God particle’ by Cern today (Irish Times)

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As German chancellor Angela Merkel gave the go-ahead to discuss direct aid for Spain’s banks, Irish negotiators were told from the outset of the talks that any pledge to Madrid would not necessarily create a precedent for Dublin. This led Taoiseach Enda Kenny to insist on a direct reference to Ireland, saying he could accept nothing less.

As the talks continued into the early hours of Friday morning, Mr Kenny is reputed to have instructed officials to “keep taking the tablets” as they pushed repeatedly for a direct reference to Ireland.

 

ECB Backed Ireland In Getting Pledge For Bank Bailout Review (Arthur Beesley and Harry McGee, Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)

THE GOVERNMENT is working to a deadline of the end of October for reaching agreement with the European Union on substantial reductions in the State’s bank debts.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan (above) will table the Government’s first proposals for a revised banking debt arrangement for Ireland at a meeting of EU finance ministers in Brussels next Monday.

However, Mr Noonan, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore have all refused to quantify the scale of bank debt reduction they will seek when negotiations begin in earnest next week, although it is understood officials are working on a possible cut of upwards of half of the total €63 billion spent to date on bailing out the banks.

No, really. Good luck with that.

Government targets end of October for EU deal on bank debt (Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)