Category Archives: News

news as it is happening-ish

Last week, the Oireachtas ‘tested plans’ to use the heavily fortified Dublin Castle as an ‘alternative venue’ in case of an ’emergency’.

Officials at the Houses of the Oireachtas have confirmed the exercise was part of its “business continuity management” plan in case the Dáil Chambers suddenly become unavailable.

The plan involves using the ceremonial rooms, such as St Patrick’s Hall, as a Dáil chamber, while connecting rooms could be used as temporary bases for political parties.
IT equipment has also been tested to see if it could replicate the computer systems used in Leinster House and print out official documents for the smooth running of the Dáil.
But what kind of emergency might prompt such a move?

“It could be any unforeseen event,” said one official, declining to speculate further.

Dáil ready to pull up drawbridge if unforeseen emergency arises (Irish Times)

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Alarming but not terribly surprising testimonial from former classmates of Republican presidential candidate Biff Tannen Mitt Romney in the Washington Post:

John Lauber, a soft-spoken new student one year behind Romney, was perpetually teased for his nonconformity and presumed homosexuality. Now he was walking around the all-boys school with bleached-blond hair that draped over one eye, and Romney wasn’t having it.

“He can’t look like that. That’s wrong. Just look at him!” an incensed Romney told Matthew Friedemann, his close friend in the Stevens Hall dorm, according to Friedemann’s recollection. Mitt, the teenage son of Michigan Gov. George Romney, kept complaining about Lauber’s look, Friedemann recalled.

With help from other bullies, according to the article, Romney then pinned Lauber (who died in 2004) to the ground, and while the young man was weeping, cut off his hair with scissors.

And there’s more.

ABC News also interviewed school friends of Romney, one of whom described his behavior as “like Lord of the Flies.” Romney apologized for the “prank” in a radio interview today, but said that “homosexuality” was never on his mind.

Riiight.

Mitt Romney’s prep school classmates recall pranks, but also troubling incidents (Washington Post)

Romney Friend Stu White Says Campaign Wants Him to Counter Prank Accusations (ABCNews)

boingboing

The proposal to ban the advertising of most cheeses during children’s television programmes has been described as “absolutely crazy” and “mad” by members of the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture.

The committee has said it will make a “forceful” submission to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland objecting to the plans.

They can have our Dairylea Dunk Pots when they pry them from our chubby greasy hands.

Plan To Ban Cheese Adverts ‘Absolutely Crazy’ (Alison Healy, Irish Times)

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“As a result of my decision I will, therefore, not be making any further pronouncements in the media on the referendum nor taking part in any further media debate as per the instruction of the leadership of the party.”

Right so. Starting now?

He expressed concern about the direction being taken by the EU. While the euro had “conceptual merits”, the decision to join what he described as a “badly designed and poorly constructed” monetary union had cost Ireland dearly.

How about now?

Mr Ó Cuív claimed larger member states had moved into a position where they could dictate policy, “and that a nation’s influence in the European Union is now in direct proportion to the size of its economy”.

Oh forget it.

Ó Cuív opts to stay in FF in spite of treaty views (Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)

 

 

Alexis Tsipras pledges to rip up Greece’s 130 billion euro bail-out deal (Telegraph)

What The Greek Left Wants (Wall Street Journal)

We need to change forever the way politics works in this country.

Reform is required to restore trust in politics and politicians. That is why reform will start with politics.

Enda Kenny, Leaders’ Questions speech, March 15, 2011

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny’s home county has hit the jackpot with funding from the National Lottery since he became Taoiseach, an Irish Independent investigation can reveal.

The constituency was the biggest winner of Lottery-funded capital sports grants last year – getting double the allocation of Dublin city.

Lotto grants to Mayo surged by 70pc to €1.8m – leading to accusations that the funding scheme is open to being operated as a political slush fund

Revealed: Surge in Lotto cash grants for Kenny’s home base (Independent)

(Hat tip@P_Rowley)

(Photocall Ireland)

FORMER FIANNA Fáil deputy leader Éamon O Cuív has accused the party leadership of attempting to force him out of the party.

An infuriated Mr O Cuív told The Irish Times last night that a letter he received from Fianna Fáil whip, Seán Ó Fearghail had left him with a stark choice.

The Galway West TD and former government minister said he had a “monumental decision” to make by today about whether to remain in the party.

No Treaty. The grandfather would be proud.

Ó Cuív Accuses FF Leadership Of Trying To Force Him Out (Maire O’Halloran and Stephen Collins, Irish Times)

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Speaking at a news conference in Warsaw, Michael Noonan added that he was confident France’s Francois Hollande was in favour of the EU’s fiscal rules and said Ireland did not oppose his drive of adding “growth elements” to the pact.

“It would help us…if Mr.Hollande would soon clarify what he would like to add to the treaty,” Noonan said.

“We are concerned about this in Ireland where we are in the middle of the referendum campaign, it doesn’t sit so well with us (talk of changes to the treaty). But I am not sure it’s about rejection of austerity in France.”

Well, Shane Ross did warn them.

Ireland wants French clarity on fiscal pact before referendum (Reuters/Yahoo!Finance News)

François Hollande remporte le second tour de l’élection présidentielle française avec 52 ou 53,3 % des voix, d’après les estimations des instituts de sondages

 

François Hollande élu Président de la République (lesoir.be)

Socialist Francois Hollande ‘wins French presidency’ (BBCNews)

Lowry says he intends running in the next general election. He says that despite all the “public humiliation” he has had to endure, he has managed to build up a local political organisation, the “Lowry Team”, with eight councillors, including his son Micheál.

“If I’m knocked over by a bus, it won’t be the end of the Lowry Team. The Lowry Team will go on in Tipperary.”

Welcome to Lowryland (Irish Times)

(Photocall Ireland)