Category Archives: News

news as it is happening-ish

Heads turned when Archbishop Charles Brown, the new papal nuncio, arrived wearing his pectoral cross. He was approached by well-wishers, which was something of a contrast to the picket outside the Nunciature.

The Manhattan-born Brown told me that he has traced his ancestors, on both sides, to east Clare, “and to Gort, which I know is not in Clare, but in Galway, right?” He said that he had a wonderful time in west Cork on Saturday, when he visited Leap. On Sunday he was back in Dublin to meet up with his old friend, David Rosen, the former chief rabbi of Ireland. Rosen is now based in Jerusalem.

Archbishop Brown became embarrassed when the issue of him being referred to as “the George Clooney of the Diplomatic Corps” was raised. “Oh, I just pray my rosary,” he said.

Yes.

Hat tip to Miranda Wrights, who adds:

Wouldn’t happen in Madam’s day, in all fairness.

Meh. He’s no David James Glendon.

Previously: Good Grief Charles Brown

Douze points for Israeli celebration (Irish Times)

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A Fine Gael TD has asked the Central Statistics Office (CSO) for information on the number of people who claimed their religion was that of ‘Jedi knight’ in last year’s Census.

Dublin Deputy Eoghan Murphy made the request (yesterday) at a sitting of the Dáil Public Accounts Committee.

He queried whether the Census form returns inaccurate data, as it would allow people to indicate a religion which was not a recognised faith.

You mean like the Pagan Federation and the Spiritualist Union?

MINISTER FOR Finance Michael Noonan has rejected claims that he is trying to scare the electorate into voting Yes to the fiscal treaty, saying the Irish people are entitled to know the truth. He said his comment that next year’s budget would be more difficult if the treaty is rejected was a “considered statement”.

Speaking in Brussels yesterday Mr Noonan said some appeared to believe that you couldn’t have a frank debate because it upset Sinn Féin.

“Now Sinn Féin might be afraid of the truth on a number of issues but the Irish people aren’t afraid of the truth,” he said.

That’s right. We’re not afraid.

A No vote would oblige him to reduce his forecast for economic growth for next year, he added.

Aaaaagh!

Noonan Denies He Is Trying To Scare Voters (Arthur Beesley and Stephen Collins, Irish Times)

Also: Noonan Says Multinationals Will Leave If Ireland Votes No (Sarah Collins, Irish Independent)

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TROUBLED IRISH property developer Treasury Holdings has begun legal proceedings against Nama. It is seeking substantial compensation and is contesting the constitutionality of the legislation governing its activities.

It is understood that Treasury, which is jointly controlled by businessmen Richard Barrett and Johnny Ronan (above), has made an application to the High Court on both matters.
This relates to Nama’s decision in January – first revealed by The Irish Times – to appoint joint receivers to certain assets secured against loans of more than €1 billion owed to the agency.

Last December, when Nama appointed Ernst Young as administrator, Treasury lost its 41 per cent stake in interest in the redevelopment of London’s Battersea Power Station in London and, along with it – the developer claims – a potential £400 million in management fees plus a fat share of Battersea’s £4.5 billion net profit over the next 15 years.

Does your heart bleed? Well, does it?

Treasury Begins Case Against Nama In High Court (Ciaran Hancock, Irish Times)

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THE GOVERNMENT is expected to agree today to back legislation giving humanists the same status as organised religions and civil registrars in conducting marriage ceremonies.

The Bill proposes to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004, which regulates the registration of civil marriages.

The 2004 Act stipulates that, apart from Health Service Executive registrars, only a member of a “religious body” may celebrate legal marriages.

This is defined as “an organised group of people, members of which meet regularly for common religious worship”.

This includes organisations such as the Pagan Federation Ireland and the Spiritualist Union of Ireland, which have obtained registration under the Act.

But the definition excludes members of the Humanist Association of Ireland, who currently conduct humanist wedding ceremonies even though these are not legally recognised.

Bill proposes full legal status for humanist weddings (Irish Times)

An east London estate, where 700 people live, has received leaflets saying a “Higher Velocity Missile system” could be placed on a water tower.

A spokesman said the MoD had not yet decided whether to deploy ground based air defence systems during the event.
But estate resident Brian Whelan said firing the missiles “would shower debris across the east end of London”.

Novelist and blogger Charles Stross adds:

If one of those things is ever fired, either in anger or by accident, it’ll shower white-hot supersonic shrapnel across the extremely crowded residential heart of a city.

Go Team GB!

London 2012: Missiles May Be Placed At Residential Flats (BBC News)

boingboing

CAMPAIGNING BY the Coalition parties on the fiscal treaty referendum will be ramped up today amid warnings from a senior Fine Gael figure that the Yes side is facing a “difficult engagement” with the electorate.

And then some.

Minister for Communications Pat Rabbitte said the International Monetary Fund “will not come to the rescue of any member state of the European Union, only in partnership with the ESM”.

However, Sinn Féin’s Peadar Tóibín, citing a story in a Sunday newspaper, said Ireland would not be isolated from funding [from the IMF}  if it voted against the treaty.

“If they would not let Anglo Irish Bank fail, they’re not going to let this State fail,” he said.

*popcorn, Minstrels, large Sprite*

Coalition To intensify Yes Drive In ‘Tight’ Referendum (Irish Times)

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IRELAND COULD hold back up to 50 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of State assets for domestic investment following agreement with the EU-IMF, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.

The original agreement allowed the State to keep just a third of total sales to spend on infrastructure and jobs.

“The change now is that that will be significantly higher. It could be – I stress could be – as high as 50 per cent,” said Mr Kenny.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin would not be drawn on a figure during a press conference on the bailout programme review.

In other news: You May Already Have Won A Substantial Cash Prize, and Hot Girls In Your Area Want To Chat, And Maybe More.

Half Of Cash From Asset Sale May Be Retained In State, Says Kenny (Mary Minihan, Harry McGee and Stephen Collins, Irish Times)

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Mr [François] Hollande said if elected he would not ratify the treaty unless a deal was agreed on measures to promote jobs and economic growth.

He also indicated that the result of Ireland’s referendum should not be taken for granted.

“There will be a renegotiation,” Mr Hollande said. “Will the treaty be changed? I hope so. Or another treaty arranged? That is up for negotiation. But the treaty, as is, will not be ratified.”

Mr Hollande noted that three countries had already ratified the pact, but added: “We don’t know the result of the [Irish] referendum. And you know, at times Ireland has been capable of saying No.”

Thanks a pant-load François, as Enda might shriek into his Coco Pops of a morning.

French Presidential Candidate Wants Treaty Reopened (Irish Times)

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A new bill to reform the corruption and bribery laws, you say?

Mr Shatter said the response of the Government to reform, in the light of the self-examination sparked by the reports of the Moriarty and Mahon tribunals, would be “the mark of our integrity as ministers and parliamentarians”.

Yay!

Speaking later to The Irish Times, the Minister declined to comment on the cases of individuals who had been the subject of adverse findings by the tribunals.

Pointing out that gardaí were currently awaiting directions from the DPP in relation to possible criminal proceedings arising from the Moriarty tribunal, he said he had been careful not to say anything that could prejudice any action that could arise.

Sorry?

Mr Shatter ruled out any changes in the law which would facilitate criminal action against those featuring in tribunal reports, saying laws could not be enacted to apply retrospectively to people.

Oh.

Bill to fight corruption due shortly, says Shatter (Irish Times)

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