Aer Lingus CEO Sean Doyle outlined the potentially dramatic moves in an internal video to staff members on Friday.

“We have no line of sight on any meaningful resumption of operations out of either Cork or Shannon Airports. As such we are reviewing the scale of our flying programme from these airports and the ongoing viability of our regional bases there,” he told staff.

Someone‘s looking for a bailout.

FIGHT!

Aer Lingus reviewing Cork and Shannon operations (Independent.ie)

Rollingnews

Meanwhile….

The DC Experiment – Come On

Don’t let the lockdown get you down.

That’s the message from The DC Experiment, who wrote and recorded this ska-influenced call to arms in various locations remotely.

Singer, songwriter and guitarist Dave Conway (top) was joined by Robbie Stanley (bass), Paul Maguire (guitars) and Kirk Ricketts (sax).

Dave says:

“The song celebrates the coming together of musician friends using new found technology to creatively collaborate in both audio and video formats.”

The song is available at bandcamp and the usual digital platforms.

Nick says: The ska’s the limit.

The DC Experiment

Fans of Richard Herring’s long running RHLSTP podcast will already be well aware of the host’s views on robot sex and whether on not that qualifies as cheating on your partner. Hence, this NSFW short, writen by Richard and directed by Ben Mallaby. To wit:

Richard Herring and Rachel Stubbings star in a cautionary tale of obsession and toast.

shortoftheweek

‘sup?

This morning.

Ossory Roadd, North Strand, Dublin 3.

Embattled Leader of the Green Party and Minister for Climate Action and Communications Networks and Transport Eamon Ryan with Green Party Councillor Donna Cooney (and Poppy, above) at the newly opened Royal Canal Route phase 2 at Newcomen Bridge.

Yesterday: It’s Not Easy

Sam Boal/Rollingnews

Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry

“I want to draw an analogy between the Minister’s Department and other Departments and employees of the State for whom, frankly, Covid-19 has been great cover for doing nothing.

I had dealings with one State agency lately, where no one will be back in that office until the end of August. They are working from home and it is necessary to talk to an answering machine.

Most people have been allowed to return to work, particularly in the private sector. The staff in my office did not stop for an hour since the onset of Covid-19.

We respected the lockdown, but worked from our office and dealt with people on phones etc..

Many elements of our State agencies, Departments and local authorities, however, are using this situation as cover to lie on the couch and watch box sets, returning an odd call here and there and doing the maximum of the minimum to tick over during this period.

Productivity has fallen and that is unacceptable. Many in the private sector are back again at full tilt. I know the Minister has worked at full tilt throughout this time, I know I have, as have many colleagues, probably all, in the political world. Many people are not, however, and that needs to be addressed.

Whether it is opportunism, coming from the labour relations side, laziness and-or poor management, it needs to be addressed because the country needs all its officials working at full tilt to get productivity levels up to the maximum so we get through this crisis in the best possible way.”

Fianna Fáil TD Marc MacSharry speaking  in the Dáil on the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020 on Tuesday.

Meanwhile…

 

Deputy General Secretary for the Public Sector John King

SIPTU Deputy General Secretary for the Public Service, John King, said:

“Earlier this week, SIPTU representatives took the view that Deputy MacSharry’s theatrical attempt to grab cheap media headlines was not worthy of a response.

However, given the volume of emails, phone calls and messages from members over the last 24 hours since the deputy repeated his outrageous comments we believe we must give public expression to the level of anger, disappointment and hurt felt by public service workers working across the country.

Deputy MacSharry’s comments clearly demonstrate a fundamental lack of appreciation and understanding of the efforts made by hundreds of thousands of public servants who have worked around the clock to stop the spread of the coronavirus from day one of the outbreak.

….Our members are demanding Deputy MacSharry listens to the advice of his parliamentary colleagues in Fianna Fáil and other parties, withdraws his comments, apologises and puts an end to this kind of misleading rhetoric that only serves to divide public and private sector workers at a time when the economic recovery of the country requires unity and solidarity.”

SIPTU members express anger and hurt at “lazy” comments by Marc MacSharry TD)

Rollingnews

Wildflower meadow?

Or pristine lawn?

The choice is not yours.

A colourised blemish-free look at 1890s Gweedore, County Donegal, the largest Irish-speaking parish in Ireland.

Go hálainn.

Support Rob’s work here

This morning.

Dublin Castle, Dublin 2.

Northen Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster (above left) and Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’Neill (right) flank Taoiseach Micheál Martin ahead of a North South Ministerial Council meeting, the first time the cross border body has met in three years.

They are due to discuss matters of mutual interest, including the Brexit trade negotiations, the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about international travel to the island.

The Republic of Ireland has a so-called “green list” of 15 nations from which travellers entering the country do not have to self-isolate for 14 days, but Northern Ireland has a list of 58 such countries.

Covid-19: Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill set for North South meeting (BBC)

Sam Boal/Rollingnews

Stephen Collins of The Irish Times

This morning.

Further to the government u-turn that has ensured Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment recipients will not have their pay cut if they travel to green-listed countries.

Stephen Collins, columnist  and former political editor of The Irish Times, is not happy.

He fumes:

The Government was entirely justified in withdrawing the pandemic payment for people who flout the advice not to travel abroad unless it is essential, never mind those leaving the country for good.

The vast majority of people have willingly obeyed the advice not to holiday abroad.

By allowing itself to be bullied into a U-turn by hysterical objections, the Coalition let down the vast majority of people who have shown a willingness to act in the common good even if that entails a financial sacrifice….

Good times.

Meanwhile, later…

Politicians’ pay has always been an obsession of the Irish media for as far back as anybody can remember. In the overall scheme of things TDs and ministers are reasonably well paid, but then again so are public servants at all levels…

…Pandering to ignorance about their pay has done nothing to improve the standing of politicians.

Pandering to ignorance about TD pay does nothing to improve standing of politicians (Stephen Collins, Irish Times)

Broadsheet.ie