From top: Leinster House; Ken Foxe

Yesterday.

In The Business Post.

Rachel Lavin reported:

The details of lump sum payments and pensions made to TDs and senators leaving office will no longer be made public, an internal review by the Oireachtas has decided.

The move comes after the Information Commissioner ruled in April that the public release of the pensions paid to former taoisigh, presidents and ministers would involve a “significant breach” of their privacy.

The Oireachtas review has now extended this interpretation to outgoing TDs and senators, concluding that their right to privacy now trumps the public interest when it comes to publishing the details of their termination and pension pay, even though the money involved comes from public funds.

The decision means “hundreds of thousands of euros in termination pay will now go unscrutinised” Ken Foxe, a journalist and Freedom of Information (FOI) campaigner said.

Politicians’ golden handshakes no longer subject to FOI (Sunday Business Post, Rachel Lavin)

Previously7: Who Took This Decision?

The whimsical face coverings of illustrator Kit Layfield, each connected to collar-mounted contraptions containing fantastical ecosystems. Viral prophylactics? Environmental statements? Expressions of humanity’s simultaneous dependence on and exploitation of the natural world?

Make of them what you will.

More of his work here.

colossal

The Pox Men – Ever So Jauntily (Nico’s Grave to See)

Legendary chanteuse Nico (top left) died on this day in 1988.

Donegal alt.folk combo The Pox Men wrote this ditty in her honour and captured their pilgrimage to her grave in Germany on film.

The Pox Men say:

“This video is a wee documentary journey to her grave. And the song fits in too. C’mon. We’ll come straight home.”

Nick says: Meet you at the cemetery gates.

The Pox Men

This morning/afternoon.

Townsend Street, Dublin 2.

More as we get it.

Yesterday.

Dun Laoghaire, County Dublin from the East Pier looking inland

Carlosfandango writes`;

Curious mix of old and new with the library bursting through it’s surroundings….

Meanwhile…

Last night.

Cahore, County Mayo.

Thanks Halfahead

Bad timing.

She arrived just as they were about to draw the Sweepstakes.

Princess Grace In ireland (Princess Grace Library)

Robb Murphy – Choose Your World

This should put a spring in your step.

Belfast troubadour Robb Murphy (top) asked his fans to send him in their videos of them singing along to his new single.

The expertly edited result is charm itself.

Robb says:

“Choose Your World is a song about how our thoughts create our world. By choosing to see things in a positive way our perception becomes reality and we are more thankful for all that we have. The song was written as a mantra to motivate me and I am hoping it will help others too.”

Nick says: Murphy’s lure.

Robb Murphy

Yesterday.

Somewhere in West Cork.

Name those three open-top ‘jammers’ at the front, anyone?

Broadsheet.ie