Behold: Project Ice Kite – a 67 metre superyacht designed by Red Yacht Design and Dykstra Naval Architects.

464m² of outdoor space includes a pool, jacuzzi, dining area,helipad, bar and BBQ area overlooked by a main lounge entirely wrapped in glass. Five ensuite cabins accommodate up to ten guests and fuel efficiency is maximised by offsetting twin 1000bhp diesel electric engines with a deployable 158 m² kite rig and a low resistance hydrodynamic hull.

Price on application.

uncrate

Prince Albert of Monaco in Dublin in 2011

Hmm.

Earlier: Je Suis Infecté

Rollingnews

Reevah – Weight Of The World

It’s bathtime.

Derry girl Reevah (top) channels her inner Ophelia in her new video as she is drawn to the water.

The single is taken from her A Different Light EP, due next month.

Reevah says:

“The track eludes to struggle and the human condition. How we can all carry the Weight of the World but not let it be known to those around us.”

Nick says: Worth the wait.

Reevah

Ah.

Sebastian Stephenson writes:

 I made an infographic with this source to see how the virus has grown in Ireland so far. I plan to update it as new case are confirmed. It plots how fast the cases have grown and how many are new.

Confirmed Cases Of Covid19 In The Republic of ireland (Sebastian Stephenson, Visme)

 

In the Dáil this afternoon; Health Minister Simon Harris (above)

This afternoon.

A limited number of Dáil members observe “social distancing” as they congregate to debate and pass emergency legislation The Health Preservation and other Emergency Measures Bill introduced by Health Minister Simon Harris.

Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy does not appear to be in attendance.

However Mr Harris said:

“At a time like this, we often rely on our country’s greats to motivate and inspire us. One such great, Séamus Heaney, said ‘hope is not optimism which expects things to turn out well but is something rooted in the conviction that there is a good worth working for’.

“Let us all here, in this Oireachtas, and all of us across this country work day and night to achieve that common good. Ceann Comhairle, I move that the The Health Preservation and Protections and other Emergency Measures Bill in the Public Interests Bill now be read a second time.

“I want to say at the outset, I see the sense in the amendments deputies have proposed with regard to a sunset clause and I’ll work with deputies on this when we get to later stages in this bill.

“I also know a number of deputies have expressed concerns in relation  to protecting and supporting renters at this difficult time and I know my colleague Minister [Eoghan] Murphy intends to bring forward legislation in that regard next week.”

Watch live here

Meanwhile…

Earlier: “Emergency Measures”

UPDATE:

From the Department of Housing website:

The Government has today (Thursday, 19th March) approved a series of emergency measures to protect tenants who have been impacted by Covid 19.

Moratoriums on evictions and rent increases are being introduced for the duration of the Covid 19 emergency, to ensure people can stay in their homes during this period. The notice period for tenancies of less than six months is also being increased from 28 to 90 days.

The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy TD, intends to publish legislation next week to amend the Residential Tenancies Act 2004-2019 to give effect to these changes.

The emergency measures being announced today complement those announced by the five main retail banks yesterday, in relation to the flexibility – such as 3 month mortgage breaks – which will be offered to those with buy-to-let mortgages whose tenants have been impacted by the virus.

It is the Government’s expectation that landlords will pass that flexibility on their tenants. Tenants are encouraged to engage with their landlords as quickly as possible if they are facing difficulties.

While tenants will be expected to pay rent during this period, income supports and Rent Supplement is available to those struggling to do so. These supports are provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

Any rent arrears built up will be payable, but landlords have been asked to show forbearance and reach local arrangements in such circumstances.

Government approves series of emergency measures to protect tenants (Department of Housing)

UPDATE:

Irish Plogging Divas write:

The next time they start the “OK Boomer” stuff. Contrast social distancing at Sandycove (left) this morning with a Main Street Blackrock queue for coffee (right).
.
Do people need flat whites so badly? The perennials in Sandycove are probably 3-4 times their age…

FIGHT!

This afternoon.

Pat writes:

Above is a letter from HSE to my elderly mother with ALL the underlying issues that carry risk for Covid19.

They are threatening her with taking away her carer. She has had cancer, heart surgery and has diabetes, arthritis and other issues. With no family nearby.”

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile, in his address to the nation on St Patrick’s night, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said:

“At a certain point we will advise the elderly and people who have a long-term illness to stay at home for several weeks. We’re putting in place the systems to ensure that if you are one of them, you will have food, supplies and are checked on. We call it cocooning and it will save many lives, particularly the lives of the most vulnerable, the most precious in our society.

“I know it’s going to be very difficult to stay apart from our loved ones. Most grandparents just want to give their grandkids a hug and a kiss around about now. But, as hard as it is, we need to keep our physical distance to stop the virus.”

Previously: “This Is The Calm Before The Storm”

’x-lands’: an interesting concept by XTU architects whereby the inevitably defunct oil rigs of the future are transformed into offshore living space filled with greenery and powered by renewable energy.

Splendid isolation, in fairness.

designboom

Broadsheet.ie