Caoimhin Kelleher could make his Premier League debut for Liverpool against Southampton tomorrow….

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp revealed Spaniard Adrian was hurt when a pitch invader landed on his ankle during the post-match celebrations in Istanbul.

With first-choice Allison already sidelined, should Adrian also be ruled out [Cork-born] Kelleher may get the nod to start his first competitive match for the Reds….

What Liverpool’s Latest Goalie Injury Means For Caoimhin Kelleher (Balls.ie)

‘Caoimhín would score 20 goals a season up front’: Liverpool’s Cork-born goalkeeper making strides at Anfield (42.ie)

Pic: Goal.com

Anyone?

Meanwhile…

Ah here

Stop that.

This afternoon.

Drogheda, County Louth.

Scenes from the 2019 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann music festival where it is expected – until Sunday – up to 400,000 folk fans from Ireland and overseas will visit.

Sam Boal RollingNews

Behold: the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula winding its way through the star cluster complex of IC1396, some 3000 light years distant in the constellation of Cepheus. To wit:

Also known as vdB 142, the cosmic elephant’s trunk is over 20 light-years long. This colourful close-up view was recorded through narrow band filters that transmit the light from ionised hydrogen, sulphur, and oxygen atoms in the region. The resulting composite highlights the bright, swept-back ridges that outline pockets of cool interstellar dust and gas. Such embedded, dark, tendril-shaped clouds contain the raw material for star formation and hide protostars within. 

(Image: Chuck Ayoub)

apod

Above:Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon on RTÉ Radio One this morning; Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty

This morning.

The Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon spoke to Miriam O’Callaghan on RTÉ’s Today with Miriam O’Callaghan.

It followed Ms Dixon’s finding that there is no legal basis for anyone to have to present a Public Services Card in respect of any transaction between a person and a public body outside the Department of Employment and Social Protection – such as obtaining a drivers’ licence, passport, education grants, etc.

And her finding that the supporting information that the 3.2 million card holders had to hand over in order to get their card – such as utility bills, proof of ID, etc – must now be deleted.

Ms O’Callaghan told listeners that the show sought an interview with the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty – who famously, in 2017, said the cards were  “mandatory but not compulsory” – but she was not available.

Her spokesperson said she has received Ms Dixon’s report and that she will respond in “due course”.

Ms Dixon clarified a number of her findings outlined in her press release issued this morning.

In respect of her call for the destruction of data held on the 3.2 million card holders, she said:

“They have to delete the supporting documentation that they collected. They do not have to delete the PSI dataset elements and what that Public Sector Identity set elements are are the name, address – the information that they extract and validated from the supporting documentation will not be deleted. Because existing cards are not invalid. It’s the supporting documentation that they must delete.”

In respect of how the card has been used – by departments outside the Department of Employment and Social Protection – Ms Dixon said that she has found other departments have recently been rowing back on demanding that a Public Services Card be presented.

She said:

“As far as we can see the only mandatory requirements at the moment, outside of the department itself, are from the immigration service for citizenship applications and the passport office for new adult passport applicants.

“So in fact, already, some of the bodies have rolled back and usefully so in light of our findings.”

She added:

“As I say, what the Government does from here, and what it intends and wants the system to be, is a matter for the Government.”

Asked by a listener if they should cut up and destroy their card, Ms Dixon said:

“No I hope it’s clear from what I’ve said that cards that have been issued are valid, can continue to be used to avail of free travel and if the individual asking is a benefit recipient from the department then they must still produce it as required.” 

Meanwhile…

Independent TD Catherine Connolly

Independent TD for Galway West Catherine Connolly also joined Miriam O’Callaghan this morning.

Ms Connolly said:

“As I understand it, the Department has had a copy of the draft report since August of last year and I’ve just heard Helen Dixon say that in August last year, notwithstanding that the Government had a copy of the draft report with all of these concerns, they simultaneously extended the requirement to have this card for other services.

“That in itself tells me something.”

Ms Connolly also said that since she started being a TD in 2016, she and other TDs have consistently raised the issue in the Dáil and the Public Accounts Committee.

She also paid tribute to a “female Irish Times” journalist who has been writing about the matter but failed to mention her name. Presumably Ms Connolly was referring to Elaine Edwards.

Ms Connolly said:

“The response from the minister and the Government was patronising. They said they knew best. We were raising matters that weren’t relevant, that we were making a big deal out of nothing.”

She added:

“What has happened here is it was the introduction of an identity card by stealth. There may well be arguments for an identity card but they were never discussed in the Dáil. In fact, it was frankly denied by the Government.”

Ms Connolly also asked why no comprehensive business case was given the Public Accounts Committee for the roll-out of the cards – which is estimated to have cost €62million to date.

Listen back in full here

Earlier: Your Card Has Been Declined

Meanwhile…

Yesterday.

Herbert Park, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4

Scenes from the Big Grill – Europe’s largest craft beer and bbq festival – where meat-loving, craft chugging ‘revellers’ will gather until Sunday.

As they are perfectly entitled to do.

The Big Grill

Rollingnews

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