Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald, Labour’s Alex White, Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews, Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan, Green Party’s Ciarán Cuffe and Independents 4 Change’s Clare Daly

This morning.

At Buswells Hotel on Molesworth Street, Dublin 2.

Six Dublin MEP candidates – Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald, Labour’s Alex White, Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews, Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan, Green Party’s Ciarán Cuffe and Independents 4 Change’s Clare Daly – took part in an election debate hosted by the Association of European Journalists.

It was moderated by RTÉ’s Eileen Dunne.

The Irish Examiner‘s political correspondent Fiachra Ó Cionnaith attended.

He observed:

Leah Farrell/Rollingnews

Earlier: Blue Wave

Dublin Cycling Campaign writes:

A major protest cycle will take place on the 15th May 2019 just before the May local elections on the 24th. The starting point is Merrion square West opposite National Gallery of Ireland beside the Dublin Bike station.

We will be meeting from 5.15pm. We aim to arrive at the Dáil just before 6pm on the Wednesday evening. We have partnered with our colleagues iBikeDublin who will be protesting on the day with Dublin Cycling Campaign.

We will be reaching out to other like-minded organisations in the coming weeks.

The goal of this protest is to highlight that cyclists are voters too and we have a voice. The logo #iBikeIVote represents this clearly.

Cycle to the Dáil (Dublin Cycling Campaign)

Dublin Inquirer tweetz:

If you’re curious about how Dublin City Council councillors have voted on city issues this past term, don’t forget you can check out their votes (not all, sadly, just the ones they record electronically) at Council Tracker. #LE19

Council Tracker is a Dublin Inquirer project.

Previously:  63 Candidates On 10 Key Issues

Fair Play

Further to the letter regarding water bottles at the Dublin Marathon, it would be great if the organisers were inspired by this year’s London Marathon.

A total of 200,000 edible water “pods”, made from an edible, biodegradable seaweed, were distributed to runners. Definitely something noble to consider for this island nation.

Orla Gilhooly,
Madison,
Wisconsin.

Anyone?

Plastic bottles at the Dublin Marathon (Irish Times letters page)

Pic: Sports Inquirer

This morning’s Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI opinion poll

Um.

In Dublin, Fine Gael’s Frances Fitzgerald is on course to top the poll at 22 per cent, followed by Fianna Fáil’s Barry Andrews on 18 per cent. Four candidates are likely to fight it out for the last two seats – Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan (13 per cent), Independents 4 Change TD Clare Daly (10 per cent), Ciarán Cuffe of the Green Party (9 per cent) and Labour’s Alex White, who is on 8 per cent.

Hmm.

Latest poll shows FG on track to top all three European constituencies (Irish Times)

From top: Sociologist and asylum seeker living in Ireland Evgeny Shtorn, from Russia; founder of the ‘Something From There’ Community Project

The National Gallery of Ireland writes:

The National Gallery in Dublin wishes to reach out to a wide range of people living in Direct Provision to explore your experiences of coming to and living in Ireland.

This artist-led project [conceived by Evgeny Shtorn] will take its lead from an object (or objects) that you brought here to Ireland with you, and the meaning that these objects might now have.

Participation in the project will include attendance at workshops in the gallery once a month between June and December 2019.

The gallery encourages people from all communities to apply, including members of the LGBTQIA+ community. There are a limited number of places available on this project.

The deadline to apply is May 22.

More details on the project and how to apply here

Previously: Sinful Pride

You’re Cordially Invited

Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin

The Fianna Fáil leader said that if his party came to power before the contract with the government’s preferred bidder was signed it would not go ahead with the deal. It would instead set up an agency within the state-owned utility company to deliver the service.

Hurrah!

However, Fianna Fáil would not bring down the government over the scheme, which is expected to cost taxpayers €3 billion and provide broadband to 540,000 homes and businesses.

Oh.

Micheál Martin: I’d axe €3bn broadband contract (Collette Sexton, The Times Ireland edition)

Meanwhile…

Steve Hanlon tweetz:

A new Road Safety Awareness campaign has apparently hit the streets of #Perth in #Australia called “Watch Out for Dumb F**k Cyclists”. Sure to stir a bit of controversy!

Well, yes and no…

Cyclists fall for fake road safety awareness campaign (Mail Online)

Broadsheet.ie