Lissywollen Direct Provision centre for asylum seekers, Athlone, Co Westmeath

By Friday, May 24.

“Stakeholders and interested parties” can send written submissions about issues concerning Direct Provision and the international protection application process to the Committee on Justice and Equality.

The committee writes:

In particular, the committee wishes to consider what can be done in the short to medium term to improve the:

– welfare and conditions of people living in the direct provision system.

– efficiency of the current system of processing international protection claims, in order to bring policies, practices and laws into line with international best practice and standards.

The committee also wishes to look beyond the current system of direct provision in Ireland and consider whether there are better models or alternatives we could pursue.

The Committee will commence a series of public hearings on these issues on 22 May 2019, with a view to publishing a report in the autumn.

The committee has asked that submissions are sent in an electronic document (PDF/MS Word or equivalent) to directprovision@oireachtas.ie.

It has said submissions in hard copy format will not be accepted.

It’s also asked that the submissions are not sent to individual committee members.

For more information see here

South African runner and double Olympic and World Champion Caster Semenya

BBC reports:

Caster Semenya has lost a landmark case against athletics’ governing body meaning it will be allowed to restrict testosterone levels in female runners.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) rejected the South African’s challenge against the IAAF’s new rules.

But Cas said it had “serious concerns as to the future practical application” of the regulations.

Olympic 800m champion Semenya, 28, said in response to the ruling that the IAAF “have always targeted me specifically”.

“For a decade the IAAF has tried to slow me down, but this has actually made me stronger. The decision of Cas will not hold me back,” the statement continued.

Caster Semenya: Olympic 800m champion loses appeal against IAAF testosterone rules (BBC)

Read the Cas decision in full here

This morning.

Julian Assange jailed for 50 weeks for breaching bail in 2012 (The Guardian)

Pic AFP

BETA-MAX – Pleased To Meet You

BETA-MAX is Dubliner Trevor Courtney’s brainchild. For his third single, Courtney has drafted in Fight Like Apes singer MayKay to add a sassy lead vocal that puts the fun in funk.

Fitting somewhere between Garbage and Daft Punk, BETA-MAX hopes to have an album out before Christmas.

Nick says: The playful animation in the video is truly ALPHA.

BETA-MAX

Sundry remarkable people and their remarkable exploits. None of whom were you. Or done by you. exurb1a sez:

Please note that this wasn’t intended to be a diatribe against critics or experts. They obviously play an important role. It was more directed at the recreational cynicism one comes across in daily life from time to time, generally pointed at young artists. I have had the privilege to meet plenty of people 1000x more talented than me, who are simultaneously doubting their abilities because of some stupid comment made by an unpleasant teacher or jaded family member.

Previously: The Last Humans Left

likecool

This morning.

Cork city.

Livestock shenanigans at a cabinet meeting being held in Corcaigh – a temporary re-location that must have seemed like a good idea at some point.

That’ll learn them.

UPDATE:

Inside Cork City Hall…

Ah here.

Soccer as gaeilge!

Noel O’Toole writes:

As part of its ongoing campaign to raise funds for its new Astroturf pitch, Bearna na Forbacha  [County Galway Gaeltacht-based] soccer club have made a video to help raise funds for floodlights on the new facility.

Titled At Night our Dreams Come out to Play, and Hashtagged #Gizalight, the opening voice-over for the Conamara-based club states ‘our Summers here are glorious, but Winter nights are long…’

The 90 second short film features the juvenile teams training under their hopefully soon to be replaced temporary lights.

The voice-over, in both Irish and English, goes on to say ‘But it’s at night our dreams come out to play, let’s light up these dreams!’

Troid!

Bearna Na Forbacha Aontaithe

Broadsheet.ie