There will be no change to the Local Property Tax until 2021. Minister @Paschald has deferred the next valuation date till November 2020 so more work can be done to ensure that any increases will be fair and affordable. #LPT pic.twitter.com/faz5tiVNxc
— Fine Gael (@FineGael) April 4, 2019
Bebe writes:
Just thinking of the electorate eh, Pascaldi ?
Fight!
Hammer Time.
By Keith Moran, who writes:
This is a short crime film I wrote and directed two years ago. If you like the film, please feel free to comment, like and share. I’ve been developing a feature film script centered around the same characters.
Anyone?
Thanks Keith
Behold: the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 Coupe, successor to the DB4 and, famously, James Bond’s grand tourer of choice. 4.0l straight six, magnesium alloy coachwork by Carrozzeria Touring Superleggera.
This is DB5 No.5 – the fifth ever built. With early 4 speed manual transmission and left hand drive, it was sold new in San Francisco and remains intact and in original condition after 55 years.
Coming under the hammer this summer.
An apartment building in Utrecht transformed into a giant bookcase (filled with the favourite reads of its residents) in a mural by Dutch street artists Jan Is De Man and Deef Feed.
This afternoon.
A yellow advert for vaping covers an entire Luas tram.
Can’t miss it now.
From the Central Bank’s latest quarterly report published today
The Central Bank published its latest quarterly bulletin this morning.
From the report:
“Following a strong performance last year, the growth of the Irish economy is projected to moderate somewhat in 2019 and 2020, reflecting both the impact of a less favourable and more uncertain international environment and also the limits imposed by domestic capacity constraints as labour market conditions tighten.
“…The central projection continues to assume that a disorderly, no deal Brexit scenario can be avoided and that trading relationships between Ireland and the UK remain unchanged over the forecast horizon.
“…A disorderly, no deal scenario would have very severe and immediate disruptive effects, with consequences for almost all areas of economic activity. ”
“…However, Brexit is not the only risk to the Irish economic outlook. On the external side, there continue to be other downside risks facing the Irish economy. The international economic outlook has weakened since the publication of the last bulletin.
“Given the position of Ireland as a small, highly open economy and the important role of multinational firms within the economy, the evolution of global economic and trading conditions and movements in major exchange rates will have an important bearing on Irish economic performance.”
Quarterly Bulletin (Central Bank)
Central Bank slightly reduces estimates for economic growth this year (RTE)
From top: Dr Michael Woods (right) with former Taoiseach Brian Cowen (left) and current FF leader Micheál Martín at a FF think-in in 2009; Senator Michael McDowell
Next Thursday, at 10.15pm.
RTÉ One will broadcast a new documentary Rome V Republic, presented by senator, barrister and former Attorney General Michael McDowell.
It will recall the June 2002 deal between Fianna Fáil and 18 religious orders, which awarded the orders indemnity against all legal claims if they paid €128m in cash and property.
The agreement was made by Dr Michael Woods, a devout Catholic, on behalf of Fianna Fail, before the 2002 General Election and on his last day in office.
Cabinet approval was never sought for the deal and it was also never run past the Attorney General of the day [Michael McDowell].
At the time of the deal, the total liability to survivors was estimated at €300m even though no detailed analysis was carried out by any government department.
As of 2017, the total liability was estimated at €1.5bn.
It’s been previously reported that Mr McDowell and his staff were excluded from two meetings between the State and the orders in November 2001 and January 2002.
Mr Woods reportedly later defended this move, saying:
“The legal people simply couldn’t have attended – it was a no-go area for them – they had fallen out with the religious.”
“My religion was an asset. They knew me and they knew my work. I can’t say someone else wouldn’t have been able to do the same. That said, they would have known me well.”
Today, The Irish Times reports Mr McDowell as saying:
“The simple fact of the matter is that the result was that the State effectively signed a blank cheque which cost us €1.4 billion in the end, in exchange for a promise of a contribution of €128 million from the religious orders.”
Two years ago, Seán O’Rourke, on RTÉ Radio One, interviewed the current leader of Fianna Fáil Mícheál Martin about the deal – asking if the Government should revisit the deal considering what had then emerged about the Bon Secours Mother and Baby Home in Tuam, Co Galway.
Mr Martin said:
“The church would never had been coming up with €1.5billion and the legal advice at the time, and I remember speaking to the late [Fianna Fáil] Rory Brady who was the Attorney General [sic], he was adamant that the State would always, because of its involvement, from the inspectorial regime at the time in industrial schools – it was culpable.”
Previously: Spotting The Woods For The Trees
Just now.
In northern Greece.
Clashes are taking place between riot police and migrants and asylum seekers attempting to cross into North Macedonia from outside the Diavata reception camp near Thessaloniki.
Journalist Daphne Tolis has been live-streaming from the area on Facebook (above).
She has reported that the police have thrown stun grenades and tear gas at the crowds.
New clashes outside Diavata migrant camp (Ekathimerini)
UPDATE:
Outside of #Diavata #Refugees #camp the #Tension it seems that is finished. #Refugees are settling their tents in the makeshift camp preparing for the night. pic.twitter.com/MJNGWljprc
— Antonis Repanas (@AntonisRepanas) April 5, 2019
Thousands of stainless steel razor blades welded and linked together to form clothes, shoes and other pleasingly hazardous objects by Bangladeshi artist Tayeba Begum Lipi.
