This morning.

Dearbhail McDonald, group business editor, Independent Newspapers, steps down.

Rollingnews

Senator Ronán Mullen at a pro-life rally outside Leinster House in 2017

“I do not know enough about it [Conversion Therapy] at this stage but if it can be demonstrated that this is harmful to people, there is a very good case to make it unlawful.

“If it cannot be shown to be harmful to people, we are back into the realm of individual choice.”

[Senator Mullen] was responding to a contribution from Sinn Féin Senator Fintan Warfield who had spoken about “the cruelty of so-called conversion therapy”.

Allow conversion therapy unless harmful – senator (Kevin Doyle, Independent.ie)

Meanwhile…

Rollingnews

This morning.

Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin

Former President of Ireland Mary McAleese sporting a new ‘do’ speaking at the “Brexit, the Terms of Withdrawal and the Framework of future EU-UK Relations” event organised by the DCU Brexit Institute.

Rollingnews

The Fifth Interim report of Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) will be published ” as soon as possible’ said Minister for Children Katherine Zappone.

Ms Zappone told Catherine Connolly TD that ‘Subject to advice and approval it is my intention to publish the report prior to Easter’

Separately, in a written reply this week to Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald, Ms Zappone also said the report includes burial arrangements “in circumstances where the [children’s] remains were initially transferred to educational institutions for anatomical examination”.

Ms Zappone stated:

It is a substantial report which focuses on the burial arrangements of persons who died while resident in these institutions.

The report includes extensive technical reports prepared in the course of the Commission’s investigations into the burial site associated with the institution formerly known as the Tuam Mother and Baby Home and the Commission’s assessment of burial arrangements in respect of a number of other institutions within its remit.

It also reports on burial arrangements in circumstances where the remains were initially transferred to educational institutions for anatomical examination.

I intend to seek formal Government approval to publish the report after I have the opportunity to discuss the report with the Commission and consult the Attorney General as appropriate. I will seek to conclude these considerations as soon as possible.

The dignity and memory of those who died in these institutions is central to my approach to these matters. I am mindful of the expectations of their families for an early publication date of the report.

My Department will advise representative groups, and those who have been in contact with the department on these matters, of developments prior to the publication of the report.

Given the importance and sensitivity of these matters, I do not propose to comment further on the contents of the report in advance of it being made public.

Previously: Tuam and DNA

Behold: IC 405, aka the Flaming Star Nebula – an apparently fiery region surrounding star AE Aurigae. But what looks like fire is not fire. To wit:

Fire, typically defined as the rapid molecular acquisition of oxygen, happens only when sufficient oxygen is present and is not important in such high-energy, low-oxygen environments such as stars. The material that appears assmoke is mostly interstellar hydrogen, but does contain smoke-like dark filaments of carbon-rich dust grains. The bright star AE Aurigae, visible just to the lower right of the image center, is so hot it glows blue, emitting light so energetic it knocks electrons away from surrounding gas. When a proton recaptures an electron, light is emitted, as seen in the surrounding emission nebula. Featured here, the Flaming Star nebula lies about 1,500 light yearsdistant, spans about 5 light years, and is visible with a small telescope toward the constellation of the Charioteer (Auriga).

(Image: Amir Abolfath (TWAN))

apod

Hostels In Ireland tweets:

New #SpiderManFarFromHome posters were recently released which show Spidey in #London, #Venice and #France. We’re terribly disappointed by the lack of #Ireland in #FarFromHome so we decided to create our very own #Dublin edition of the posters

Jack (right) and Stephen Teeling with Teeling Whiskey’s 24-year-old single malt crowned the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards

In Ireland we do like to think
That we’re pretty good with our drink
And when put to the test
It appears we’re the best
So raise up your glasses and clink

John Moynes

Rollingnews

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