Uncanny.
Fluffybiscuits writes:
There are similaities between our Eurovision entry [Sarah Mcternan’s 22] this year and [corkscrew-curled pop icon] Leo Sayer’s Moonlighting…
Too similar for comfort?
EU decide.
Sharon Delaney and John Boland (foreground) speak to Ann Keane and Patrick Halpin at the Aberdeen Lodge Hotel at Ballsbridge, Dublin 4
This morning.
The Irish Times reported that US investment bank Goldman Sachs would today move to take possession of the Aberdeen Lodge Hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Further to this…
Sam Boal, of Rollingnews, writes:
Sharon Delaney and John Boland from Paul McCann’s office arrived [at the hotel] at 11am this morning asking the occupants Ann Keane and Patrick Halpin if they intend to hand over the property, before leaving shortly after.
Resident Patrick explained this morning: “We are not in a position, we have no where to go, we have given our last shilling every month to make this morgage, this is a little B&B business, we have a family, we have to keep going and we have done nothing wrong and we are prepared to go to the courts and expalin we have done nothing wrong.”
US investment bank Goldman Sachs are looking to take possession of the hotel on the back of almost €26million in boom-era borrowings.
Life Cycle
at
Harry Burton’s cartoon from today’s Times Ireland edition in August.
In fairness.
Earlier: An Increase Of 277 To 10,264
Via Harry Burton
Secretary General of the Department of Communications Mark Griffin; Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane
This morning.
At the Public Accounts Committee.
Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment Mark Griffin is answering questions about the National Broadband Plan.
Waterford Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane asked Mr Griffin if he’s “confident” that the NBP will go ahead.
Mr Griffin paused before saying:
“Well, let me put it to you this way, I’m confident with that the project, as presented, will deliver on all of the Government’s objectives.
“The decision to proceed or not to proceed is a Government decision so I can’t say anymore than that. I am not the decision maker…”
Mr Griffin said the Minister for Communications Richard Bruton will be bringing a recommendation on the plan and this recommendation will be based on an assessment process.
Mr Cullinane then asked if there are “a number of options” contained within that assessment process “including, potentially, not proceeding”.
Mr Griffin said:
“The focus of the work has been on evaluating the bid that has been put to us. In fairness to Government, it would be important to us to point out the implications of not proceeding. And it would be important to us to do some assessment of what other options might be available, if the Government decides not to proceed.”
Mr Cullinane asked, again, if the option of “not proceeding with the plan” been examined and is it one of the options that was contained in the overall assessment.
Mr Griffin said: “The assessment process will have to deal with that.”
UPDATE:
Unaligned Independent TD Catherine Connolly is currently grilling officials on the cost evaluation reports of the broadband plan. After being told an evaluation was published in 2015, she asks if it was in full. Answer: Redacted. Second answer: Substantially redacted. #PAC
— Fiachra Ó Cionnaith (@Ocionnaith) March 28, 2019
Ms Connolly continues to q Dep of Communications officials on the cost benefit analysis of the broadband plan, and is eventually told there are multiple reports left unpublished. The reason officials give is that the “maps” for the project keep changing, so cost is updated #PAC
— Fiachra Ó Cionnaith (@Ocionnaith) March 28, 2019
After Dep sec gen Mark Griffin says these reports are “commercially sensitive”, Ms Connolly says: “There is something not quite right with doing a cost benefit analysis and then that not being available. There’s no cost benefit analysis for the public to see and us to see… #PAC
— Fiachra Ó Cionnaith (@Ocionnaith) March 28, 2019
Ms Connolly: “… The analysis originally was all wrong, wasn’t it?”
An official responds by saying the “original” cost benefit analysis in 2015 was “absolutely correct in 2015”.
“Ms Connolly dead-pans: “Oh, and then in January 2016 it was wrong, is that it?”#PAC
— Fiachra Ó Cionnaith (@Ocionnaith) March 28, 2019
Watch the proceedings live here
Previously: Smells Wiffy
‘An All-Too Familiar Vista In Major Communications Contracts’
‘Too Often In Ireland We Ask The Pertinent Questions After The Fact’
‘543,000 Families And Businesses Do Not Care What Name Is On The Side Of The Van’
Ex-CEO of FAI John Delaney and partner Emma English at the Aviva in 2015; tennis balls thrown onto the pitch at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the FAI relating to the tennis ball protest which took place during the 1-0 win over Georgia.
The charge? “Throwing of objects”
Case will be dealt with on May 16.
— Ryan Kelly (@ryandelarge) March 28, 2019
Ireland fans get their own FA charged by UEFA for throwing tennis balls on pitch to protest against embattled FAI official John Delaney (he’s leaving CEO role but getting to become Vice President despite controversies)
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) March 28, 2019
A day in the week of John Delaney:
His second employer, now investigating his first employer, for not controlling order and security during a protest about him.
Life comes at you fast. https://t.co/YiIfd54eh8
— The Opel Jersey (@TheOpelJersey) March 27, 2019
Previously: New Balls, Please
Pauline Hyland tweetz:
What a beautiful morning! View from our office on George’s street. Dublin you beauty! #sunshine #blueskies
Meanwhile…
Old Dublin Town tweetz:
Summer in #Dublin. Enjoying the sun in the flower garden on O’Connell Street were the Spire now stands (late1960s) #LoveDublin
Meanwhile, enjoy it…
Lots of sunshine today once those pockets of Fog burn off. Today will most likely be the warmest day for the next 7-10 days as a slow change to cooler trend starts from tomorrow.
March going out like a lamb😁 pic.twitter.com/GMEcCLNS7K
— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) March 28, 2019
Upper air temperatures shown on the GFS model here show the colder air moving down from the North over the weekend and for early days of next week, we won’t be as cold as Britain through thankfully!
Maybe the colder air there will help focus some minds on a #Brexit deal? pic.twitter.com/S8HI2PdIxD
— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) March 28, 2019
Yesterday evening.
The Department of Housing released its latest homeless figures showing that a record 10,264 people – 6,480 adults and 3,784 children – were living in emergency accommodation in the last full week of February 2019.
This is an increase of 277 people (117 more adults and 160 more children) since the last full week of January 2019, when 6,363 adults and 3,624 children were living in emergency accommodation.
Meanwhile…
Asked about categories who are not included in homeless figures Housing Minister @MurphyEoghan says he doesn’t think a family in hotel is the same as someone who has moved back in with their parents.
— Morning Ireland (@morningireland) March 28, 2019
RTÉ reports:
Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy has said the increase in homeless numbers is very disappointing and a number of people are at “the very blunt end of the housing difficulties”.
He said the root of the problem lay in the need to build and create new homes.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the minister said more homes were built last year than any previous year in a decade, and approximately 1,700 new homes were created in Dublin last year.
But, he said, it was taking more time than he would like to build new homes.
Rent pressure zones to be strengthened – Murphy (RTE)
Previously: “I’m Aware Of The Fact We’re Above 10,000”
Rarr Here
at
Crispstock
at
Fancy some rock and rollercoaster?
Tickets went on sale this morning for the first ‘Funfest’ Family Festival at Tayto Park this June 29 and 30 with Nathan Carter headlining.
Bring your YOKES kids.
Tickets here
