Gerard Kelly outside Leinster House this morning.

This morning.

Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2

The Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed has declined calls to meet Donegal mussel fisherman Gerard Kelly (above)  who began a hunger strike yesterday in protest at legislation to restore reciprocal access for Northern Irish fishermen to Irish waters.

Gerard, from Greencastle, County Donegal is protesting the planned restoration of the Voisinage Arrangement which would allow access for fishermen on both sides of the border for up to six nautical miles off the coast of each jurisdiction.

Minister appeals to fisherman to stop hunger strike (Irish Times)

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Mmm.

Gulp.

Elaine Róisín tweetz:

Reverse image searched the picture on this ad, it’s not Dublin, it’s in France. This person is out to commit a crime given their description. Reported the ad but I doubt Facebook will do much….

H/T: Dublin Rental Investigator

Troll level: infalliible.

Conservative Catholics, who routinely accuse the current Pope of straying from church doctrine and tradition, now suspect that he has an end to ring-kissing in his sights.

They point to video taken on Monday in the Italian town of Loreto, which shows the Pope withdrawing his hand from Catholics trying to kiss his ring.

…During a 53-second period, Francis snapped his hand away from 19 people trying to bow and kiss his ring. One particularly unfortunate man ended up kissing his own hand after the pope suddenly withdrew from the greeting.

And this is the section which has been widely shared online.

It may be that the Pope was in a hurry to get to the end of the receiving line – and it’s notable that, afterwards, he went on to spend more time greeting people, many in wheelchairs, at the front of the church.

Francis may not enjoy his ring being kissed, but it’s inaccurate to say that he rejected all those that day who attempted the gesture….

Pope’s ring-kissing controversy not what it seems (BBC)

Cork Fianna Fáil TD Kevin O’Keeffe; ex-CEO of the FAI John Delaney

More balls?

The Irish Sun yesterday reported that former CEO of the FAI John Delaney secured two World Cup final tickets for Cork Fianna Fáil TD Kevin O’Keeffe – who is a member of the Oireachtas sporting committee – last summer.

The newspaper reported that Mr O’Keeffe paid €905 for the two passes.

Mr O’Keeffe told the newspaper he didn’t see a problem with sourcing the tickets via Mr Delaney and said:

“How (else) would I get a World Cup final ticket?”

This morning.

Joe Leogue, in The Irish Examiner, reported that he contacted Mr O’Keeffe last Thursday and asked him how he got the tickets for the final in Moscow and the TD said the FAI had no involvement in him sourcing the tickets.

Mr Leogue reports:

Mr O’Keeffe said there was a case of “wires crossed” and that his original reply intended to inform that the FAI did not have any involvement in his itinerary for the trip to Russia. This newspaper put it to Mr O’Keeffe that he had been asked if the FAI assisted him in any way, said no, and that his latest comments apparently contradict this.

Mr O’Keeffe said he never denied getting the tickets from the FAI, but that he had maintained that he was responsible for the financing and logistics of the trip. Last Thursday we also submitted a query in writing to the FAI Press Office.

Meanwhile…

This morning, The Irish Sun reports Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy, who is also a member of the Oireachtas sports committee, is calling for Mr O’Keeffe to step down from the committee, saying she believes there is now a “conflict of interest” facing Mr O’Keeffe.

The committee is scheduled to question Mr Delaney and other senior FAI members about the FAI’s governance on April 10.

But Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley has since told The Irish Examiner that Mr O’Keeffe is “not compromised”.

TD: Crossed wires to blame for FAI ticket denial (Joe Leogue, The Irish Examiner)

Fianna Fail TD Kevin O’Keeffe who is on Dail committee bought World Cup Final tickets through under-fire FAI chief John Delaney (Neil Cotter, Adam Higgins, The Irish Sun)

Under-fire John Delaney watches Ireland beat Georgia with partner Emma English as tennis ball-slinging football fans chant ‘f*** Delaney and the FAI’ (Michael Doyle and Adam Higgins, The Irish Sun)

UPDATE:

On Monday, Fine Gael TD and Minister of State David Stanton visited the Clonakilty Lodge Direct Provision Centre in west Cork without meeting any residents.

Yesterday, a demonstration against the snub took place at the centre.

Bairbre Flood, of the Yearningcurve podcast, writes;

Yesterday I talked to a resident about why they felt the need to go on protest.

She preferred not to give her name, but explains clearly how events unfolded, the context for the protest, and what they hope will come from this.

Yearning Curve

Yesterday: Meanwhile, In Clonakilty

It’s going to be one of those days.

Free the lanes.

Meanwhile…

Broadsheet.ie