A time-lapse video of the Tesla 3 assembly process from the rear shelf of a car on the line at the company’s Fremont, California plant.
PM announces MPs will get a vote on whether to trigger backstop or extend transition period if no new agreement by 2020. Had been hinted at before, now Mrs May saying it explicitly.
— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) January 9, 2019
Have to say, not even Labour MPs cheered very loudly when Jeremy Corbyn called for a general election just then #pmqs
— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) January 9, 2019
PM asked if she will extend Article 50 if she loses vote next week. She replies that Parliament should have a role in what future relationship with EU will be but doesn’t explicitly rule out extending it…
— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) January 9, 2019
Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May takes her first Prime Minister’s Questions of 2019 ahead of MPs voting on her Brexit proposal next Tuesday.
PMQs: Theresa May faces Jeremy Corbyn on first day of Brexit debate – Politics live (The Guardian)
Commons to get vote on extending Brexit transition if no trade deal by 2020, says May (RTÉ News)
No Loitering
at
Anita T tweetz:
Even though Clerys is gone the tradition is still alive of meeting under Clerys clock
This morning.
Spotted in Wicklow.
Thanks Pob
Ah now.
In Spain.
Sinéad Gleeson tweetz:
When the Sylvia Plath-inspired fashion spread in a women’s magazine includes an oven.
Pic: Tasha Fierce
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at the Global Ireland conference in Dublin Castle yesterday
“ I will leave it to the bookmakers and fortune-tellers to predict the results of discussions in London. However, there are three takeaways from the Brexit process and the current state of world affairs that I would like to share with you today.
The first is: We are strong when we stand together. During the Brexit negotiations, all 27 Member States agreed on a common position – and stood by it.
This unity includes full solidarity with Ireland. We insisted, and still do, that a hard border dividing the Irish island is unacceptable. And yes, some people called us stubborn.
But the truth is: Avoiding a hard border in Ireland is a fundamental concern. It is a matter of principle, a question of identity for the European Union. A union that, more than anything else, serves one purpose: To build and maintain peace in Europe.
As Germans, we understand how walls and borders can threaten peace. We believe in the peace-making power of European unity.
A belief we share with you, the Irish. Your Good Friday Agreement is living proof of this principle”
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Dublin Castle yesterday.
Thanks Otis Blue
Members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) at their Dublin HQ last night
Further to the announcement last night by the Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) that its members will go on strike for 24 hours on January 30, with further 24-hour strikes on February 5, 7, 12, 13 and 14, if the dispute over pay is not resolved.
INMO is seeking a 12% pay increase to bring nurses’ pay “into line with other health professionals”, arguing that there is a serious shortage of nurses across the health service.
INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said:
“Going on strike is the last thing a nurse or midwife wants to do. But the crisis in recruitment and retention has made it impossible for us to do our jobs properly. We are not able to give patients the care they deserve under these conditions.
The HSE simply cannot recruit enough nurses and midwives on these wages. Until that changes, the health service will continue to go understaffed and patient care will be compromised.
The ball is in the government’s court. This strike can be averted. All it takes is for the government to acknowledge our concerns, engage with us directly, and work to resolve this issue, in a pro-active manner.
We were due to meet with the government in the national oversight body in December, but the meeting was cancelled. Like many patients in Ireland’s health service, we are still waiting for an appointment.”
INMO President Martina Harkin-Kelly said:
“We entered these professions because we care for our patients. We’ll be going on strike for the exact same reason. Ireland’s patients deserve better than this understaffed health service. Nurses and midwives are now globally traded assets.
The public health service no longer pays a competitive wage, so we can no longer get the necessary number of nurses and midwives.
We are calling on the public to support us. Nurses and midwives are always there for you when you need help. Now we need your help.”
Nurses to strike for 24 hours on 30 January (RTÉ)
Last night: Stricken
January 9, 2015
Then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr James Reilly (centre) with Michelle Shannon (left) from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Elizabeth Canavan, then Acting Secretary General Department of Children and Youth Affairs at the publication of the Terms of Reference for the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and Certain Related Matters, to examine the records of and practices at 14 Mother and Baby Homes as well as four county homes….
March 3, 2017
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone (centre) and Assistant Principal, Department of children & Youth Affairs James Gibbs (left), and Secretary General, Department of Children & Youth Affairs Fergal Lynch announcing a one-year extension to the Mother and Baby Homes Commission….
January 9, 2019
‘The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation is to seek an extension of one year before publishing its final report, which was due next month. The Irish Times understands the request has gone to the Government and is expected to be discussed by the Cabinet next week.’
Mother and baby homes commission seeks extension to finish report (Irish Times)
The Prachov Rocks natural reserve, 5km west of Jičín in the Czech Republic – a spectacularly beautiful sandstone plateau that will be curiously familiar to wanderers of to the mystical RPG vistas of The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim.
Pictures 1 and 2 are from the game, the rest are real.
(Pix: Steve Coleman)