This morning.
Dublin football hero Dean Rock lift the spirits of seriously sick Dublin teen, Max Hastings, aged 15, in a special visit coordinated by Cliona’s Foundation and Gaelic Players Association.
Cliona’s Foundation provides financial assistance directly to parents of children with ‘life-limiting or chronic complex care needs to help with the non-medical expenses related to caring for their child’.
Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
Yesterday.
Seanad Eireann,
During the order of business, Independent Senator Sharon Keogan, elected by the Industrial and Commerical panel, said:
I wish to express my grave reservations over our media and their coverage of the current state of Covid-19 in this country. Ever since the beginning of our vaccination programme, I have been constant in warning against the dangers of dividing society along the lines of vaccination status and opposed any legislation that encouraged it.
Imagine my disappointment then when I tuned into “The Pat Kenny Show” to hear the host demonising 17-year-old children for going to the cinema and referring to them as “vaccinatable”, as if a person’s worth is based on whether we can jab them and include them as a figure on the vaccine uptake tally.
Only a few weeks ago, we were all smugly patting ourselves on the back as articles about our great vaccine uptake flooded in. The unspoken message was that we were great, selfless and educated, unlike other countries, whose people were acting like savages. A fat lot of good that has done us as the Taoiseach has confirmed that our restrictions will once again live on past their supposed expiry date, while other countries with much lower vaccination uptakes are now more successful at suppressing the virus.
It is clear then that the current tone reflecting the position that the only reason we are having a problem with the virus is due to the individuals choosing not to get vaccinated is not only deeply insulting, discriminatory and harmful, it is also incorrect. This hunting around for some cohort of ordinary people to blame must stop and the responsibility for that lies with our media figures and outlets.
It was not even two weeks ago when we stood in this Chamber and were told that the continuation of Covid certificates past 22 October was unlikely.
At this stage, I cannot even muster any surprise that while the rest of Europe is up and running, the Government maintains its policy of fear and stifling caution, and rushes to move the goalposts once again.
The message after today’s announcement is very clear. People who are not vaccinated can and will be treated like second-class citizens. They will be dehumanised, labelled and cancelled unless they do what they are told. “Follow the science” means, “Shut up and do as we say.”
Earlier: No, You’re A Leper
Transcript via Oireachtas.ie
‘sup?
This afternoon.
Wexford town, county Wexford.
Name that breed, anyone?
Thanks Otis Blue
Francie Conway – Peace, Love & Rock & Roll
What’s so wrong with peace, love and rock ‘n’ roll?
Absolutely nothing.
Acclaimed Irish rock musician, singer, songwriter Francie Conway (top) is joined by David Richards (producer with Queen and David Bowie among others), Vivienne Boucherat and Chris White (from Rock’n’Roll Hall Of Famers, The Zombies), for this special recording, put ‘down’ at legendary Mountain Studio, Montreux, Switzerland.
Francie discusses the track here.
Nick says: All you need.
This morning/afternoon.
Darndale Bell Centre, Dublin 17.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly at the launch of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme, a €13m initiative to ‘support increased health and wellbeing services to 19 communities in Ireland’.
Meanwhile..
…Mr Donnelly said that Government figures show that one in three pubs and restaurants are not correctly checking for Covid passes at the door.
He said that this is “not acceptable” and that this cohort needs to “step up” during the winter.
“The survey results I have and the enforcement data we have both say the same thing, that about two in every three pubs or restaurants are enforcing and that one in three is not. That is not OK, it is not acceptable for that one in three,” he told reporters.
Earlier: Supper ‘n’ Snitch
This morning/afternoon.
Garda investigators at the scene a serious collision, which took place on the M9 at around 7.30am on the south bound side of the motorway between filters 4 and 5.
Two people were airlifted to hospital. Traffic is being diverted via Carlow Town.
Fania Stoney
Please indulge us.
Our pals at Healthy Place to Work Ireland have announced Fania Stoney as Chief Executive Officer. Congrats!
Healthy Place To Work Ireland is a ‘mission-based organisation’ focused on improving the health of employees and organisations . They provide globally-recognised Healthy Place to Work® Certifications in Ireland.
Fania has been at Healthy Place to Work Ireland since its inception in 2017 and says:
“People’s perspectives and expectations have shifted in the post Covid workplace. Without doubt there will be a greater emphasis on maintaining a healthy workplace and workforce and I strongly believe our organisation helps businesses achieve this goal”.
Gulp.
KN writes:
A small sample of pro-jabber outrage against the new lepers this week. A grisly antidote to your account of Kathy Sheridan’s twitter horror about anti-vaxxers…
Earlier: Insight To Hatred
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth on her visit to Ireland in 2011
This morning.
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth has cancelled her planned visit to Northern Ireland, where she was due to attend a church service tomorrow marking the centenary of Northern Ireland.
The prayer service at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland Cathedral has been organised by the four main churches in Northern Ireland.
In a statement this morning, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “The Queen has reluctantly accepted medical advice to rest for the next few days.
And a corgi ate my homework.
Fight!
Britain’s Queen cancels trip to Northern Ireland on medical advice (RTÉ)
