teampic

For the month that will be in it.

Sunday, June 12, 1988.

The year the lotto went loive, Paddy Power was born and the ‘.ie’ domain was registerd.

In Stuttgart, the Irish football team, ranked 8th among the eight teams at the championship faced Bobby Robson’s star-stuffed, mullet-heavy English side.

Joxer dreamt.

Willie Clingan writing in the following day’s Irish Times said:

Somebody said that Dublin yesterday evening reminded them of Rome the day Italy won the World Cup in 1982 – a hot summer’s day with a crowded city centre in high spirits, spilling onto the streets to celebrate a great football victory. The blaring car horns added the continental flourish to Dublin’s celebrations

Mmf.

Meanwhile..

Euro 2016 Republic of Ireland Squad (RTÉ Sport)

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A golfer who went to a gig
Turned out to be slightly too big
To let Bono see
So his security
Moved her from in front of his wig.

John Moynes

Pic: Sophie Gustafson

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What you may need to know:

1. A risk management consultant (Kate Mara) is summoned to a remote research facility to assess if an artificial being (Anya Taylor-Joy) should be terminated.

2. Morgan is the first directorial feature from Luke (son of Ridley) Scott.

3. Shot in part up north.

4. You might remember Taylor-Joy from The Witch (2015). And Toby Jones… always a pleasure.

5. Mara currently has a gap in her schedule where Fantastic Four 2 should be.

6. Broadsheet prognosis: Morgan a woman.

Release Date: September 2.

(Mark writes about film and TV at ScreenTime.ie)

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From top: Amber Heard and Johnny Depp; Anne Marie McNally

Anne Marie McNally writes:

‘No way, it can’t be true, sure I LOVE him.’ – Me, in a fleeting moment of ridiculous ignorance upon hearing of the Johnny Depp abuse claims.

It’s true, I’ve been a fan of Johnny for as long as I can recall and apart from his obvious charms, there’s all the lovely fuzzy stories of him in full Jack Sparrow costume visiting children’s hospitals and bringing joy to smiling little faces, there’s the lovable rogue element to him but a wife beater, not in a million years surely?

Without casting any aspersions on either Mr Depp or Ms Heard in this particular case, it got me thinking about our attitudes, in general, to such allegations.

How could a good looking, intelligent, articulate, lovable man do something so heinous? Shouldn’t they be huddled figures with gnarly noses, sleeveless vests with beer and sweat stains and a general air of menace about them? But if they were, who would ever fall in love with them?

My initial, albeit momentary, reaction surprised me. How dare I make a judgement so quickly on a woman’s allegations just because I had a particular image in my head of her alleged abuser.

SAFE Ireland, an organisation that helps women and children in dangerous domestic situations, have previously called for a large scale study into domestic violence and its type and severity.

But in a survey with 40 women who had interacted with the criminal justice system on issues of domestic abuse over one third of them reported suffering either physical, emotional or psychological abuse on a daily basis while over half reported a serious threat to their lives.

Were they all partnered up with Vlad the Impaler or was it Joe that you have a pint with on a Friday or Paul who you get a lift to work with – you know, guys as respectable as Johnny Depp appears to be? You know the answer to that and it’s as scary as is it unpalatable.

Now let me say, to be clear, I’m very aware that domestic violence is not a women’s only issue and we are increasingly seeing men presenting to services as victims of domestic abuse but by a country mile female victims outnumber them.

SAFE Ireland estimates that on average 4000 women and children a year spend time in the extremely limited (and under-resources) refuges for victims of domestic violence. 4000!

And they’re just the ones who find the capacity to make a break for it and seek help. How many others are physically, emotionally and indeed financially trapped in a violent home life?

Women’s Aid, another organisation engaging with victims of domestic abuse, saw its funding cut by 31% during the recession and it has yet to be reinstated.

Despite that cut, the organisation managed to establish a 24/7 helpline and in the first month of operation the demand for the ‘out of hours’ service surpassed expectations by 283%.

There also currently exists a loophole in our laws which means that women in ‘dating relationships’ are not protected by the Domestic Violence Act.

Many victims presenting to organisations have never lived with their partner and are therefore not protected under the Act.

We’re also now firmly in the digital age and online interactions have become a significant part of any relationship yet there is no legislation to address cyber-stalking for example.

The laws are inadequate for the protection of people who are victimised in this way but the criminal justice system has more serious issues than that in this regard.

A couple of months ago I had cause to ring the Guards in the early hours when a horrifically violent scene played out in a house I was overlooking. I could not only hear, but see, the assault being inflicted on this woman. I rang 999 and desperately pleaded with them to come immediately.

The dispatcher calmly asked me was it ‘an assault or a domestic?’ I retorted ‘is there a difference?’ and she told me yes, yes there was. An assault would illicit a faster response time.

Seriously. (I like to think she told me that in a female solidarity kind of eye-roll way but either way the truth of that was horrific.) ‘Well then put it in as a serious assault and get someone here immediately’ I told her.

She did and they arrived very soon after to be fair but not in time to stop the woman requiring removal in an ambulance.

There are myriad nuances to be worked out but work them out we must because domestic violence is a real issue that’s not going away and as a society we have to be prepared to confront it and address it head on.

So it is conflated with other serious crimes against the person rather than considering it somehow ‘less than’ because it was between a couple or ‘behind closed doors.’

And that stands whether it’s Johnny gorgeous lovely fuzzy Depp or Tommy sweaty beer guzzling wifebeater down the road.

Anne Marie McNally is a founding member of the Social Democrats. Follow Anne Marie on Twitter: @amomcnally

Top pic: PA Wire

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From top: Lynn Boylan MEP; Mary Wilson

Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan went on RTÉ Radio One’s Drivetime with Mary Wilson yesterday evening to discuss water charges and the European Commission.

Ms Boylan had asked the Commission if flexibility previously afforded to Ireland on water charges still applies.

The Commission replied: “If the established practice is to have a system in place implementing the recovery of the costs of water services, in accordance with the polluter pays principle, the Commission considers that the flexibility afforded to Member States […] would not apply“.

RTÉ reported yesterday that that this meant Ireland could not be exempt from water charges.

Grab a tay.

Mary Wilson: “Now turning to the European Commission, it’s declared that Ireland does not enjoy an exemption from the obligation under European law for a system of water charges. Now this confirmation is highly likely to severely limit the new minority government’s discretion to scrap water charges if in fact that is the road that they finally go down. The confirmation comes in the form of a written response to the Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan, following a parliamentary question and Lynn Boylan joins us now, good evening.”

Lynn Boylan: “Good evening. Can I just say that that’s not what the response says at all.”

Wilson: “Does it not? Well…”

Boylan: “That’s a very, that’s a very…”

Wilson: “The commission’s written response makes it clear that Ireland’s de facto exemption from water charges no longer applies because the Government…”

Boylan: “That’s not what it says…”

Wilson: “…introduced water charges and metering…”

Boylan: “That’s absolutely not what it says…”

Wilson: “So what do you say it says, Lynn Boylan?”

Boylan: “It says it provides that members states shall not be in breach to the directive if they decide in accordance with established practices not to apply the provisions of cost recovery. Now, that’s the derogation, that’s what the response says. It says, If the established practice is to have a system in place implementing the recovery of the costs of water services, the Commission then considers that the flexibility would not apply. Now nobody in their right mind is going to say that the established practice in Ireland is Irish Water which itself is not even in compliance with the water framework directive because it’s not even having full cost recovery – it’s literally just covering the costs of its bills, of issuing bills. So it’s absolutely nonsensical to interpret that from the response that the Commission gave out this morning.”

Wilson: “I’m just, I’m just reading the written response. Brussels regards the introduction of water charges as Ireland’s established practice in ensuring that the principles of polluter pays and cost recovery are adhered to.”

Boylan: “It says, if the established practice, if the established practice, Irish Water is not…”

Wilson: “Is to have a system in place..”

Boylan: “Yes, is not the established practice. Irish Water is not the established practice. The established practice in Ireland is to pay for water through general taxation, based on the ability to pay. Now it’s also interesting that if Ireland wants to use the derogation 9.4, based on the standard practice, which is general taxation, it can do that in its river basin management plan which was due to be submitted on December 2015, which they missed that deadline and they have confirmed to Deputy O’Broin that they won’t be in a position to submit it until December 2017.”

Wilson: “Were you a bit taken aback by this response?”

Boylan: “No I wasn’t taken back at all and, in fact, this was exactly what we expected. This was a priority question, a very simple, black and white answer and the commission delayed and delayed for seven weeks. We got confirmation, off the record, that this was being blocked at the cabinet, the commission cabinet, and what we did then yesterday was put out a press statement, to put pressure on the commission and they came out with a vague..”

Wilson: “And you got the response..”

Boylan: “A vague response which is all based on established practices and established practices is not Irish Water.”

Wilson: “Did we introduce the concept of water charges and metering back in 2010?”

Boylan: “In 2010, Irish Water was not set up until 2014.”

Wilson: “I know that but yes, what I said was the concept of water charges?”

Boylan: “No the issue is…”

Wilson: “And metering and the European Commission, it is believed that they believe that the introduction by the former coalition of water charges or the concept of water charges meant that Ireland’s established practice had changed and it’s all about that established practice.”

Boylan: “But the established practice. How is the practice established between 2010 and 2014?”

Wilson: “Well I got water bills.”

Boylan: “It wasn’t even in existence.”

Wilson: “I got water bills…”

Boylan: “Not in 2010 you didn’t.”

Wilson: “No but in 2015..”

Boylan: “Yes, so that’s not the established practice when you have a compliance rate which you have from Irish Water, you have an election result which was clearly a mandate from the Irish people. You’ve had mobilisations on the street. I think any lawyer would feel very happy going into court to defend that Irish Water is not an established practice and can I also say that there’s a precedent here. In the European Court of Justice found in favour of the member state in applying the derogation, a court ruling in 2014, against the German government. And that was around cost recovery. And they actually found in favour of the Germans over the Commission in that the flexibility is there for member states.”

Wilson: “I read, I read this report today and I took one meaning out of it, you’re taking another meaning out of it. And…”

Boylan: “You read a report or you read the response from the Commission because the response is not, the response is not up on the website…”

Wilson: “No, no, no, I read the reports of what the Commission has said. And I took from it..”

Boylan: “No, sorry, sorry…”

Wilson: “Yeah.”

Boylan: “The report, the Commission’s response is not public.”

Wilson: “No, I’m not talking about the Commission’s response. I said I’ve read the media reports of what has been said and I’ve taken this meaning out of it. I’m not saying I’m right but I’m asking you if it will be open to interpretation?”

Boylan: “But what I’m saying is this response is not a public, it’s not up on any website. We received it this morning, Tony Connolly, your colleague went direct to the Commission and they’ve given him, and I presume Irish Water wrote his press statement, because the response in the report from RTÉ…I’m sorry, to jump to the conclusion…”

Wilson: “I doubt very much Irish Water wrote Tony Connolly’s press statement, he is a fine reporter who is well able to write his own press material.”

Boylan: “To jump to the conclusion that was in the RTÉ report, on the basis of the 100-word vague response that the Commission issued this morning, I find unbelievable…”

Wilson: “I’m not jumping to conclusions, I’m asking is this the position, you’re saying it’s another position and my question to you is, is it now open to interpretation?”

Boylan: “What I’m saying is that RTÉ’s interpretation of a very vague response today, I find bizarre. It doesn’t take into account, it doesn’t take into account that we haven’t even submitted our plan to evoke the derogation. We haven’t submitted it and won’t be until 2017…”

Wilson: “So you’re taking…”

Boylan: “It doesn’t…”

Wilson: “No, just a moment Lynn Boylan…”

Boylan: “Yeah?”

Wilson: “You’re taking one interpretation of this and I’m not saying that’s right or wrong, I’ve put forward another interpretation, I’m asking you will it now be for further people within the European Union, the European Commission or elsewhere to decide what is the correct interpretation of this and, ultimately, could Ireland be facing fines?”

Boylan: “Well what I’m taking is the only precedent that’s set down in law is the court ruling of 2014, against the German state, and in paragraph 57, it says, in that regard Article 9 (4)  provides that the member states may, subject to certain conditions, opt not to proceed with the recovery of costs for a given water use activity where this does not compromise the purposes or the achievements or the objectives of that directive. That gave the flexibility to the member states and that’s a European Court of Justice ruling.”

Wilson: “Can I ask you in simple English: Are you saying, nothing to see here, move on, water charges are all over?”

Boylan: “I’m saying that it was a wild leap to go from the very vague response we were given by the Commission to the report that came out from RTÊ and to not…”

Wilson: “Are you…”

Boylan: “But to not even reference that there’s been a European Court of Justice ruling?”

Wilson: “Are you…”

Boylan: “To not reference that Scotland have invoked the ability to pay clause and are in complete compliance with the European water framework…”

Wilson: “Are you saying it’s wrong? Are you saying it’s wrong?”

Boylan: “I’m saying that it’s not balanced.”

Wilson: “Are you saying it’s wrong. You have one interpretation, I’ve put another interpretation to you, I have said it will be still open for others to decide.”

Boylan: “It will be still open, of course, but the conclusions that this was based on, on something that’s not even in the public domain..”

Wilson: “And we could be facing fines..”

Boylan: “To jump to that interpretation..”

Wilson: “I’m not jumping anywhere..”

Boylan: “Well the RTE report, the RTE report, well, as I said, Scotland uses the concept of the ability to pay and they have submitted two river basin management plans and both of them have been adopted by the European Commission and are not in breach of the Water Framework Directive.”

Wilson: “Sinn Féin MEP, Lynn Boylan. Thank you for joining us.”

Listen back in full here

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Fianna Fáil TD Frank O’Rourke 

You’ll recall yesterday’s post in which Ken Foxe reported on newly elected Fianna Fáil TD Frank O’Rourke’s travel expenses.

Mr O’Rourke, who lives in Celbridge, Co. Kildare, is paid an extra €16,000-a-year in tax-free expenses because his commute to work is 500 metres above the threshold for politicians that live close to Leinster House.

Earlier today, Mr O’Rourke spoke to Shane Beatty on Kildare FM about the story.

Grab a tay…

Shane Beatty: “You’re going around in circles and bringing up the council here.”

Frank O’Rourke: “I need to answer the question here and the question is…”

Beatty: “No, but you didn’t answer it, Frank, my question was when did you realise that because you live less than 500m above the threshold that you can potentially earn €16,000 more than if you lived just under 25 kilometres. That’s all I want to know.”

O’Rourke: “Yeah, you’ll only raise…I realised that probably properly when the journalist contacted me about a week and a half ago because when you submit…”

Beatty: “And did you get a shock? Like did your jaw drop to the floor?”

O’Rourke: “No, Shane, interviews can be selective and it probably suiting the interview for you to be selective. The reality here is you submit the information and the information is adjudicated. If I was .5 of a kilometre under the band, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. When I was a councillor for five years and when I was the lowest councillor on the list, claiming expenses for the five years which there’s absolutely the right thing to do – you only claim what you’re entitled to claim. That’s all I’ve ever done, that’s all I’ll ever do, I never got any airplay over that. Whenever the terms and conditions of any scheme is changed or altered, I will abide by that because I’m not motivated by that. I’m motivated about working hard..”

Beatty: “Sure.”

O’Rourke: “Delivering for the constituency and anything I get I put it back into giving my constituency and constituents the best possible service which I do and I’m renowned for doing and I’ve a reputation for delivering.”

Beatty: “Ok.”

O’Rourke: “And that will continue.”

Beatty: “But Celbridge is seen as a commuter town and very much, for a lot of people, people would feel it’s an add-on or an addendum to Dublin. I mean you have Dublin Buses, the clue is in the name folks, Dublin Buses going in to Celbridge. Were you stunned when you realised that to travel from your house to Leinster House, that you will receive €25,000 in expenses, for that, a year?”

Beatty: “Two things there. One is you haven’t made any allowance for all of the work that’s done by me and others. We were talking about me in this case this morning. Travelling in the constituency, carrying out very diligent work with clinics, with meetings, etc. For example, you’re welcome to join me any day you want, starting at 7.30am in the morning and, like last night, finishing at 11 o’clock. That’s what I’ve signed up to. I’m interested in politics, I’m driven by delivery, I’m happy to continue to do that.  So you’re not taking that into consideration whatsoever and, obviously, when those limits are set, by the Houses of the Oireachtas and the Department, which is hugely important to put in play here, in being it’s done on that basis. I have no control over Shane and you know this and I have no input to any limits that’s being set. However, however if those limits are reviewed, and they’re changed, then fine, I’ll work with them but no matter where you change the limits, Shane, no matter where you put the limit, there’s always going to be someone having a similar conversation with you that I’m having with you. It could be somebody else another day. And the reality is Shane, when is a limit, when is a limit, Shane, and a band not a limit. Because if you change the limit to 35km and someone is 35.5, you’ll be having the same conversation with them so when does all that become a reality. That’s the question.”

Beatty: “You’re very keen to say you’ve done nothing wrong and you haven’t done anything wrong and the rules are that if it is, if you live over 25 kilometres away from Leinster House you’re in the higher band when it comes to your expenses. But I just want to talk morally here, how does it sit with you, that to drive from Celbridge to Dublin, you receive €25,000 a year, effectively for petrol?”

O’Rourke: “But that’s, Shane, you’re not looking at it in an open way…”

Listen back in full here

Previously: Mileage Of Shame

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