MORE to follow.
“A majority of Thatcherite proportions”
Tonight.
Hard Exit polls following today’s UK General Election shows the Conservative Party looks set to win 368 seats to Labour’s 191.
This could mean Jeremy Corbyn’s party may lose not just seats in marginal constituencies but even in districts that historically voted Labour.
More as we get it.
Meanwhile…
If the exit poll is correct, it’s an extraordinary result for the Conservatives in the #UKElection. I think we can finally stop with the ‘they didn’t know what they were voting for’.
The UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016 and two GE’s later, they still want out.
— Robert Burke (@robertburke84) December 12, 2019
We’re going to hear the Corbynistas blame it on Brexit and the Labour Uber Remainers blaming Corbyn. Both are to blame for what looks like a terrible night for Labour. Both have taken for granted Labour’s heartlands. Sorry we couldn’t offer you a Labour Party you could trust.
— Caroline Flint (@CarolineFlintMP) December 12, 2019
Labour sources suggesting they’ll lose Sunderland Central, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Sedgefield, NW Durham and Hartlepool – could be a 2015 type Scottish Labour wipe out in NE heartland -remember tho it’s still early!
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) December 12, 2019
Labour sources suggesting they’ll lose Sunderland Central, Darlington, Bishop Auckland, Sedgefield, NW Durham and Hartlepool – could be a 2015 type Scottish Labour wipe out in NE heartland -remember tho it’s still early!
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) December 12, 2019
It’s going to be a long night.
Meanwhile…
🚨 NEW: Leaked copy of Labour's briefing to shadow cabinet and other MPs on broadcast
Says the defeat is "overwhelmingly down to one issue": Brexit. Also points the finger at the media
Allegedly penned by Seumas Milne earlier pic.twitter.com/ph7iXHfEe2
— Gabriel Pogrund (@Gabriel_Pogrund) December 12, 2019
I was in Kerry to drive some sound lads & lasses to the pub to launch #SocialSpin with @GuinnessIreland an initiative by local publicans to combat Rural isolation. Check it out! #SocialSpin #SocialisingMatters #Guinness #VFI #Partnership #ad https://t.co/YyVU4zI1OY pic.twitter.com/5OOGCJZHwQ
— chris o’dowd (@BigBoyler) December 12, 2019
Designated driving paid by Big Hooch.
Finally.
Justgivemethekeysthisshhhecond.
Hic.
From top: Garda Sean Lucey and RTÉ cameraman Colm Hand; a scuffle during the Pegida rally in central Dublin in 2016
This afternoon.
Via RTE:
A garda who struck an RTÉ cameraman with a baton during a rally in Dublin three years ago has been found guilty of assault.
Garda Sean Lucey, a member of the Public Order Unit, had pleaded not guilty to assault causing harm to cameraman Colm Hand.
Lucey, 42, was found not guilty of damaging a camera at Cathedral Street on 6 February 2016.
The incident occurred as Mr Hand and a colleague were working at a demonstration and counter rally in Dublin by the far-right group Pegida and anti-racism groups….
Garda guilty of assaulting RTÉ cameraman (RTÉ)
Previously: A Day At The Racists (2016)
Pic: Courts News Ireland
The Lost Brothers – Seven Days Before Christmas
A week is a long time in Christmas songs.
This is another tune from the new festive EP by Irish roots duo Mark McCausland (top right) and Oisin Leech (top left) aka The Lost Brothers.
We’re digging the Johnny Cash vibes here as the lads keep it country.
Look out for their new album in February.
Nick says: Brothers are doing it for themselves.
Public Accounts Committee, Dáil clerk Peter Finnegan, committee member and Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy
This afternoon.
Dáil clerk Peter Finnegan is answering questions at the Public Accounts Committee in light of his report on the purchase of the controversial Japanese Komori printing press which, the committee heard, will likely be in use for 12 to 15 years.
In response to a question from Social Democrats TD, about what things should be learned from the event, Mr Finnegan said:
“All of the project teams must include specialist architectural expertise where a project could involve structural modifications and where appropriate, legal, external subject matter and health and safely expertise.
“And I think in reality if this project would have run as you would have expected it to run, we would have had an architect on the team, there would have been discussions that would have taken place at a very early stage.
“Those discussions I suppose would have been reflected in the nature of the business case because the business case that was received basically referred to the purchase of an asset. But it didn’t make reference whatsoever to ancillary works.
“And this was kind of looked at by a range of people within the Oireachtas – not just the project team because at the time we had a system where we had a committee that looked at kind of business cases of this nature.”
Later after listing the members of the business and strategy sub-committee by their title but not by their name*, Mr Finnegan added:
“All of those people looked at it. In actual fact three or four of the members of that business and strategy sub-committee went over to the printing unit, went into the rooms where the printer was going to be installed and the issue of height never actually came up.”
“So I think the big thing was there was actually just no sense at all that height was an issue and I suppose the perspective I think, really, when you look back at the papers and the evidence was that the project involved the purchase of an asset.
“Like the complexities around the installation of that asset were not considered. At all.”
“It was just assumed that the asset that we were purchasing, the new printing press could replace the old Heidelberg printing presses. And that was how it was at the time.”
* Mr Finnegan said the committee was headed by the then Superintendent and included the Head of Communications at principle level, the Principal from Committees, the Principal from the Parliamentary Legal Advisers’ Office, the Principal from the Library and Research Service and the Principal who is Head of Finance and Commission of the Office of Secretary General. He said it also included the Chief Translator and Assistant Principle in the Office of the Commission, the Secretary General.
Watch live here
Earlier: Free At 3pm?
UPDATE:
Chair of the PAC @SeanFlemingTD says the costs provided to the committee relating to the Dáil printer have risen by 73% since July, from €1.169m to €2.02m now #iestaff
— Elaine Loughlin (@Elaine_Loughlin) December 12, 2019
The latest increase follows reports last night that the total cost of the printer had reached around €1.8million, €200,000 more than the €1.6million outlined by the Oireachtas just two weeks ago.
Successful
atIf you follow the HBO series ‘Succession’, you’ll recognise this as Kendall Roy’s swanky condo, and if you like it you can buy it.
Only slightly less impressive than its onscreen version, the condo is a 297m³, 4-bed, 3-bath duplex in a 19th century cast iron building in Tribeca fitted out in oak, marble and Gaggenau appliances with a centrepiece 7m ceilinged ‘great room’.
Ownership also includes private storage, a 24-hour doorman, use of the building’s fitness centre, spa, resident lounge and courtyard.
Yours for €6.4 million.
Shane MacGowan and Victoria Mary Clarke in 2007
On The Late Late Show.
Jennifer O’Brien writes:
Comedian and actor Pat Shortt is in studio, making his way through the audience as his latest character.
With Christmas around the corner, Ryan will be speaking to a number of volunteers who have been working tirelessly with Ireland’s homeless over the past year…
Comedian Jason Byrne will also be joining us, giving his take on recent news stories and chatting about his series of children’s books.
The main event of the evening will see the good and the great of the Irish entertainment and music industry pay tribute to the legendary singer and songwriter Shane MacGowan.
Tipperary’s most famous son is in studio, performing a number of his best-known songs, including a very special rendition of the greatest of all modern-day Christmas songs, Fairytale of New York.
Over the course of a lively evening full of songs, chat and laughter, Glen Hansard and Lisa O’Neill pay tribute to Shane, joining his band for a stunning rendition of A Rainy Night in Soho.
Guests including Aidan Gillen, Patrick Bergin, Moya Brennan, Philomena Begley and Pat McCabe will join Ryan, Shane, and his wife Victoria Mary Clarke, discussing the writing of some of his best-known songs and the impact he and The Pogues have had on the Irish music industry.
Shane’s sister Siobhán MacGowan, journalist and musician, will also be chatting with Ryan. US politician Martin O’Malley has flown in for the evening, giving a hat-tip to Shane and the impact his music had on him as an Irish-American.
The Late Late Show on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.
Santy?
This afternoon.
Mountjoy Square Park, Dublin.
Volunteers collect presents at the annual Shoebox/Fill an Xmas Truck operation, which will support up to 15,000 people who are homeless and living in direct poverty.
Last year near 20,000 presents were donated for redistribution