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From the VenturePulse survey

Silicon Republic reports:

Tech firms in Ireland raised €237m in venture capital funding in the first quarter, almost double that of last year, according to the latest VenturePulse figures from the Irish Venture Capital Association.

The amount of funding raised in the first quarter was nearly double the €119.8m raised in the first quarter of 2015, according to the VenturePulse survey published in association with William Fry.

“About half the funds came through international syndicates which shows an encouraging and continuing strong global appetite for the Irish tech sector,” said Brian Caulfield, chairman, IVCA.

Caulfield said that the growth continues the strong trajectory of funding growth in Irish tech SMEs, which grew overall last year by 30pc to €522m.

Venture capital investment in Irish tech firms doubled to €237m in Q1 (Silicon Republic)

 

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Tesco workers at a Mandate conference in Galway last month

What do we want?

An answer.

When do you want it?

NOW!

Jack Ascinine writes:

So all the staff and members of the Oireachtas just received an email this morning inviting them to a presentation this Thursday by Mandate Trade Union in regards to the churning conflict between Tesco corporate and their employees (didn’t know there was one to start with).

With all of the talk about LUAS strikes and Transdev negotiations and the Minister for Transport not wanting to get involved, how is it that Mandate Trade Union not only gets a forum to present to all Oireachtas TDs and staff, but actually get to present WITHIN Leinster House facilities itself? 

Who secured this slot for Mandate? Is Tesco corporate going to get their slot secured for presenting their rebuttal as well (every little helps)?

Anyone?

Pic: Tescoworkers.com

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Inside the Brú Aimsir Hostel in November and outside the hostel this morning

You may recall the opening of the Dublin City Council-run Brú Aimsir Hostel at the Digital Hub on Thomas Street, Dublin 8 last November – as part of the council’s Cold Weather Initiative.

The 100-bed facility is now to close with 50 beds already closed, while the 42-bed John’s Lane West hostel is to also close.

In response to the closure, a group of homeless people is now occupying the building, while the Irish Housing Network is holding a demonstration outside the Dublin City Council offices on Wood Quay.

In a statement, residents of Brú said:

“Thank you for your support, please continue to do so – it could be you next week. We feel as though the dogs on the street are treated better than us. They are taken in and put in shelters so they are not roaming the streets, but the Government are willing to let people roam the streets every day.”

“One woman here came from a women’s refuse due to domestic violence. She has severe mental and medical health issues and relies heavily on Brú’s services since the beginning of March.”

“She has been approved for H.A.P. (Housing Assistance Payment) with South Dublin County Council, but is finding it extremely difficult to find anywhere suitable for her and her 12-year-old son.”

Suitable accommodation before closing John’s Lane West (Facebook)

Previously: Nice Crib, Brú

Pic: Rollingnews and Richard Chambers

There you go.

UPDATE: You can read the report in full here

Previously: Just The Facts

‘Something For Everyone’

Update:

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Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald announces the publication of the O’Higgins Commission report this afternoon at government buildings.

Rollingnews

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Housing Minister Simon Coveney

This morning, newly appointed Housing Minister Simon Coveney spoke to Seán O’Rourke about housing on RTE Radio One this morning.

Towards the end of the interview, they discussed water charges – which will suspended for nine months, from the end of June, as a commission decides what to do.

The Fine Gael minister assured Mr O’Rourke, “I certainly agree that people who have paid already shouldn’t be disadvantaged financially in any way… People will not be allowed to get away without paying.”

Then Mr O’Rourke reminded Mr Coveney how Independent Alliance TD, who has been appointed a Super Junior Minister for Disability, Finian McGrath has not paid his water charges.

Being a ‘Super Junior’ minister means Mr McGrath can attend Cabinet meetings but cannot vote.

Grab a small tay…

Seán O’Rourke: “Meanwhile, sitting in the Cabinet room along with you and your colleagues, you have Finian McGrath who is proudly boasting that he has no intention of paying his water charges.”

Simon Coveney: “Well I haven’t seen him proudly boasting that and Finian will…”

O’Rourke: “Well stating as a matter of fact then, to put it maybe slightly less..”

Coveney: “Well now let’s not build this issue up into something it isn’t. I mean people should pay their water.”

O’Rourke: “It’s a minister flouting the law and he’s sitting in the same Cabinet room as you. Is that right?”

Coveney: “Well I think, you know,my view would be very similar to, to, you know,  people like Regina Doherty and others who’ve been asked to comment on this.”

O’Rourke: “How can you expect people to pay water charges up until their suspended when you’re sitting beside somebody who just makes a virtue of not paying?”

Coveney: “Government minister should lead by example, it is the law to pay your taxes and Government ministers should pay taxes, including water charges and that’s a decision for Finian.”

O’Rourke: “It’s also a decision for the Taoiseach actually. Is he prepared to keep him in the room?”

Coveney: “Look, I mean, I’m not going to get into the Taoiseach’s view of that. I suspect the Taoiseach’s view is the same as mine. If you’re in Cabinet, you need to lead by example. If you’re a law maker, you need to be a law keeper.”

Listen back here

Rollingnews

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Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will appear before the Human Rights Council, as part of the Universal Periodic Review, at 1.30pm at the UN in Geneva today, to explain what the previous Irish government ignored achieved during its tenure.

Ms Fitzgerald is expected to field questions on a variety of subjects.

These include housing and homelessness; reproductive rights; the historical abuse of women and children; the rights of persons with a disability; immigration and asylum; access to adequate healthcare and education; LGBT rights; prisons and detention; the rights of children and older people; the rights of Travellers, Roma and other minority groups in Ireland.

Ms Fitzgerald’s appearance will be live streamed here from 1.30pm.

Government facing rights leadership test at UN today (Irish Council for Civil Liberties)

malthiusian

Malthusian – playing Dublin, Cork and Galway

What you may need to know…

01. Death metallers Malthusian arrived in earnest in 2013, and made an immediate impact on Irish metal with debut release MMXIII.

02. Named for the theory that dictated that population overgrowth would coincide with depleted resources and lead to various reckonings to right itself, the band explores such aesthetic and influences in this comprehensive 2013 interview.

03. Streaming above is Forms Become Vapour, taken from new EP Below the Hengiform, released this past April on Dublin’s Invictus Productions.

04. Next gigs are this Friday at Fibber’s on Parnell St, Dublin, as part of Carnage Metal Club, and June 11 at Cork Community Print Shop. Both dates alongside Limerick’s Zealot Cult, with Coscradh supporting on the Dublin date. They’re also off to Galway for Dark Arts Festival on August 13th, before hitting Norway for Beyond the Gates festival.

Verdict: An atmospheric blend of uncompromising death metal aggression and doom metal’s heft and recrimination.

Malthusian

Broadsheet.ie