A minute-by-minute account of the last great extinction event on Earth by German education design studio Kurzgesagt.
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy (above left) and Department of Health Secretary General Robert Watt (above right) whose letter to the Public Accounts Committe warns against any discussion on costs or dates on construction of the National Children’s Hospital (top)
This afternoon.
The Department of Health is refusing to release details of a review into the new Children’s Hospital to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), according to Social Democrats co-leader, and vice-chair of the PAC, Catherine Murphy.
Earlier this month, Mr Watt sent the PAC a letter which states:
“There is an extremely high likelihood that any discussion on costs or dates, however hypothetical, even from the draft stages of the process, would prejudice enforcement of the existing contract and very likely undermine the role of the Development Bord in its ongoing engagement with the main contractor.”
Ms Murphy said:
“A comprehensive review of this project, by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the Department of Health, has been ongoing since last year. The Minister was given their draft report in January.
“In February, the PAC was told that report would be concluded within weeks – at which point there would finally be clarity about the hospital’s budget. But there appears to be a new approach now there is a new Secretary General.
According to Mr Watt, all of the most controversial information about this project – the cost and timeline – is suddenly too sensitive to publish. What a stroke of luck for the Department.
“The PAC is the State’s public spending watchdog. How on earth is it supposed to do its job if Departments won’t tell us how much they are spending? Mr Watt’s intervention has ensured this debacle has gone from tragedy to farce.
“This latest review is at least the 13th into this omnishambles. Between 2017 and 2019, 11 separate reviews were undertaken at a cost of €700,000. An additional report was then sought from PwC at a cost of €450,000.
“After 12 reports costing €1.15 million, what did we learn? That the taxpayer would be lucky to emerge with any change from €1.7 billion for this project.
“Now, there is another report, the details of which are apparently too explosive to publish. What is the Department trying to hide?
“We know there have been more than 800 claims submitted by the contractor and the Hospital Development Board has been without a chairperson, and two members, since January.
How much is this project going to cost the Irish people; when is it going to be delivered and who is in charge of delivery?
“It is incredible that we still don’t have answers to these basic questions.”
Previously: There Cannot Be Price Certainty At This Point
This afternoon.
Blessington, county Wicklow.
Stephen writes:
Cheap? Clever? Cheeky?
Or all three?
You must decide.
Aviva Stadium, Dublin 4.
One of Ireland’s largest street art projects has been completed.
Spanning 160.4 metres, the urban wildlife mural is part of a partnership between Iarnród Éireann and Aviva Stadium, and supported by Dublin City Council.
Barry Kenny writes:
It runs along the railway lines running under the West Stand of the Aviva Stadium and along the tunnel up to Lansdowne Road Level Crossing.
Wall 1 depicts the image of an urban fox, which are regularly spotted within the areas of city centre stations and has been created by artist and illustrator Dan Leo.
The image of an Urban Hawk created by Artists for All City Records, is in place on Wall 2 situated at the North end of Tunnel.
The central area displays a work collaboration between The Walls Project and Artists Holly Pereira, Omin and Decoy. The urban wildlife theme continues, depicting a black cat as it moves along the tunnel through, bright flowers, shapes and graphics.
A sense of ‘page flick’ movement can be seen by those passing on DART, Commuter and Rosslare Intercity services.
In fairness.
Pics: Iarnród Éireann
Ali Comerford – Knots
A is for anxiety.
Classically trained musician and singer/songwriter Ali Comerford (top) has penned a heartfelt pick-me-up for those in need of reassurance.
And props to the beautifully illustrated lyric video.
Knots is the second single and title track from Ali’s debut album, due on July 29.
Kilkenny-based Ali writes:
“Knots is a song I wrote about anxiety, something we all struggle with at one time or another. At the time, I was going through a stage of intense anxiety. I worried about the fact that I hadn’t released any music, about whether people would enjoy my songs or not and also over-analysed every little thing I had ever done wrong. I wasn’t sleeping properly and found I was lying awake at night replaying old conversations and feeling ashamed and embarrassed.
“Anxiety is an extremely isolating thing because when you’re in it, you believe that you are the only person who feels like this. I think it’s powerful when people can speak about their own struggles and maybe eventually it will help us all feel less alone.”
Nick says: Empathy for the bedevilled.
Insectoids
at
The metal insects and prehistoric organisms of Dr Allan Drummond – an associate professor of biochemistry at the University of Chicago.
Each biologically realistic ’specimen’ starts life as a 3D Blender rendering, later cast in bronze of silver with the help of jewellery designers, then assembled into meticulous, enlarged representations of the actual creatures.
You can follow his process here.
In The Fall
at
Would @MichealMartinTD like to await more comprehensive testing before vaccinating children? What is the net benefit of vaccination for CHILDREN specifically? Is that benefit empirically demonstrated? https://t.co/wTu8X4S0Va
— David Thunder (@davidjthunder) June 17, 2021
Anyone?
Meanwhile, in the UK:
Vaccination experts are not planning to recommend Covid-19 jabs for children, a cabinet minister has said, while prominent academics have suggested that existing doses should be used to immunise vulnerable people around the world before those in the UK who are relatively safe…
Vaccine advisers not planning to back Covid jabs for children, says UK minister (The Guardian)
Top pic: Moderna
Meanwhile…
Vaccinator friend told me a lot of anti-vaxxers are taking appointments purely so they can show up and then “not consent”. Honestly, I despair sometimes. If you don’t want the vaccine, fine; but to waste people’s time and keep slots from those who want them is despicable. 🤬
— Maïa Dunphy (@MaiaDunphy) June 17, 2021
Things that never happened, part 27.
Um.
Wall Flowers
at
Above from left: Aoife Foster, Pine Daly and Aster Dylan Scully
This morning.
Camden Row, Dublin 2
Members of Foróige, the National Youth Development Organisation attended the unveiling of their Shine With Pride mural by artist KinMxin in collaboration with SUBSET.
The artwork is inspired by the lived experiences of LGBTI+ young people who are part of Foróige. It tells the story of ‘how they found deep solace in nature during their coming out journeys while the central character in the artwork embodies LGBTI+ young people as they come out and blossom with pride’.
Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
Um.
This morning.
Mary Street, Dublin 1.
One of a number of new homeless-unfriendly Digital Kiosk phone booths being installed in Dublin city.
Do we really need them?
Where’s the door?
Where’s Button B?
FIGHT!