CallinSHatWallAlan Shatter (left) and Mick Wallace on Prime Time

Independent TD Mick Wallace appeared on RTÉ’s Prime Time on May 16, 2013, to talk about the penalty points report and the appearance of former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan at a Public Accounts Committee meeting earlier that day.

During their discussion with presenter, Pat Kenny, Mr Shatter accused Mr Wallace of having been stopped while driving by the gardaí in May 2012 and claimed he benefited from garda discretion.

The Data Protection Commissioner subsequently found Mr Shatter broke the law by disclosing personal information about Mr Wallace on the show.

Mr Shatter’s appeal of this ruling was dismissed this morning.

Mr Wallace said he felt that decision was a good one but that he does expect the former minister to challenge it because “he doesn’t like hearing no, so more than likely it will end up in the High Court,” he said.
He said that when the appeal was on, he had noticed that Mr Shatter’s legal team had been at pains to stress that the former minister had been damaged personally, politically and financially, by the Data Protection Commissioner’s decision, and he was eager that it be overturned for fear that Mr Shatter could be pursued for damages.
Mr Wallace said that if the Judge [Judge Jacqueline Linnane] had found against the Data Protection Commissioner this morning, it would have weakened his (Mr Wallace’s) position in pursuing the matter any further.
However, he said that the statement from Judge Linnane was very strong and he will be taking legal advice now to see how to progress from here but that he is considering pursuing the former minister for damages.

Shatter loses appeal over data breach (RTÉ)

90270018The 2012 Noise for Marriage march in Dublin

‘Marriage May Be Contracted In Accordance With Law By Two Persons Without Distinction As To Their Sex’

The wording of the May same sex marriage referendum. The Cabinet met this morning to discuss the referendum along with one on reducing the age limit for presidential election candidates from 35 to 21 years of age. No exact date has been given for the vote.

Fight!

Wording of Marriage Equality referendum published (RTÉ)

(Photocall Ireland)

Update:

“This is a historic day for Ireland and Irish people. The proposed wording would amend the Constitution to add a right for lesbian and gay couples to have a civil marriage. Today we move a step closer to full inclusion in our Constitution for lesbian and gay couples. The referendum will put the question of equality in the Constitution for lesbian and gay couples to the people, as recommended by the Constitutional Convention. The referendum, if carried, will complete the remarkable 25-year journey to Constitutional equality for lesbian and gay people in Ireland”

Kieran Rose, chairman of Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (GLEN)

“We have made great progress towards equality based on the generosity and fairness of the Irish people and we are confident that we can appeal to this sense of generosity and fairness once more. The proposed wording would ensure that existing marriages and future marriages of men and women are not altered in any way. The proposed amendment would update the Constitution to say that any two people can marry, regardless of their sex. This wording rightly emphasises that the intention is to extend marriage ‘without distinction’ as to the sex of the spouses, thereby removing the last roadblock to the recognition in law of the full equality and dignity of same sex couples.”

ICCL Mark Kelly, director of the Irish Council on Civil Liberties (ICCL)

“We look forward to a positive campaign for the referendum which focuses on the value of marriage to everyone in Irish society and explains why marriage matters to lesbian and gay couples. Irish people rightly take constitutional change very seriously and our job over the next four months will be to engage in a national conversation with the citizens of Ireland to understand and assuage any concerns, and to encourage people to have their voices heard on the day.”

Grainne Healy, chair of MarriageEquality.ie

cindy

Cindy.

One eyed optimist.

ISPCA writes:

Cindy Clawford is one of a group of cats that were rescued from horrendous conditions by a member of our Inspectorate. The cats had been locked in an abandoned property and left to starve. By the time our Inspector was alerted to the case most of the cats were emaciated, almost skeletal. Several of the cats, Cindy Clawford included, were extremely nervous of people when they arrived and in the cattery they were very stressed during their stay.

Cindy has since transformed into a different cat. She is affectionate and friendly, loves to be cuddled and stroked and will now make a fantastic pet. The difference in her is unbelievable and just goes to show that many nervous cats can turn into delightful pets once they have settled into a new home.

Since Cindy has come on in leaps and bounds we are looking for a home for her. If you think you could give her the fantastic home she deserves please contact the National Animal Centre in Longford on 043 33 25035 or email rehoming@ispca.ie. You can also find her on our website [below]

ISPCA

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