It’s sounds like some terrible dream,
But the government have a new scheme,
It may seem quite odd,
But they’re taking on God,
So they want all of us to blaspheme.
John Moynes
Pic: Examiner
Hilary Quinlan
The Irish Times reports this morning that junior minister at the Department of the Environment and Waterford TD, Paudie Coffey, has hired former Waterford Fine Gael councillor and Irish Water director, Hilary Quinlan, as his personal driver – earning him €665 a week.
Splutter.
Fiach Kelly reports:
“You tell me one party out there who doesn’t look after their own. I don’t see anything wrong with it. It’s politics.” [Mr Quinlan] asked why there isn’t more of a focus on the economy. “We were all nearly eating out of bins three years ago.”
Hmmm.
In January – before Mr Quinlan lost his seat at Waterford City Council at the local elections in May – he spoke to WLRFM about his €15,000-a-year appointment at Irish Water, saying Environment Minister Phil Hogan appointed him.
The Irish Daily Mail reported at the time:
Asked about the public perception of getting the post, Mr Quinlan told WLRFM: ‘Look, live in the real world now please. I’ve said what I have to say about it. I want to speak to you about the reasons why Irish Water was set up. I’m trying to put a positive spin on the New Year.’
“Revealing that his board member salary would be in the region of ’15 grand’, the Fine Gael representative, who has been a councillor for 29 years, added that he would ‘probably’ get travel and overnight expenses too. But he insisted: ‘That’s not my motivation. It never has been my motivation.’ When pressed on his appointment, he said: ‘I was in the right place at the right time.’
Irish Water director hired as personal driver by Minister (Fiach Kelly, Irish Times)
Previously: The John Deasy Transcript
Pic: Irish Water
Apple’s European headquarters in Holyhill, Cork
Sky News reports:
A preliminary finding by the European Commission has found that Ireland provided illegal state aid to tech giant Apple for more than 20 years. It said it has doubts that two “sweetheart” tax deals agreed in 1991 and 2007 between Apple and Ireland are compatible with the internal market of the European Union.
In a statement, the European Commission said: “Accordingly, the commission is of the opinion that through those rulings the Irish authorities confer an advantage on Apple. That advantage is obtained every year and ongoing. At this stage, the commission has no indication that the contested measure can be considered compatible with the internal market”. It added: “The commission’s preliminary view is that the tax ruling of 1991 and of 2007 in favour of the Apple group constitute state aid.”
The Irish government has already responded and said: “As this is an ongoing legal process, Ireland will not be commenting further on any individual aspects of this case.”
Read the European Commission’s decision in full here
EU Probe Slams Ireland Over Apple Tax Deals (Sky News)
Pic: Irish Apple Blog
Old Negative
at
Marie Quinn has made a renewed appeal last night on her Facebook for the public to help her track down her two brothers.
Marie’s mother, Helen, had two boys in mother and baby homes before leaving for Liverpool where she got married and had two more children.
Marie told the Irish Mirror on September 9:
“My mum got pregnant out of wedlock in the 60s and they put her in the mother-and-baby homes. I know she was in St Patrick’s on the Navan Road and she also mentioned Dunboyne. She never kept the fact I had two brothers a secret from me – she told us they were adopted and was very open about it. After the youngest child she fled to Liverpool. She met my dad and had my brother and me. She always wanted to search for the boys but wasn’t allowed at the time.”
Woman appeals for help in finding long lost brothers to fulfil mother’s dying wish (Irish Mirror)
ICCL (Irish Council for Civil Liberties) director Mark Kelly and Marie O’Connor, chairof the Survivors of Symphysiotomy this morning.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties writes:
The unanimous rejection of the scheme came via a ballot by members of the Survivors of Symphysiotomy group held during Extraordinary General Meetings in Cork and Dublin over the weekend (27 and 28 September 2014). The scheme, which was presented to members of SoS earlier this month by Minister for Health Dr Leo Varadkar TD, proposes a baseline ex-gratia payment of €50,000 for each survivor who can provide proof of surgery, with higher payments for women who can show they suffer from a complex array of injuries that were caused directly by symphysiotomy.
Marie O’Connor, Chairperson of Survivors of Symphysiotomy, which represents 99 per cent of casualties of this 18th century childbirth operation, said:
“Our members have voted unanimously to reject the unfair and unjust scheme as outlined to us by the Minister for Health. This is an ex gratia scheme that admits of no wrongdoing on the part of the State and offers utterly inadequate levels of restitution for the physical and mental suffering that has blighted so many lives.”
“The Government has never engaged meaningfully with Survivors of Symphysiotomy. Not alone was this scheme presented to us as a fait accompli but it flouts key recommendations made by the UN. Survivors of Symphysiotomy is united in its opposition to this unacceptable scheme and will support efforts by its members to achieve truth and justice through the courts.”
ICCL Director Mr Mark Kelly adds:
“This scheme willfully ignores some of Ireland’s most fundamental obligations under international human rights law. It forces survivors to choose between compensation and justice. It contains no measures to get to the truth of how and why these barbaric operations took place. It also lacks any measures to bring those responsible to account.”
Rights groups reject symphysiotomy redress proposals that “flout” human rights standards (ICCL)
Watching tommy tiernan doc and I think I need to turn it off. Very very uncomfortable viewing. Reckon I could be funnier without material.
— Graham Cullinane (@GrahamCull8) September 29, 2014
Watched @Tommedian doc on @rte tonite Very unsettling seeing inside his manic brilliant mind was never goin 2 b pretty #tommytiernan — Cormac Dowling (@Camroc) September 29, 2014
I’m a big fan of #tommytiernan but that doc tonight on RTE was uncomfortable viewing, it was extremely honest but he seems on the edge, sad!
— Denis Maguire (@dmaguire7) September 29, 2014
I’m at a loss with this Tommy Tiernan Doc on @rte! I feel like I’m watching a super talented man have a melt down in a beautifully shot doc! — Suzanne Kane (@Suzanne4FM) September 29, 2014
If you’re not enjoying this #TommyTiernan doc, there’s a Mrs Brown DVD with bonus material somewhere with your name on it.
— Philip O’Connor (@philipoconnor) September 29, 2014
Some Twitter reaction to the documentary Tommy: To Tell You The Truth on RTE 1 last night.
How was it for you?
Inspiring free form comedy jazz?
Or Krusty the Clown?
Only you can DECIDE.
Previously: Tiger Of Sweden
A 1-bed studio.
How much?
‘Crying Chaise Longue’ as standard.
Waterloo Rod, Ballsbridge (MyHome.ie)
Thanks Carole
Meanwhile…
Dublin property prices have jumped by a quarter over the past year, according to data in in a new report. Data from property website Myhome.ie and the Property Price Register has found that prices in the capital rose by 25 per cent over the year to the end of September.
Dublin property prices up by 25% in year (Irish Times)
Amendment to Price Register analysis (Myhome.ie)
Previously: Looking For Bubble?
Your wha’?
Tricia Purcell of SpunOut.ie writes:
The next event in our table quiz series is TONIGHT at DTwo Harcourt Street, Dublin on the subject of Disney Movies! Featuring questions from the full library of animated and live-action films, this one will really test your knowledge. We will have eight rounds of eight questions, including a video round and an audio round.
Tickets are €6pp or €24 for a table of four (plus EventBrite booking fee).
Book your spot here