Here we go.

Duchess of Cambridge pregnant with second child (BBC)

Screen Shot 2014-09-08 at 11.46.55(Thanks John Roberts)

Screen Shot 2014-09-08 at 09.52.33

Garda whistleblower John Wilson shakes hands with Acting Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan outside Leinster House in Dublin last May

You may recall a post last week about how Gemma O’Doherty reported in The Sunday Times that former Garda John Wilson still hadn’t received his ‘certificate of service’ even though he left An Garda Síochána 15 months previous – after 30 years of service.

It was also reported that, before Mr Wilson left the gardaí in May 2013, he was disciplined for attending a court hearing on a day in which he wasn’t on duty. When he was questioned by garda management to explain his whereabouts, he said he had done nothing wrong. After refusing to account for his presence at the hearing, he was subjected to a disciplinary process. In April, he lost a High Court case he took against the disciplinary action and he’s now appealing this to the Supreme Court.

During his case in the High Court, Mr Wilson was offered an exemplary certificate of service on the condition he withdrew his action, but he didn’t.

Yesterday, Gemma O’Doherty wrote in The Sunday Times:

The certificate [exemplary] was sent to him by registered post, three days after his story appeared in last week’s newspaper…Speaking yesterday Wilson said he was relieved the situation had been resolved. “It’s taken more than 16 months to get it, but at least I have it now and can try to get a new job,” he said. “It was a terrible worry hanging over me. I badly needed it.

Garda whistleblower is eventually given certificate (Gemma O’Doherty, Sunday Times)

Previously: How Petty?

Meanwhile, In The High Court

Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Screen Shot 2014-09-08 at 10.23.40

Hmmm.

Also: Um.

IN FULL: Data Protection Notice (IrishWater)

Thanks Annie West

Update:

Alan writes:

You will notice from here that Irish Water is NOT authorised to use PPS numbers. From the FAQ’s:

Q9. What do I do if someone who is not entitled to use the PPS Number asks me for it?
A9. If you believe that a person asking for your PPS Number is not entitled to do so, do not give them your number until you have contacted Client Identity Services of the Department of Social Protection, Social Wefare Services, Shannon Lodge, Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim (Telephone 01-7043281) for advice. You can also email Client Identity Services at cis@welfare.ie.

I have emailed CIS and Irish Water about it this evening. You will notice on the link: “The legislation governing the allocation and use of the PPS Number is contained in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 and the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010. Only Specified Bodies named in the above Social Welfare Acts can use the PPS Number.”

I could be wrong, but I don’t believe that any Social Welfare act was passed this year to allow Irish Water use PPS numbers.

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Above: The Glass Beach, Fort Bragg California; The Beach of the Cathedrals, Ribadeo, Spain; Maho Beach, Saint Martin; Vik in Iceland and the sea cavern near Benagil Beach in Algarve, Portugal.

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