So, Harry’s on his way to Galway?

Hmm.

From today’s Galway Advertiser:

“I have kept in touch with many of the people I met during the last event  [Volvo Ocean Race] in 2009, some of whom know Prince Harry personally,” [Fine Gael Councillor Padraig] Conneely (above) told the Galway Advertiser. “It was suggested to me that he would warmly welcome the opportunity to come to Galway for the finale.” Cllr Conneely subsequently made enquiries through the British diplomatic service and was in contact with the Taoiseach’s office to notify them of the circumstances. Since then the Fine Gael councillor has learned that there has been “engagement at the highest diplomatic level, and it is just a matter of protocol before a visit is confirmed”. 

However, Rival paper, the Galway City Tribune, contacted Buckingham Palace today and it appears Cllr Conneely is the excitable victim of a royal hoax. The Advertiser exclusive, we understand, was based not so much on discussions “at the highest diplomatic level” but apparently on correspondence containing “a fake letterhead”. Ouch.

Prince Harry Visit to Galway Report Is A Royal Hoax (Galway News)

Thanks Allan Cavanagh

The private members’ bill was defeated, but:

From the The Irish Family Planning Association:

We welcome the Government’s firm commitment to implement the judgment of the A, B and C v Ireland case during the Dáil debate on the Medical Treatment (Termination of Pregnancy in Case of Risk to Life of Pregnant Woman) Bill 2012.

Rather than support the Bill, the Government parties opted to wait for the report of the expert group that they have established. The expert group will make recommendations regarding the implementation of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C v Ireland case. Minister James O’Reilly was unequivocal in his commitment to act when the expert group reports in July.

IFPA Chief Executive Niall Behan said: “The IFPA welcomes the Government’s commitment to the prompt implementation of the A, B and C judgment. This undertaking needs to be followed up by the immediate publication of the Government expert group’s report and a clearly outlined timeframe for action.

“This debate was a significant event in Irish politics. There was cross-party agreement that the Dáil must address the failure to provide for the limited right to abortion guaranteed by the X case and the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in the A, B and C case. Such consensus demonstrates an increased appreciation on the part of elected representatives of the reality of abortion in Irish women’s lives and a better understanding of the appropriate political responses to crisis pregnancies.”

A, B and C v Ireland case?

Earlier: She So Forni

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

 

Last night’s Tonight with Vincent Browne with economists Steve Keen and Constantin Gurdgiev and journalists Laura Noonan, Irish Independent banking correspondent, and Dan O’Brien. Irish Times Economics Editor.

We join the debate as the panel discuss the topical subject of debt relief and moral hazard.

Mind-altering confusion ensues.

Vincent Browne: “If you’re cutting household debt, it means that the
banks take a further hit.”

Laura Noonan: “It means that the banks take a hit and there’s also a real problem. There’s a real fairness argument to that because you hear all the time people,  say who are on social welfare, who never borrowed for their houses they will ultimately end up getting lower social welfare payments because the taxpayer is paying the bank to take a hit.”

Constantin Gurdgiev: “That’s nonsense. Hold on a second, Laura. That is pure nonsense because what you’re assuming is that the taxpayer in this scheme will be recapitalising the banks and…”

Noonan: “The taxpayer owns the banks.”

Gurdgiev: “This is. Hold on a second. That is. You are.”

Continue reading →

Gavin O’Reilly and Vincent Crowley at the 2009 INM AGM.

 

 

 

Gavin O’Reilly Steps Down From INM (The Guardian)

Independent News & Media group chief executive Gavin O’Reilly resigns (Independent)

More as we get it.

A panoramic photograph created by compositing an entire 30-hour shoot at Sunnio in Greece. Photographer Chris Kotsiopoloulos stitched hundreds of separate images together to represent an entire rotation of the earth.

Link to a similar higher res version.

Related: Polar Panoramas.

colossal/news.com.au

Broadsheet.ie