THE GOVERNMENT has moved to quash suggestions from within Cabinet that Europe should cut the cost of Ireland’s bank debt burden to boost support for the fiscal treaty referendum.

The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance moved swiftly yesterday to declare that there should be no link between the referendum and the Government’s drive to ease the terms of the Anglo bailout.

They were responding to remarks by Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton in which she said a move to restructure the expensive IOUs used to recapitalise Anglo would aid the referendum campaign.

“These are entirely separate matters, in other words, the Irish people are not going to be bribed by anybody,” Mr Kenny told reporters in Brussels.

Yes, quite right.

Wait. What? No! Tell us more about the bribes!

Coalition rejects seeking Anglo concession to secure Yes vote (Irish Times)

Paul Quigley of Dublin-based Newswhip.com writes:

Today, Mashable published our infographic of the most viral news sources in the English language. The infographic ranks news sites based on how many viral stories they produced during the month of January 2012. We define a viral story as one getting at least 100 likes or shares (on Facebook) or 100 Tweets (on Twitter). We collected all this data using NewsWhip’s discovery and data collection engines. They discover almost all the free news and major blog posts produced in the English-speaking world each day, and track how they spread on social networks. One thing we’re missing: sites with paywalls and partial paywalls. Hence NYTimes.com, WSJ.com and FT.com are not included.While we only use the data temporarily – to build a picture of what’s taking off in real time – we collect it, to make a  neat data set.

From that, we extracted the following:

NewsWhip.com.

A ‘Concerned Internet User’ writes:

So Sean Sherlock is looking for people to contact the Irish Internet Association as they will ‘moderate an online consultation‘ about the ‘Irish Sopa’ Statutory Instrument (which became law last night).

The IIA has two members of staff. One is the association’s president, the other is the events organiser.

The president, Joan Mulvihill (above) is on the Fine Gael executive council. and is on record as stating that her association cannot take a stance as they represent content creators and businesses that operate using the internet.

Have a look at today’s Tweets on the official IIA account and Joan’s own.

Wouldn’t hold out much hope for impartiality there.

 

Earlier: The Best Irish Sopa Denunciation You’ll Read Today

Good Morning, Sean

 

” Defying famine, poverty, and discrimination, these sons and daughters of Erin demonstrated extraordinary strength and unshakable faith as they gave their all to help build an America worthy of the journey they and so many others have taken. During Irish-American Heritage Month, we recall their legacy of hard work and perseverance, and we carry forward that singular dedication to forging a more prosperous future for all Americans.

Now, therefore, I, Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2012 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by celebrating the contributions of Irish Americans to our Nation.”

And November is now officially ‘Irish-America Vote-For-Me’ Month.

Barack Obama Officially Launches Irish American Heritage Month, March 2012 (Bernie Malone, irish Central)

(Mark Stedman/Photocall ireland)

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcVEX0iAqCY

Burly wit Sean McTiernan reviews this week’s Ireland’s Own.

In this issue:

People are soil, placement of articles, how doors open and the asexual un-self-realised postman.

 

Previously: Ireland’s Own (Valentine’s Issue) Reviewed

He’s proper old school.

Fine Gael’s [Senator] Tom Sheahan caused outrage over his remarks about Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who forced deputy leader Mr Ó Cuív’s resignation yesterday.

“Deputy Martin isn’t the first Cork man to be shot in the back by a de Valera,” said Mr Sheahan.

.

Broadsheet.ie