Jedward (left)  and Dr Anthony Fauci 

Anti-Trump?

Pro-mask?

Read on.

On the Late Late Show.

Via RTÉ:

Ryan Tubridy has revealed some of the guests who will be joining him on the Late Late Show tomorrow night, with the US’ Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,Dr Anthony Fauci  among the line-up.

Speaking on his RTÉ Radio 1 show on Thursday morning, Tubridy also announced that former President of Ireland Mary McAleese and world champion boxer Kellie Harrington will be among his guests. The Late Late Show later tweeted that Jedward will be around for a chat too.

Of Fauci’s appearance, Tubridy said:

“[US President Trump] Has pretty much taken him off the TV so that he doesn’t outshine him, because, actually, Fauci is trusted and liked. And that’s why, in some ways, Fauci is available to talk to us tomorrow night, because Trump doesn’t want him anywhere near American TV. So, I’ll talk to him.”

“Imagine trying to protect the health of an enormous nation like that while being undermined by your own president… I mean, it is impossible. But Fauci, Dr Fauci, has handled himself with such dignity and skill and professionalism and courtesy; it is extraordinary how he keeps going. It is amazing. I look forward to his company no end.”

Good lord.

Any excuse.

The Late Late Show tomorrow on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.

Yesterday: Waiting For Glaxo

Getty

From top: Adrian Bartley (left), his father Ultan Meehan; Kilbrew Nursing Home, Ashford, County Meath; Eamon Ryan and Peader Toibín

Just now.

In the Dáil.

Aontú leader Peadar Tobín raised the death of Ultan Meehan who passed away, aged 79, in hospital just over two weeks after being admitted from the Kilbrew Nursing Home in Ashbourne, County Meath.

Ultan’s son Adrian Bartley, who was a resident of the same nursing home and who had Down Syndrome and dementia, died ten weeks earlier in April. He had also contracted Covid-19.

Peader Toibín: “Mary Bartley Meehan lost her son and her husband to Covid in Kilbrew Nursing Home [in Ashbourne, County Meath] within six weeks of each other. She was recently shown a video of her husband before he died.

“The side of Ultan’s face was discoloured with black, congealed blood. His nails were long and black as he had, unknown to himself, been picking his facial tumours. As a result, it had become infected.

“Shockingly, his face had become infected with maggots. Months after this has happened, Mary has sought an investigation. She has asked the Minister for Health, the Department of Health, the HSE, HIQA and all have refused an investigation of this.

“My colleague Eimear Tobin, Cllr Eimear Tobin in Meath, wrote to the Ombudsman and asked him to investigate this and he sent a letter back today. He said:

‘I’ve once again raised this issue extending to the remit of my office to include clinical judgment. The vast majority of cases relating to healthcare sector involve some element of clinical judgment. It’s a matter of frustration to me that complaints like these can’t be addressed by this office.’

“Minister, will you guarantee that somebody takes responsibility for this and carries out an investigation and that the Ombudsman’s remit is extended.”

Eamon Ryan: “Deputy Tobin I thank you. For me that’s a harrowing story which you can only feel your heart goes out for the family involved. What a terrible experience. Can I ask you to come back to me or to indeed to the Taoiseach or anyone else as to what legislative change would be appropriate in that regard and I’d happily respond on that basis.”

Meanwhile…

Last month

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd, who has raised the case several times in the Oireachtas, had the following exchange about HIQA looking into the case.

Stephen Donnelly: “I share the Deputy’s sentiment on what has happened. Along with us all, I express my sincere condolences to Mary Bartley Meehan, to her family and to Mr. Meehan’s family, during what must be an extremely difficult time. HIQA is investigating what happened. They are providing a report.”

Fergus O’Dowd: “That is my whole point.”

Donnelly: “To answer the Deputy’s question, if I believe the HIQA report does not sufficiently answer the questions that the family has a right to know, then I will act.”

O’Dowd: “If I could intervene. HIQA is the regulator. It did not regulate and did not act. It cannot be the decision maker in this. This is why we need an independent inquiry. I can send evidence to the Minister that may help him to make up his mind on that.”

Donnelly: “I thank the Deputy. He can feel free to do that. In the first instance, however, the only agency of the State that can do this is HIQA. That is the current law and regulatory environment.”

O’Dowd: “HIQA was the regulator of the home and it did not do its job.”

Donnelly: “That is fine, but what I am saying is that in the first instance, HIQA has to investigate.”

Previously: “Will She Be Told Why This Happened?”

Rollingnews

Images of the International Space Station silhouetted in front of the Sun or even the moon are rare enough. But catching an image of the space station transiting a minuscule Mars is somewhat more of a challenge. To wit:

Using online software, the featured photographer learned that the unusual transit would be visible only momentarily along a very narrow stretch of nearby land spanning just 90 meters. Within this stretch, the equivalent ground velocity of the passing ISS image would be a quick 7.4 kilometers per second. However, with a standard camera, a small telescope, an exact location to set up his equipment, an exact direction to point the telescope, and sub-millisecond timing — he created a video from which the featured 0.00035 second exposure was extracted. In the resulting image capture, details on both Mars and the ISS are visible simultaneously. The featured image was acquired last Monday at 05:15:47 local time from just northeast of San Diego, California, USA. Although typically much smaller, angularly, than the ISS, Mars is approaching its maximum angular size in the next few weeks, because the blue planet (Earth) is set to pass its closest to the red planet (Mars) in their respective orbits around the Sun.

(Image: Tom Glenn)

apod

This afternoon.

Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2

Senator Michael McDowell celebrates the imminent return of four statues depicting Nubian Princesses outside the Shelbourne Hotel which had been removed as they had been mistaken for slaves.

Previously: The Naked Truth

Oh.

This morning.

Jervis Street Shopping Centre, Jervis Street, Dublin 1.

Pic by Nick

Meanwhile…

Um.

From left: Minister of State in the Department of Health, Mary Butler; HSE CEO Paul Reid this morning launching the Health Service Executive’s Winter Plan

This morning.

Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Setanta Place, Dublin.

The new Health Service Executive’s Winter Plan has been published.

Via RTÉ

Under the 30-page plan, approved by the Department of Health, most of the extra €600m in funding is to be provided next year – €200m will be spent this year and €400m next year.

The Winter Plan covers the period from now up to April 2021.

The plan promises 20,000 more planned procedures. It says that trolley counts will be cut by 30%.

Also 20 Community Assessment Hubs are to be in place to help keep patients out of hospital.

It is unclear exactly how many extra medical, nursing and other health staff will be recruited to service these extra beds and what facilities are to be put in place.

Just under five million extra home support hours are to be provided

Hmm.

HSE delivers details of Winter Plan for health service (RTÉ)

Rollingnews

This morning.

The Central Bank has fined KBC Bank Ireland more than €18.3m and reprimanded it over its role in the tracker mortgage controversy following an investigation into its conduct.

Via RTÉ

The regulator said the Belgian owned bank had been responsible for “serious failings” that affected the holders of 3,741 customer accounts between June 2008 and October 2019.

The Central Bank said KBC’s actions had a devastating impact on the customers, with significant overcharging, and a resulting loss of 66 properties – 11 of which were family homes.

The investigation found that 39 of these losses could have been prevented if KBC had implemented a regulatory requirement to cease any actions that would have resulted in additional harm to customers during the review.

KBC Bank Ireland fined €18.3m for tracker mortgage failures (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

‘sup?

This morning.

The Liberties, Dublin 8

Taoiseach Micheál Martin visiting Oliver Bond flat complex to meet with local community activists.

The complex was the centre of a ‘scandal’ over the weekend as over 100 people gathered for a rave in the sports ground, which included a live DJ and alleged ‘illegal drug use’.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

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