Tag Archives: Scrapped

There you go.

Trinity Agrees to Scrap Supplemental Exam Fees (University Times)

Previously: Meanwhile At Trinity

Independent TD Catherine Connolly and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

Yesterday.

During Leaders’ Questions.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, by way of justifying setting up his €5million Strategic Communications Unit, said:

“The thinking behind the unit is very simple, one I hope most Members of the House will understand, namely, that if we do not measure, we cannot improve. If we want to improve something, we have to be able to measure it.”

Further to this…

Independent TD for Galway West Catherine Connolly asked Mr Varadkar if the Government will fund another Sexual Abuse and Violence in Ireland (SAVI) report – following on from the first, and only, such study in 2002.

They had this exchange:

Catherine Connolly: “Almost four months ago to the day, I used my time during Leaders’ Questions to raise the very serious issue of domestic violence. More specifically, I raised the failure of the Government to provide funding of approximately €1 million to review the groundbreaking study that was carried out in 2002, indicating over 3,000 victims of violence generally.

“This confirmed the extraordinary prevalence of violence in Irish society. Since then, the Taoiseach has presided over a budget that utterly failed and fails to grasp the seriousness of the issue or make any provision to deal with the extent of domestic violence and its pervasive and detrimental effect not only on women and children but also on society at every level.

Simultaneously, the Taoiseach has provided €5 million for a strategic communications unit. He did so notwithstanding the urgent representations from SAFE Ireland, which represents over 30 organisations on the ground that are more than familiar with the catastrophe owing to violence generally, particularly domestic violence.

“It pointed out that 4,831 requests for a safe place or refuge – a massive number – were refused last year. It pointed out that we are dealing with the tip of the iceberg, and that 79% of women do not report abuse.”

Leo Varadkar:With regard to whether we will spend another €1 million commissioning another report, or another statistical or academic study, on domestic violence is a matter that will have to be considered by Ministers.

“Departments up to this date have said they are satisfied with the statistics and information they have. Rather than spending €1 million on another study or statistical report, they would prefer to spend it on other things, such as services or additional shelters and housing. It is, however, a matter on which I absolutely have an open mind.

If the people within the Departments believe expenditure on an academic analysis or statistical report should be prioritised over alternatives, I will be happy to consider it.”

However.

This morning.

In The Times Ireland edition.

After getting documentation under the Freedom of Information Act, Ellen Coyne reported:

Plans for a study to establish the scale of sexual violence in Ireland have been scrapped by the government, The Times can reveal.

The move means that victims of rape and domestic abuse will not be counted unless they report their crime to the gardaí or are recorded by a charity.

Charlie Flanagan, the justice minister, has reneged on a commitment by Frances Fitzgerald, the tánaiste and his predecessor, to fund the study.

… The department had previously said that such data would be supplemented by the Savi report, but a source confirmed last night that those plans had been scrapped.

… Documents obtained by The Times under freedom of information laws show that Regina Doherty, the social protection minister, wrote to three cabinet colleagues in May pleading with them to fund the research. Katherine Zappone, the children and youth affairs minister, Frances Fitzgerald, then the justice minister, and Simon Harris, the health minister, all said they supported the study but could not afford it.”

Further to this.

This afternoon…

The Rape Crisis Network Ireland has released a statement saying:

The Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (RCNI) has announced today that it will not be publishing statistics on the experience of survivors of sexual violence relating to 2016.

The decision was made on foot of significant cuts to RCNI’s funding, which have resulted in a diminution of the network’s capacity to safely analyse and publish data on sexual violence.

“Since 2005, RCNI has produced national statistics recording the collective experiences of up to 93% of survivors of sexual violence that use Rape Crisis Centres (RCCs) around the country.

“This powerful tool has been supporting survivors to becoming agents of change as they form part of an evidence base that has transformed policy and practice.”

Study to help rape victims ‘is unnecessary’ (The Times Ireland edition)

Dail transcript via Oireachtas.ie

Poolbeg (1) (The proposed Poolbeg incinerator by Covanta)

Last month it emerged that Dublin City Council, which has paid more than €30 million to consultancy firm RPS for its services over the last ten years in relation to the proposed Poolbeg incinerator, was planning to terminate its contract with RPS.

It came after the intervention of the European Commission, which found that the contract did not conform with EU law, following complaints made to the EU by Sandymount residents Joe McCarthy and Valerie Jennings.

Dublin City Council’s contract with RPS was originally estimated at €8.3m but ended up costing around €30m.

The EU is still investigating the residents’ other complaints which are: The contract for the incinerator was awarded to a company which did not bid, and the contract for the incinerator was almost double the size advertised.

Last night [Monday], at the Dublin City Council meeting, Dublin City Manager Owen Keegan said the contract with RPS will be terminated by January 31.

He also said the Poolbeg incinerator may be scrapped, even if it emerges successfully from the rest of the EU investigation.

The State has spent up to €90million on the Poolbeg incinerator project to date, but there has been no construction on the site.

Meanwhile, in a topical twist…

RPS advised Dublin City Council on Poolbeg while head of Irish Water John Tierney was Dublin City Council manager and two former RPS executives are now employed by Irish Water.

They are Irish Water’s head of asset management Jerry Grant and Elizabeth Arnett, who is now head of communications and corporate services in Irish Water.

Last week Mr Tierney said the two former RPS executives were hired following an ‘open recruitment’ process.

Mr Tierney will go before the Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht today at 2.15pm, to answer questions about the €50million Irish Water has spent on consultants.

Poolbeg contract may be abandoned (RTÉ)

Previously: The Insiders

The Contract Did Not Confirm With EU Law

Covanta And Dublin City Council: What’s That Funny Smell?

No, Seriously, Why Did A New Jersey-Based Waste Company Employ Phil Hogan’s Golf Buddy?

waterboys-1024x1024

(The Waterboys’ A Song for Arthur’s Day)

The Irish Sun reports:

“Arthur’s Day will be scrapped next year following a major public backlash, the Irish Sun can reveal.

… after stinging criticism — including from singer Christy Moore who wrote a song condemning the event — the brewing giant has informed companies involved in organising Arthur’s Day that it won’t be back.”

“An insider said: ‘Arthur’s Day had a good run but the tide of public opinion had clearly turned this year.'”

“‘It came under fire and the decision was taken that it won’t be back next year’.”

“’The various companies involved in organising it have been informally told it’s being scrapped.’”

Arthur’s at the pint of no return (Barry Moran, Irish Sun)

Previously:  Le Morte d’Arthur

And A Bang On The Beer

The Glassed And Buried Song

H/T: Paddy Fagan