Tag Archives: Ukraine

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney

Um.

FIGHT!

RollingNews

This morning/afternoon

Go fund Ze?

Only you can decide.

 

O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 last month

Ah here.

AVN Adult Entertainment Expo?

From top: Lunch served at a Direct Provision centre in Monaghan in 2020 prepared by Aramark

This afternoon.

Via RTÉ News:

Catering group Aramark has been given the contract for providing meals for refugees from Ukraine without going through the regular procurement process.

Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman said the Government had to move quickly and added “we have not be able to use the traditional procurement processes”.

“We have had to move quickly, that is why 16,000 are being fed,” he said.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett said: “Aramark, you will know, have been a very controversial company criticised for the poor quality of their catering in US prisons, for the poor quality of some of the catering they provide for the people in Direct Provision.”

Aramark awarded contract for refugee centres (RTE)

Previously: Meanwhile, In Limerick

From top: Baggott Street Hospital, Dublin 2: Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

Temporary accommodation may be needed for up to three years for Ukrainian refugees, with each local authority mandated to develop a significant housing centre in their area.

….Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien  told Cabinet that he intends to use legal powers available to him to heavily restrict local authorities’ capacity to waive rates, in an effort to combat vacancy.

Ministers were told that powers would be used to allow a range of temporary facilities to be built bypassing planning – including medical, residential, education and childcare facilities.

Ministers were told that each local authority will be asked to identify one building in public or private ownership and develop a plan for its refurbishment.

Several large buildings have already been identified, many of them Health Service Executive properties.

Cabinet was told they include Baggot Street hospital and former institutions St Ita’s in Dublin and St Loman’s in Mullingar, as well as St Brigid’s nursing home in south Dublin and St Peter’s in Castlepollard.

Temporary housing for Ukrainian refugees may be needed for up to three years (Irish Times)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Meanwhile…

Developer Michael O’Flynn

Last night.

Prime Time on RTÉ One.

One of the country’s leading property developers has criticised plans to house Ukrainian refugees in temporary modular homes on State land.

Michael O’Flynn, CEO of the O’Flynn Group, said that the State should instead be considering more permanent housing solutions.

“Temporary modular buildings will be taken down in a number of years. That is not a solution,” Mr O’Flynn said.

It is hoped that construction will begin on the initial phase of 500 modular buildings as soon as possible, according to Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien.

“I cannot believe we’re going down that road,” Mr O’Flynn said.

Modular homes ‘not a solution’ for Ukrainian refugees – developer (RTE)

 

This morning.

Via Street Register:

The Russian rouble hit a two-year-high against the euro. However, it stabilized near Monday’s close. It is a week in which tax payments support the currency. Investors are also looking forward to a rate cut Friday.

After earlier reaching 75.95 at 8:17 GMT, 0.3% had been gained by the rouble to trade at 76.190 against the euro. This was its best mark since February 2020. The rouble was 0.1% higher against the dollar at 73.2.

Oh.

Russian rouble hits more than 2-year high vs euro before steadying near 77 -Breaking (Street Register)

Meanwhile…

European Union companies may be able to comply with Kremlin demands that they pay for Russian pipe gas in roubles, instead of dollars or euros which are part of the original contracts, without disrupting the bloc’s sanctions against Moscow for its illegal invasion of Ukraine in February.

EU mulls paying for Russian gas in roubles (Energy News Bulletin)

Shutterstock

 

THis morning.

Dublin Castle. Dublin 2.

Earlier…

This morning.

Via RTE News:

Deliberations at today’s Cabinet meeting are expected to be dominated by the question of how best to provide assistance to refugees arriving from Ukraine.

It is believed Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath will tell colleagues that the projected cost of helping Ukrainians next year is €3 billion, up from a €2.5 billion estimate in March.

Latest figures show that 25,173 Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Ireland.

Of that number, 16,788 have been provided with accommodation by the State. However, it is expected around 33,000 Ukrainian refugees will have arrived by the end of next month.

Projected cost of €3bn to help Ukrainian refugees next year (RTE)

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien

This morning.

Update:

The housing minister’s plan, which goes to Cabinet tomorrow, seeks to speed-up the assessment and refurbishment of both State and privately owned large vacant properties which could house refugees.

It is understood that 529 buildings are currently under consideration and more than 100 are viewed as having the capacity to come on-stream in the “very short term”.

It is believed Mr O’Brien’s memo seeks to streamline the management of how such large vacant properties can be processed and become operational.

An inter-departmental committee has already been established to oversee the management of the plan.

Earlier…

Via RTÉ News:

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien is to bring a number of options to Cabinet today on medium and long-term housing options in response to the refugee crisis.

RTÉ News understands that this includes an expanded “voids programme” whereby vacant social homes will be brought back into use.

The measures will also include an expanded acquisition programme where local authorities will have greater flexibilities to acquire certain homes.

The minister will also consider using emergency powers, already available to him under existing legislation, whereby certain planning and procurement requirements can be exempted, where required, to speed up delivery in emergency situations.

Vacant social homes to be used to house Ukrainian refugees (RTE)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government is not contemplating a cap on the number of Ukrainian refugees arriving into Ireland.

Mr Martin said Ireland’s efforts were part of a Europe-wide response to the crisis, and while the country is not a military power, it can offer humanitarian assistance to protect women, children and vulnerable people.

He said Ireland’s response is still in the emergency stage, and it must be across all Government departments and agencies to ensure optimal co-ordination of the crisis.

It cannot be left to just one agency alone, he added.

Govt not contemplating cap on Ukrainian refugees – Taoiseach (RTE)