Massive protests have taken place in Berlin and London against the continued Coronavirus lockdown and against mandatory vaccination. Tens of thousands gathered in Berlin at the historic Brandenburg Gate, calling for the Covid-19 restrictions to end. Some carried Swedish flags, signifying approval for that country’s response to the crisis, and denied that the rally was made […]
Last week’s entirely stupid rule: You cannot have any more than six people in your own home. This week’s somehow even stupider rule: You can go to a music concert with hundreds and hundreds of people, but only if you don’t drink: Musical events and gigs may be allowed to go ahead if alcohol is […]
A continent-sized land mass on the other side of the world might not seem like an obvious target for a comparative analysis. Australia’s glorious weather and the diversity of its often-terrifying wildlife also set it apart. As does the bloody-minded optimism of its natives which, while perhaps an evolved response to both of the aforementioned […]
Care homes were told to impose a blanket ‘do not resuscitate’ order on all of their residents during the peak of the UK’s coronavirus outbreak, according to a major study. The survey, undertaken by the Queen’s Nursing Institute, found that while care homes were put under “constant” pressure to accept patients with Covid-19, they were […]
They took our football matches. They took our restaurants. They took our nights out in the pub. And now, say the Vintners, it’s time to take away alcohol altogether: THE CEO OF the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) has said restrictions on the sale of alcohol should be considered if clusters of Covid-19 are being […]
Great news for anti-social people-haters like me who like to find any excuse to avoid human company. But the rest of you must be wondering what on earth he’s thinking: Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has warned the State is at a “tipping point”, and that the coronavirus pandemic is “close to having us lock […]
Over the past three weeks the “two movies on one screen” metaphor of American satirist and political commentator, Scott Adams, has come to mind on far too many occasions. Adams stipulates that in a world of competing narratives, two people can watch the exact same sequence of events happening and, in their minds, come […]
“So will they be sent home if they refuse to wear the mask?”, asked Richard Downes on Prime Time last night. “Yes absolutely, everybody is expected to wear the mask” replied the Minister for Education, Norma Foley. Good news, if, like me, you are the husband of a teacher, or indeed if you are a […]
The public’s reaction to Golfgate has been swift and brutal. Indeed, it has now occasioned more public mea culpa’s than you could shake a stick at. Yet still the public and political appetite for scalps, of both the EU and judicial variety has not been sated. No doubt this lamentable saga, with all its […]
Since March of this year, or perhaps earlier, it’s safe to say that opinions greatly differ with regard to all things related to Covid19. However, in the midst of much disagreement and what has become a very contentious subject where one can hardly express an opinion that goes against the WHO or RTE without being […]
It is important, generally, to try and not get personal when it comes to the people who govern us. For the most part, they are doing their best. Being wrong, as they regularly are is a human fault, not one that is specific to one party, or one person. Politicians want to be remembered well, […]
The International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) exists to hear appeals on the decisions of the International Protection Officer on applications for protection in the state. In plain English, it’s the body which decides whether an asylum seeker is properly entitled to asylum in the state. People appearing before it, then, have a right to expect […]