tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38364207806938287232024-03-13T08:50:16.832-07:00dublinstreamsA blog about things that interest me, hyperlocal news, architecture, development, environment, history , dublin ireland tara secularismdublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-89485510778936525502019-06-21T05:07:00.003-07:002019-06-25T10:32:07.733-07:00Irish Times saying US was transporting personal weapons of troops who were not on the plane?<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/rising-number-of-foreign-troops-passing-through-ireland-1.3915836">Rising number of foreign troops passing through Ireland</a> Jun 6, 2019, 03:00<br />
Craig Hughes, Pat Leahy<br />
<br />
I downloaded the second <a href="https://public.tableau.com/en-us/s/">Tableau Public</a> charting software workbook and exported the .csv "Path of foreign troops through Ireland". It seemed strange that there were many records that described "personal weapons for troops" but the same row listed 0 troops, the data was saying it was transporting personal weapons of troops who were not on the plane? That not how it works as far as I know. <br />
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9N4nMlW4AAEytQ.jpg:large"><br />
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9N4nMlW4AAEytQ.jpg" width =95%></A><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.shannonwatch.org/">Shannonwatch</a> had previously <a href="http://www.shannonwatch.org/sites/shannonwatch.org/files/docs/Munitions_Permits_2014_Shannonwatch.pdf">FOI'd</a> similar info and had a file of flights from 2014/2015. <br />
<br />
So I compared flight CMB502 in 2015 which is listed in both files. The earlier FOI says there was 226 troops on that flight.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9N3VUXWkAEoPa9.png:large"><br />
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9N3VUXWkAEoPa9.png" width =95%></A><br />
<br />
Craig Hughes tweeted me a screenshot of the data he has...<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Here's a screen shot of that reference number from the raw data I received from the Dept, as you can see troops is blank, so an error in digitising (accidentally or intentionally?!) <a href="https://t.co/4y1k8TSlHd">pic.twitter.com/4y1k8TSlHd</a></p>— Craig Hughes (@hughescraig90) <a href="https://twitter.com/hughescraig90/status/1140389726601588737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 16, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<p hidden><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9N6aQJX4AAXJYp.jpg:large"><br />
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D9N6aQJX4AAXJYp.jpg" width =95%></A><br />
</p><br />
The journalist has already acknowledge (on twitter) that there may be a problem with the information that the department supplied, but if the data is incorrect then perhaps the article needs to be reviewed. I also sent this query to Shannonwatch to see if they thought that there is a problem the data given to the Irish Times.<br />
dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-49296605488462183922019-03-27T07:46:00.003-07:002019-03-27T08:00:05.501-07:00News legibility and transparency<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Denis Hynes of Siptu said some FAI staff were “infuriated” at reports that “in 2016 the FAI began paying rent of €3,000 per month for a house used by John Delaney”.<br />
<a href="https://t.co/i78RuCwFiN">https://t.co/i78RuCwFiN</a></p>— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/IrishTimes/status/1110247727382913024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2019</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/some-fai-employees-annoyed-over-delaney-financial-arrangements-1.3837958">Some FAI employees ‘ annoyed’ over Delaney financial arrangements</a> Mon, Mar 25, 2019, 16:03 Vivienne Clarke, Harry McGee<blockquote>Denis Hynes, sports section organiser of trade union Siptu, said FAI employees want answers. “They want to know how did it come to this situation,” he told RTE’s News at One.<br />
<br />
He said in 2012 FAI employees agreed to pay cuts of between 10 and 15 per cent and that pay had been restored in January of this year.<br />
<br />
He said staff were “infuriated” at reports that in 2016, the FAI began paying rent of €3,000 per month for a house used by John Delaney.</blockquote><br />
Irish Times suggest its paraphrasing/quoting from RTE News at One when its actually paraphrasing from a press release. Denis Hynes did not say 'began' on <a href="htpp://ift.tt/2CEgtUD">RTE News at One</a> The podcast feed was emailed to me at 2:38 PM.<br />
<a href="https://www.siptu.ie/media/pressreleases2019/featurednews/fullstory_21175_en.html">FAI workers call for explanation of CEO’s rent payment while they endured cuts</a>SIPTU 25 March 2019 <br />
<blockquote>SIPTU Sport Sector Organiser, Denis Hynes, said: “It has been widely reported that in 2016 the FAI began paying rent of €3,000 per month for a house used by John Delaney.</blockquote>This press statement was <a href="https://twitter.com/SIPTU/status/1110201773363511296">tweeted</a> out at 3:28 PM<br />
<br />
Why did the Irish Times not say it was paraphrasing the press release and add the links to both?<br />
<br />
I noticed this as I was wondering why it was picked up in the news that SIPTU were complaining that his rent had been begun to be paid in 2016 when the reporters who broke this story said it had been paid for much of the last decade.<br />
<a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fai-chief-john-delaney-steps-aside-amid-financial-queries-7bdp9j2p6">FAI chief John Delaney steps aside amid financial queries</a>Times Ireland Mark Tighe March 24 2019 <blockquote>John Delaney, who quit as chief executive of the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) last night, has been living in houses rented by the association for much of the past decade. </blockquote>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-24901880082995121472019-02-15T03:06:00.001-08:002019-02-16T04:18:15.627-08:00Dublin People news standardsShould a local newspaper entirely reproduce a <a href="http://jimmyguerin.ie/2019/01/18/your-independent-candidate-for-the-2019-local-elections/">press release</a> written by a Councillor announcing he's going for re-election (only swapping I for name/he). The Northside People news reproduced the whole thing and the councilor paid for an ad on page 2.<br />
<br />
<br />
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DyGPxCUXQAAbWX1.jpg" width=590 height=900 ><img src="http://jimmyguerin.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/50521796_2019274088141376_8496331320291491840_n.jpg" width=590 height=700><br />
<br />
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DyGPxC7XcAAA8oC.jpg" width=590 height=600><br />
<br />
<b>Ads and articles = advertorial</b><br />
<br />
I've also seen articles like this, if the whole page is an ad it should say so.<br />
<br />
<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DzcTtOfWsAUV_iv.jpg" width=590 height=850>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-667667041432643642019-01-08T14:28:00.003-08:002019-02-06T05:27:06.053-08:00News TransparencyThe Irish Times published a series of <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.4195619?q=conor+skehan&fromDate=25%2F09%2F2017&toDate=06%2F01%2F2018&writerName=Olivia+Kelly">articles</a> at the end of December 2018 based on an interview with Conor Skehan that took place on 2nd December in which they called him the "outgoing" chair of the Housing Agency, by the time the second and third articles were published he had been reappointed. His reappointment was only publicized in the <a href="http://www.irisoifigiuil.ie/currentissues/Ir050118.pdf">state gazette on Friday, 5th January, 2018</a><br />
<br />
It would have been helpful for the Irish Times to state when the interview occurred in their articles.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/baby-boomers-distorting-housing-market-agency-claims-1.3339159"><br />
Baby boomers distorting housing market, agency claims</a> Thu, Dec 28, 2017 Olivia Kelly<br />
<blockquote>the outgoing chairman of the Government’s Housing Agency</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/families-in-emergency-housing-may-be-gaming-the-system-1.3342289?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fsocial-affairs%2Ffamilies-in-emergency-housing-may-be-gaming-the-system-1.3342289">Families in emergency housing ‘may be gaming the system’</a> Tue, Jan 2, 2018 Olivia Kelly<br />
<blockquote>according to the outgoing head of the Government’s Housing Agency</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/no-way-to-end-homelessness-says-housing-agency-chairman-1.3342278">No way to end homelessness, says Housing Agency chairman</a> Tue, Jan 2, 2018 Olivia Kelly<br />
<blockquote>Mr Skehan, who will finish his six-year role with the agency in the New Year</blockquote><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/y3n59Fmprp8?start=235" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-01-31a.405#g409">Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees Wednesday, 31 January 2018 Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government Role of Chairperson of Housing Agency and Related Matters: Discussion</a><br />
<blockquote>On homelessness and my recent comments in the media on this matter, I draw members' attention to the fact that, prior to stepping down as chairman, I agreed to give one press exit interview. It took place on 2 December, lasted for about two hours and covered the topic of what I had learned in the past five years. Once it emerged that I was not going to be stepping down, I let the journalists know. The Irish Times subsequently published six articles based on my interview over a period of two weeks. </blockquote>[The transcript says "journalists" he in fact said "journalist".]<br />
<br />
When exactly did he agree to be reappointed? Conor Skehan says he told Irish Times he was staying on, if so why did that make it into the articles?<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/picket-outside-housing-agency-hq-to-protest-conor-skehan-re-appointment-822034.html">Irish Examiner</a> reported that he was due to step down on December 12th, so did he have agreed to the reappointment between December 2nd and December 12th.dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-30477509435133493812018-12-12T10:39:00.001-08:002019-01-12T13:01:46.798-08:002019 Irish Local and European Elections<b>Local Elections</b><br />
<a href="https://www.housing.gov.ie/local-government/voting/local-elections/local-elections">Local Elections info</a><br />
<blockquote>Local Electoral Area Candidate Spending Limit<br />
Population in excess of 35,000 13,000 Euro<br />
Population between 18,001 and 35,000 11,500 Euro<br />
Population of 18,000 or less 9,750 Euro</blockquote><br />
<b>Candidates</b><br />
<a href="https://adriankavanaghelections.org/">Adrian Kavanagh Candidates Lists</A><br />
<br />
<b>Semi-public crowd fundraising</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/racheal-batten-local-election-fund-2019">Rachel Batten Gofundme</a> €1,000 goal Fianna Fail Artane-Whitehall Dublin City council <br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/seamus-ryan-local-election-campaign">Seamus Ryan Gofundme</a> €500 goal Labour Waterford <br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/local-elections-2019">Rob Corr Gofundme</a> €1,000 Goal Social Democrats Laytown / Bettystown Ward<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/localelection2019">Gerard Delaney Gofundme</a> €3,000 goal Independent Kildare/Newbridge Area<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/help-me-fund-my-local-election-campaign">Derek McCabe Gofundme</a>€5,000 goal Roscommon<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/clareselectioncampaign">Clare Claffey</a>€1,000 goal Birr Offally Social Democrats<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/catherine-stocker-campaign-fund">Catherine Stocker</a> €1,000 goal Dublin City Council Clontarf Social Democrats<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/evie-nevin-campaign">Evie Nevin</a> €1,000 goal Clonakilty-Skibbereen Social Democrats<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/holly039s-election-campaign">Holly Cairns</a> €1,500 goal Bantry Social Democrats<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/election-campaign-fundraiser">Garrett Mullan</a> €1,000 goal Balbriggan Fingal Social Democrats <br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/Ronan-Moore-Meath-West">Ronan Moore</a> €2,500 goal for Meath West Social Democrats<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/ytx7z-birthday-campaign-fundraiser">Anne-Marie McNally</a> €700 goal Dublin Mid-West Social Democrats<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/SharonKeogan2019">Sharon Keogan</a> €5,000 goal Laytown-Bettystown Meath Independent <br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/fiona039s-election-campaign">Fiona Lynam</a> €500 goal Athlone Social Democrats<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/madeleine-johansson039s-local-election-fund">Madeleine Johansson</a> €209 of €200 goal Palmerstown-Fonthill constituency for People Before Profit<br />
<a HREF="https://www.gofundme.com/green-party-east-clare-local-election-campaign">Barry O'Donovan</A> €3,000 goal East Clare Green Party<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/nuala-killeen-may-19-local-election-fundraising">Nuala Killeen</a> €25 of €100 goal Leixlip MD<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/mvc.php?route=category&term=local%20elections">Go Fund Me Search</A> <br />
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<b>General Elections</b><br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/gary-gannon-dublin-central">Gary Gannon - Dublin Central</a> €5,000 goal Social Democrats<br />
<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/HelpElectCarlyBailey">Carly Bailey</a> €1,000 goal Dublin South West Social Democrats<br />
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<a href="https://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2016/01/irish-general-election-2016.html">Irish General Election 2016 Public Online Crowdfunding Donations</a>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-51972887644622918272018-11-27T05:36:00.003-08:002018-12-28T13:19:21.363-08:00Genuine newspapers check their facts ...except when they don't.We're told the difference between fake news and genuine newspapers is that they check their facts, thats that why we should pay for news but it doesn't seem that they do check their facts.<br />
<br />
In a Times Ireland article (behind a paywall) <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/dublin-city-scrooges-scrap-lights-ceremony-9tb69w6fw">Dublin city ‘Scrooges’ scrap lights ceremony</a> Ellen Coyne, Senior Ireland reporter November 22 2018<br />
<blockquote>"Darryl O’Callaghan, a Labour councillor"</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3DTit12JtQU/W_1I0qYI_nI/AAAAAAAACeE/8oaxEU6Uw84Q_wJUvGVhnYkwKhfjRy2kgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-11-22%2BDublin%2Bcity%2B%25E2%2580%2598Scrooges%25E2%2580%2599%2Bscrap%2Blights%2Bceremonyb.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3DTit12JtQU/W_1I0qYI_nI/AAAAAAAACeE/8oaxEU6Uw84Q_wJUvGVhnYkwKhfjRy2kgCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-11-22%2BDublin%2Bcity%2B%25E2%2580%2598Scrooges%25E2%2580%2599%2Bscrap%2Blights%2Bceremonyb.png" width="590" height="140" data-original-width="862" data-original-height="211" /></a></div>Except Darryl O'Callaghan was not a member of the Labour party at the time having resigned on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2179247215658451&set=a.1393239954259185&type=3&theater">October 11th</a>, the Labour party website still had him listed as <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20181010013440/https://www.labour.ie/darrylocallaghan">Local Area Representative</a> but he was <a href="https://www.housing.gov.ie/sites/default/files/publications/files/local_elections_2014_results_book.pdf">not elected a Councillor</a> at the last local elections. How did they get a quote from him and not find out he wasn't a member of the Labour party anymore.<br />
<br />
I tweeted this out and emailed their feedback/corrections email address the article was corrected later.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">genuine newspapers factcheck we're told, thats difference, The Times says "Darryl O’Callaghan, a Labour councillor" <a href="https://t.co/6Bj14OBEf4">https://t.co/6Bj14OBEf4</a> he neither a member of the Labour Party nor a councillor <a href="https://t.co/UhNCTWZjEV">https://t.co/UhNCTWZjEV</a></p>— steve white (@lostexpectation) <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/1065561098831712256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
The Editor of the Times Ireland Richard Oakley responded, and I asked him was the article fact-checked?<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Most things are checked. Some things are missed. If you search for this chap a Labour page comes up when he was a candidate. We should have spotted it but didn't. As I said we are correcting it.</p>— Richie Oakley #andacyclist (@roakleyIRL) <a href="https://twitter.com/roakleyIRL/status/1065594783333326849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
"Most" things are checked but not all...<br />
<br />
I can understand one person making a mistake which is why you have a second person check, apparently they have 5 people involved in the process but <b>it seems nobody double checks the facts.</b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We have the reporter, then the news desk, then me, then a sub and then a revise sub. Sometimes despite all this mistakes sneak through. Not a lot, but some.</p>— Richie Oakley #andacyclist (@roakleyIRL) <a href="https://twitter.com/roakleyIRL/status/1065596116736098304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
I asked do the subs ring people and asked did they have their factchecking process written down somewhere so the public or even their subscribers, as I am, could read it. He said no.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Subs would ring reporters to check things but not the subjects of stories - that is the reporter's gig. In general reporters get things right. And subs are very good at spotting when they don't.</p>— Richie Oakley #andacyclist (@roakleyIRL) <a href="https://twitter.com/roakleyIRL/status/1065940177913298949?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
"Spotting" seems very loose, its seems like they are 'winging it' rather then having a a firm process in place to prevent mistakes.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sometimes they are missed. In most cases they are checked but sometimes we still make a mistake in checking them. I don't know exactly what happened in this case as it is not worth looking into. It is a minor error. It has been corrected and we tend not to make these mistakes.</p>— Richie Oakley #andacyclist (@roakleyIRL) <a href="https://twitter.com/roakleyIRL/status/1065680749972635649?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 22, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
The editor of the Times Ireland keeps dismissing this as a minor mistake, all facts are worth checking. They got a quote from him, how did they get the quote and not check his position in the Labour Party with him?<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Newspaper production happens at a certain speed. There are codes in noted copy used to say something is checked. But mistakes occur from time to time. Subs usually talk to reporters if changing anything substantial.</p>— Richie Oakley #andacyclist (@roakleyIRL) <a href="https://twitter.com/roakleyIRL/status/1065968749684109312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 23, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> The editor mentions the speed if the process, if you don't have the time to check something, don't run it, this article hardly needed to be published immediately.<br />
There is a lot information on the internet about sub-editing and rewriting articles but not so much on the process of fact-checking within sub-editing.<br />
<br />
So genuine newspapers check their facts, except when they don't!<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Accuracy checklists</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nn_Zv12Ww38/XAFK4hEmSrI/AAAAAAAACek/qJUrAWf6AXYrH8G6kjpPs-diFXQzU7G3QCLcBGAs/s1600/npr-accuracy-checklist_custom-8b1eba9d2be8d398cc36a11e2e841cd6b3031f94-s1600-c85.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nn_Zv12Ww38/XAFK4hEmSrI/AAAAAAAACek/qJUrAWf6AXYrH8G6kjpPs-diFXQzU7G3QCLcBGAs/s640/npr-accuracy-checklist_custom-8b1eba9d2be8d398cc36a11e2e841cd6b3031f94-s1600-c85.png" width="590" height="343" data-original-width="797" data-original-height="464" /></a></div><a href="http://ethics.npr.org/category/a1-accuracy/#12">NPR on its accuracy</A> - <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/ombudsman/2018/06/21/621548898/seeking-to-cut-down-on-corrections-with-a-cq">checklists</A><br />
<a href="https://guides.lib.jjay.cuny.edu/c.php?g=618074&p=4300844">CUNY Fact Checking, Verification and accuracy checklists</A><br />
<a href="http://www.editteach.org/special/editingthefuture/07_Holt/handouts/DetFreePAccuracyChecklist.pdf">Detroit Free Press accuracy checklists</A><br />
<a href="http://people.wku.edu/sally.kuhlenschmidt/proofread.htm">Proofreaders' Marks for Electronic Text</a><br />
<br />
<b>Research</b><br />
From Richard Oakley's reference to "codes in noted copy" I searched for copy/sub editing marks and from the above links I learned that the one mark related to factchecking is called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadit_quaestio">CQ</a> (Cadit quaestio) "the question (quaestio) falls (cadit)", i.e. there no doubt its correct, and that sub-editors generally accept this. I don't know if there are further subsidiary notes added to that, eg checked org website, spoke to person? [which they apparently did and got a quote but somehow the article stated they were in a party they had just left and they were Councillor when they had been only a local area rep]. <br />
<br />
Is what lacking here a triple check of calling the party? ie don't presume, factcheck.<br />
<br />
Surely you need a second pairs of eyes, a second brain on something to be really certain. dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-73476643593649350422018-11-06T05:52:00.001-08:002018-11-06T05:52:56.474-08:00Newspaper coded phrases"understood" (read in another publication and copying without credit)<br />
'It has emerged' (stated by government|authority?)<br />
"seen by" (seen by don't have a copy) [<a href="https://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2016/09/newspaper-thinks-rival-newspapers-cant.html">except</a> when they are trying to hide that they found it publically on the web ]<br />
"obtained by" (have the document) [or found it on the web and want to <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/1055553319953940480">hide</a> that]<br />
"Revealed" (found?)<br />
"known to authorities|the police"<br />
"settled family"<br />
"Sources close to X" (we heard from X)<br />
dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-56152134625160481772018-11-05T13:23:00.002-08:002018-12-18T06:19:11.989-08:00Who forced the presidential election?Peter Joseph Casey,Gavin Duffy, Joan Freeman, Seán Gallagher and Liadh Ní Riada but more specifically Gavin Duffy.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gavin Duffy and his wife Orla handing in his nomination papers for the Presidential Election. More at 530 on <a href="https://twitter.com/VirginMediaNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VirginMediaNews</a> <a href="https://t.co/0fHzlbzag6">pic.twitter.com/0fHzlbzag6</a></p>— AislingNiChoisdealbh (@AislingNiCTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/AislingNiCTV/status/1043168814047875072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-12-September-2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 12<sup>th</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Seán Gallagher Wexford County Council 1<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18.09.17-Public-Notice.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 17<sup>th</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Seán Gallagher Leitrim County Council 2<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-18-September-2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 18<sup>th</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Joan Freeman Galway City Council 1<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18.09.19-Public-Notice.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 19<sup>th</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Seán Gallagher Cavan County Council 3<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-21-September-2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 21<sup>st</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Peter Joseph Casey Clare County Council 1<br />
Joan Freeman Cork City Council 2<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-21-September-2018-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 21<sup>st</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Joan Freeman Fingal County Council 3<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-21-September-2018-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 21<sup>st</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Gavin Duffy Meath County Council 1<br />
Gavin Duffy Carlow County Council 2<br />
Gavin Duffy Waterford City and County Council 3<br />
Gavin Duffy Wicklow County Council <b>4</b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Gavin Duffy and his wife Orlaith Carmody arrive to Custom House to lodge his nomination papers for the race for the Áras <a href="https://t.co/mu2ijz5xjN">pic.twitter.com/mu2ijz5xjN</a></p>— Kacey O'Riordan (@KaceyORiordan) <a href="https://twitter.com/KaceyORiordan/status/1043153233982697472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 21, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-24-September-2018.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 24<sup>th</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Liadh Ní Riada Oireachtas Members 20<br />
Liadh Ní Riada<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Public-Notice-Nomination-of-Candidates-24-September-2018-1.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 24<sup>th</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Michael D Higgins Own nomination as retiring President<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">'I am asking people to place their confidence in me' - Michael D. Higgins submits his nomination papers for Presidential election<a href="https://t.co/5FBSeK0jpV">https://t.co/5FBSeK0jpV</a> <a href="https://t.co/YgimuGeQpj">pic.twitter.com/YgimuGeQpj</a></p>— Independent.ie (@Independent_ie) <a href="https://twitter.com/Independent_ie/status/1044308110192627713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18.09.25-Public-Notice.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 25<sup>th</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Peter Joseph Casey Limerick City and County Council 2 <br />
Peter Joseph Casey Tipperary County Council 3<br />
Peter Joseph Casey Kerry County Council <b>4</b><br />
Seán Gallagher Roscommon County Council <b>4</b><br />
Seán Gallagher Mayo County Council 5<br />
Joan Freeman Galway County Council <b>4</b><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Seán Gallagher is at the Custom House to lodge his presidential election nomination papers.<br />
<br />
He’s being accompanied by his wife Trish and their two children Bobby and Lucy. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%C3%A1ras18?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#áras18</a> <a href="https://t.co/gq3bOMAgBT">pic.twitter.com/gq3bOMAgBT</a></p>— Hayley Halpin (@HayleyHalpin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/HayleyHalpin1/status/1044506585089945601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joan Freeman the third presidential contender dropping off their nomination papers to the returning officer this morning <a href="https://t.co/NBGNJWPBrW">pic.twitter.com/NBGNJWPBrW</a></p>— Jack Power (@jackpowerIT) <a href="https://twitter.com/jackpowerIT/status/1044550615756615680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Nomination papers from <a href="https://twitter.com/TipperaryCoCo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TipperaryCoCo</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LimerickCouncil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LimerickCouncil</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/kerrycouncil?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kerrycouncil</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ClareCoCo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ClareCoCo</a> officially handed in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Aras18?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Aras18</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PeterForPresident?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PeterForPresident</a> <a href="https://t.co/cMBxRR71jp">pic.twitter.com/cMBxRR71jp</a></p>— Peter Casey (@CaseyPeterJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/CaseyPeterJ/status/1044572193919823872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie//wp-content/uploads/2018/09/18.09.25-Public-Notice-2.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Public Notice Nomination of Candidates, 25<sup>th</sup> September 2018</a><br />
Gemma O’Doherty Laois County Council 1<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.presidentialelection.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Press-Release.pdf">Presidential Election – Ruling on Nominations</a> <blockquote>During the ruling,<br />
the Presidential Returning Officer examined the nomination papers in the order in which they were received to ascertain whether the candidates were validly nominated.<br />
</blockquote>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-75662140463333981882018-11-05T11:41:00.013-08:002024-02-14T08:22:07.608-08:00An Irish 'John Oliver' type Youtube show and the brothers with money behind it.<b>Update 2020</b> So an Irish 'John Oliver' type Youtube show to be funded by Kieran Lucid has turned into a comedy show with mostly Americans comedians on a platform Europeans can't watch. <br> <a href="http://www.solzyatthemovies.com/2020/09/27/rob-kutner-jonathan-kesselman-talk-gander/">Rob Kutner Jonathan Kesselman talk Gander</a> solzyatthemovies September 2020.<p>
<a href="tubi.tv">Tubi.tv</a> is the largest free movie and TV streaming service in the US. We are not available in Europe due to changes in EU laws.
<br>
<a href="https://player.fm/series/the-afterlaugh-w-bill-dawes/jonathan-kesselman-and-rob-kutner-discuss-their-new-show-gander-on-tubi">Jonathan Kesselman and Rob Kutner discuss their new show GANDER on Tubi - The Afterlaugh - Ep. 127</a>
<p>
Kieran Lucid funding a comedy show 1 episode is focused on food delivery apps, he is also funding development of a delivery logistics platform.
<a href="https://www.vision-net.ie/Company-Info/Peloton-Social-Ventures-Limited-629950">Peloton Social Ventures</a><br>
<a href="https://peloton.ie/">Peloton Social Ventures</a><p>
<b>We are building a delivery logistics platform for food delivery riders</b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vNCq8Rp_OQ/X3PEpAn_u4I/AAAAAAAADO0/7CdehZ1Ig5UG6v35OHMuSZ-V4mKxHfuQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1746/Screenshot_2020-09-30%2BRider%2BJobs%2B-%2BSeptember%2B2020%2BIndeed%2Bcom%2BIreland.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="887" data-original-width="1746" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0vNCq8Rp_OQ/X3PEpAn_u4I/AAAAAAAADO0/7CdehZ1Ig5UG6v35OHMuSZ-V4mKxHfuQQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/Screenshot_2020-09-30%2BRider%2BJobs%2B-%2BSeptember%2B2020%2BIndeed%2Bcom%2BIreland.png"/></a></div>
<p>
Reference to Delivery Club
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zskJe-Yfcuw/X3PFyUmx2bI/AAAAAAAADPA/9lx39ZiaEe42_yaEgYfV48hm-nBJ88uRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1262/Screenshot_2020-09-30%2BJobsDoneDeal%2B-%2BJobs%2BDone%2BDeal%2B-%2BDrivers%2BAgriculture%2BLabour%2BCleaners%2B-%2BDelivery%2BDriver.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="1207" data-original-width="1262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zskJe-Yfcuw/X3PFyUmx2bI/AAAAAAAADPA/9lx39ZiaEe42_yaEgYfV48hm-nBJ88uRQCLcBGAsYHQ/s600/Screenshot_2020-09-30%2BJobsDoneDeal%2B-%2BJobs%2BDone%2BDeal%2B-%2BDrivers%2BAgriculture%2BLabour%2BCleaners%2B-%2BDelivery%2BDriver.png"/></a></div>
<blockquote>Delivery Club is a worker co-operative that will be formed in Dublin in the coming months, which will be 100% run and controlled by delivery riders.
<P>
We are looking for riders & drivers to join the club, which will have the following benefits:
<ul>
More orders and higher income per rider<br>
Guaranteed minimum income<br>
One platform, no need to join many<br>
Highest Safety Standards - Safety is our top priority<br>
You have a voice in how the club is run, and how it pays commissions<br>
Accident & Liability Insurance provided<br>
Job security<br>
Ability to work part-time or full-time<br>
Opportunity to progress into the management of the club after a time<br>
</ul>
What we are looking for:<br>
<ul>
Riders & Drivers with good reliability and punctuality<br>
Ability to take more orders per hour than the Gig platforms<br>
Flexibility in schedule<br>
People who can work as part of a team and on own initiative<br>
</ul>
Basic English is required - you do not need to be an expert!<br>
<p>
This project has obtained investment and technology from Peloton Social Ventures, who promote socially and environmentally sustainable projects.</blockquote>
<p>
<b>Original Post</b>
<p>
35 year old Irish former derivatives trader who a sold his company for almost 3 million, looking for freelance political writers to create a John Oliver type youtube show with radical / contrarian ideas and under reported stories under the name Avant Guardian.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://ie.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ebd11cfba263318d&from=myjobs&tk=1cpiacf7k15i41a6">Freelance Political Researcher</a>Avant Media Indeed.ie October 2018<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOIBfQ-nou8/W-Ccdw5BfrI/AAAAAAAACag/6pa4sVMEc-oJo8NL5bFbesg7RehvyrL4gCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-11-05%2BFreelance%2BPolitical%2BResearcher%2B-%2BDublin%2B-%2BIndeed%2Bcom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yOIBfQ-nou8/W-Ccdw5BfrI/AAAAAAAACag/6pa4sVMEc-oJo8NL5bFbesg7RehvyrL4gCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-11-05%2BFreelance%2BPolitical%2BResearcher%2B-%2BDublin%2B-%2BIndeed%2Bcom.png" width="590" height="350" data-original-width="1175" data-original-height="680" /></a></div><br />
<a href="https://ie.indeed.com/cmp/Love-Irish-Football/jobs/Freelance-Radical-Thinker-dcd7535400a9ac1b">Freelance Radical Thinker / Researcher</a> Avant Guardian Indeed.ie July 2018<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LN5pf6G8ubs/W-Ccr04RS5I/AAAAAAAACak/_ltVnnQaeis04XEQg2Zqze0jWuaxaWVvgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-11-05%2BFreelance%2BRadical%2BThinker%2BResearcher%2B-%2BDublin%2B-%2BIndeed%2Bcom.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LN5pf6G8ubs/W-Ccr04RS5I/AAAAAAAACak/_ltVnnQaeis04XEQg2Zqze0jWuaxaWVvgCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-11-05%2BFreelance%2BRadical%2BThinker%2BResearcher%2B-%2BDublin%2B-%2BIndeed%2Bcom.png" width="448" height="640" data-original-width="838" data-original-height="1196" /></a></div>On the first job advertised last July <a href="https://ie.indeed.com/cmp/Love-Irish-Football/jobs/Freelance-Radical-Thinker-dcd7535400a9ac1b">Freelance Radical Thinker / Researcher - Dublin - Indeed.com</a> I noticed the url Love Irish Football...? <a href="http://www.loveirishfootball.com/">Love Irish Football</a> football documentary <a href="https://www.auditionsfree.com/2018/casting-host-in-belfast-ireland-for-football-documentary/">Casting Host in Belfast Ireland for Football Documentary | Auditions Free</a>. No sign of the documentary.<br />
<br />
Nothing on Avant guardian website yet <a href="http://avantguardian.ie/">Avant Guardian</a> bar info@avantguardian.ie<br />
<br />
Key executive is Mr Lucid <a href="https://www.vision-net.ie/Company-Info/Avant-Guardian-Limited-629950">Avant Guardian Limited - Irish Company Info - Vision-Net</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.duedil.com/company/ie/629950/avant-guardian-limited/directors">Avant Guardian Limited in IE | Directors | DueDil</a><br />
<br />
Directors are brothers <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieran-lucid-bb83a210/?originalSubdomain=uk">Kieran Lucid</a> and Aidan Lucid.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kieran-lucid-bb83a210/">Kieran Lucid</a> <blockquote>Data Driven Initiatives</blockquote><br />
Kieran's got money. <a href="https://www.siliconrepublic.com/companies/first-derivatives-quantumkdb-acquisition-big-data-fintech">First Derivatives buys UCC grad’s London big data firm for £2.2m</a> John Kennedy<br />
Silicon Republic 13 Jan 2016<blockquote>QuantumKDB is headed by UCC graduate Lucid, who prior to starting up QuantumKDB worked with Deutsche Bank, Liquidnet and Bank of America.</blockquote><a href="https://www.independent.ie/regionals/kerryman/news/ballyheigue-man-sells-company-for-almost-3-million-34438252.html">Ballyheigue man sells company for almost €3 million</a> Simon Brouder Kerryman 2016<br />
<blockquote>Ballyheigue entrepreneur Kieran Lucid has sold his data consultancy company in a deal worth up to €2.9 million.<br />
<br />
In the last week northern Irish firm First Derivatives announced it had completed the deal to purchase data consultancy company QuantumKDB for £2.2m Sterling.<br />
<br />
QuantumKDB provides its clients, mainly from the financial sector, with a high tech system that allows them to manage extremely large amounts of date more easily and with greater speed.<br />
<br />
The company was founded by Kieran Lucid in 2011.</blockquote>Aiden has an interest in media <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-lucid-474a3096/?originalSubdomain=ie">Aidan Lucid</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Institute of Technology, Tralee<br />
<br />
Degree Name Bachelor’s Degree<br />
<br />
Field Of Study Interactive Multimedia<br />
<br />
Dates attended or expected graduation 2006 – 2010 </blockQUOTE>Another employee is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/duffymark1/?originalSubdomain=ie">Mark Duffy</a><br />
<blockquote>Mark Duffy <br />
<br />
Business Development Manager at Avant Guardian<br />
<br />
<b>Avant Guardian</B><br />
<br />
<b>Dates Employed Sep 2018 – Present</B><br />
<br />
<b>Employment Duration 2 mos</B><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Location County Dublin, Ireland</B><br />
<br />
<br />
Heading up business development for an exciting new startup headquartered in Ballsbridge Dublin. <br />
Avant Guardian are currently developing projects in the world of tech, media, start ups & sport. If you'd like to hear more or catch up over a coffee just drop me a line!<br />
<br />
</blockQUOTE><b>9th January 2018</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://visualartists.ie/jobs-ops/jobvac/job-vacancy-satirical-news-presenter-for-gander/">Job Vacancy | Satirical News Presenter for Gander</a> Visual Artist e-bullitin 9th January 2018<br />
January 9, 2019<blockquote><br />
<br />
Gander is an upcoming clip show series which satirises domestic and global current affairs using fact based commentary, infographics, and sketches. They’re hiring freelance presenters, correspondents, actors, comedians, and scriptwriters.<br />
<br />
Gander takes a look at an unhinged world of corrupt politicians, greedy corporate overlords, and alienating technologies. The series aims to highlight dysfunctional thinking in government, corporations, and culture which negatively affect the wellbeing of individuals and communities in society. Much of news media reportage is either born from recycled press releases or is based in opinion, which has resulted in public trust in the media being at an all time low. Watching the news can often feel like stumbling into a complicated soap opera of political elites and yet, large scale social issues like climate change and wealth inequality affect everyone whether they realise it or not. Gander want to entertain millennials and engage them in issues that matter. They think that the best strategy to inform a politically disengaged public is to explore issues with in-depth research and humor driven commentary.<br />
<br />
Gander is loosely based on the late night talk show format with the addition of sketches, field interviews, and data visualisations, and is comparable to the likes of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, The Daily Show, Contrapoints, Kurzgesagt, and the School of Life.<br />
<br />
– On screen talent: Send a short video (less than 2 mins) of yourself telling Gander what you think is wrong with society. Also send a CV and a breif note explaining why you’d be whopper on telly.<br />
<br />
– Writers: Send your work along with a cv and a cover letter.<br />
<br />
Email applications to aharte@avantguardian.ie<br />
</blockquote><a href="https://ie.indeed.com/cmp/The-Juice-Box/jobs/Freelance-Presenter-678738d3ca26dbbd?q=Public+Affairs&vjs=3">Freelance presenters, actors, comedians, and scriptwriters wanted.</a> why does the url have the juicebox in it?<br />
<blockquote>Freelance presenters, actors, comedians, and scriptwriters wanted.<br />
ob Summary<br />
<br />
Gander is an upcoming clip show series which satirises domestic and global current affairs using fact based commentary, infographics, and sketches.<br />
<br />
We're hiring freelance presenters, correspondents, actors, comedians, and scriptwriters.<br />
<br />
Gander takes a look at an unhinged world of corrupt politicians, greedy corporate overlords, and alienating technologies. The series aims to highlight dysfunctional thinking in government, corporations, and culture which negatively affect the wellbeing of individuals and communities in society. Much of news media reportage is either born from recycled press releases or is based in opinion, which has resulted in public trust in the media being at an all time low. Watching the news can often feel like stumbling into a complicated soap opera of political elites and yet, large scale social issues like climate change and wealth inequality affect everyone whether they realise it or not. We want to entertain millennials and engage them in issues that matter. We think that the best strategy to inform a politically disengaged public is to explore issues with in-depth research and humor driven commentary.<br />
<br />
Gander is loosely based on the late night talk show format with the addition of sketches, field interviews, and data visualisations, and is comparable to the likes of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, The Daily Show, Contrapoints, Kurzgesagt, and the School of Life.<br />
<br />
- On screen talent: Send us a short video (less than 2 mins) of yourself telling us what you think is wrong with society. Also send us a CV and a breif note explaining why you'd be whopper on telly.<br />
<br />
- Writers: Send us your work along with a cv and a cover letter.<br />
<br />
Job Type: Temporary<br />
</blockquote><br />
<b>5th February 2019</b> Looking for web developer <a href="https://ie.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=08da084386032a1f&tk=1d3b7ln770bpl001">Web Developer for Exciting Startup - Dublin</a> - Indeed.com Still wondering Why is media org on Indeed listed under a "juice box" company <br />
<br />
<a href="https://ie.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=93f9930fb62a4fc8">Comedy Video Editor</a> indeed.com 22/3/19 <blockquote>Gander is an upcoming clip show series which satirises domestic and global current affairs using fact based commentary, infographics, and sketches.<br />
<br />
We're looking for a Comedy Video Editor who has experience in creating comedy videos using found footage or their own.<br />
<br />
Gander takes a look at an unhinged world of corrupt politicians, greedy corporate overlords, and alienating technologies. The series aims to highlight dysfunctional thinking in government, corporations, and culture which negatively affect the wellbeing of individuals and communities in society. Much of news media reportage is either born from recycled press releases or is based in opinion, which has resulted in public trust in the media being at an all time low. Watching the news can often feel like stumbling into a complicated soap opera of political elites and yet, large scale social issues like climate change and wealth inequality affect everyone whether they realise it or not. We want to entertain millennials and engage them in issues that matter. We think that the best strategy to inform a politically disengaged public is to explore issues with in-depth research and humor driven commentary.<br />
<br />
Gander is loosely based on the late night talk show format with the addition of sketches, field interviews, and data visualisations, and is comparable to the likes of Vox, Last Week Tonight With John Oliver, The Daily Show, Contrapoints, Kurzgesagt, and the School of Life.<br />
<br />
We'd love to see your videos and samples of your work so be sure to include them in the application!<br />
<br />
Job Type: Contract<br />
<br />
Experience:<br />
<br />
Video Editing: 1 year (Preferred)</blockquote><br />
Mr Lucid has now set up a compamy called <a href="https://www.vision-net.ie/Company-Info/Craic-House-Creative-Limited-629950">Craic House Creative</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.glassdoor.ie/job-listing/freelance-political-researcher-avant-guardian-JV_IC2739035_KO0,30_KE31,45.htm">Glassdoor ad</a><br />
<a href="https://ie.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=ebd11cfba263318d&from=myjobs&tk=1cpiacf7k15i41a6">Freelance Political Researcher</a> Indeed.ie October 2018<br />
<a href="https://ie.indeed.com/cmp/Love-Irish-Football/jobs/Freelance-Radical-Thinker-dcd7535400a9ac1b">Freelance Radical Thinker / Researcher</a> Indeed.ie July 2018dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-38003041405600035932018-11-03T11:18:00.001-07:002019-03-05T12:35:04.787-08:00The Irish Examiner published a letter to the editor with two false claims about candidate Michael D Higgins on the morning of the presidential vote.The Irish Examiner published a letter to the editor with two false claims about candidate Michael D Higgins on the morning of the presidential vote.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkeCRuL9dJ8/W93ZtzzndTI/AAAAAAAACaM/zgVzmqRw_7QWMmypiGD9ftPugZXqecIfQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-11-03%2BReaders%2527%2BBlog%2BHiggins%2Bhelps%2Bpresidency%2Bin%2Blosing%2Bits%2Breligion%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkeCRuL9dJ8/W93ZtzzndTI/AAAAAAAACaM/zgVzmqRw_7QWMmypiGD9ftPugZXqecIfQCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-11-03%2BReaders%2527%2BBlog%2BHiggins%2Bhelps%2Bpresidency%2Bin%2Blosing%2Bits%2Breligion%25281%2529.png" width="427" height="640" data-original-width="691" data-original-height="1035" /></a></div><a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/views/yourview/readers-blog-higgins-helps-presidency-in-losing-its-religion-881222.html">Readers' Blog: Higgins helps presidency in losing its religion</a> Friday, October 26, 2018 - 12:00 AM<blockquote>Not one presenter during radio and/or TV presidential election debates has thought to ask (particularly President Higgins) about their (his) religious beliefs, regarding the swearing of presidential oath of office on a holy book, while maintaining atheistic beliefs, and also being the guardian of Bunreacht na hÉireann, the Constitution, which has references to God and the Holy Trinity within its wording.<br />
</blockquote>That's because they asked him the first time he ran for the presidency and he answered then, Miriam O'Callaghan asked him if he believed in God during the <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/player/2011/1012/3079372-prime-time/">2011 RTE Prime Time debate</a> (at 15 minutes) and he said "Yes, I'm a believer" and that he would have no problem swearing the oath the is required to, to be President. He is not an atheist, its a myth.<br />
<br />
That is the first false, check-able claim.<br />
<br />
The letter writer continues,<br />
<blockquote>Alone among first citizens of Christian nations across Europe, President Michael D Higgins has omitted any reference to Jesus Christ or God in his annual Christmas messages all during his seven years in office.<br />
</blockquote><a href="https://president.ie/en/media-library/news-releases/a-christmas-and-new-years-message-from-president-michael-d.-higgins-2015">A Christmas and New Year's Message from President Michael D. Higgins 2015</a><br />
Date: Sun 20th Dec, 2015 <br />
<blockquote>As we reflect on the story of Christmas and the birth of <b>Jesus</b>, on the plight of the homeless Joseph and Mary anticipating the birth of their child, and how they were aided by complete strangers, we can perhaps draw inspiration from what they experienced for our own lives and times. More than anything, the Christmas story gives us guidance on how to shape our own shared humanity with a regard for future generations. This year in particular, we welcome the acceptance of new obligations by nation states in relation to global poverty and climate change.</blockquote><br />
That's a second false, check-able claim.<br />
<br />
The letter writer continues,<br />
<blockquote>Surely the voters of Ireland should be reminded of this ‘religions omission’ by President Higgins before they go to the ballot box today?</blockquote>Surely the voters of Ireland shouldn't read false claims about President Higgins published by the Irish Examiner the day they go to the ballot box.<br />
<br />
The Irish Examiner should fact check letters to editor and not publish letters based entirely on false claims.<br />
<a href="http://www.presscouncil.ie/_fileupload/Handbook%20on%20Code%20of%20Practice.pdf">Code of Practice for Newspapers and Magazines</A> Chairman of the Press Council<br />
and the Press Ombudsman January 2014<br />
<blockquote>It is important to remember that editors are responsible for all the material in their print editions and <br />
material that has been posted to the web as part of editorial policy and as the result of an editorial <br />
decision. This includes photographs, cartoons, news agency material, freelance contributors and <br />
readers’ letters. </blockquote><br />
<br />
A message of complaint was sent but there has been no reply or clarification.<br />
<br />
<b>ETA</b> The Irish Examiner call its readers blog 'ethical' in their post inviting readers to <A href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/readers-blog-submission-904701.html">Have your say on our Readers' Blog</a> <blockquote><br />
The readers blog has been developed to facilitate the publication of constructive and ethical comment and opinion from a range of perspectives and viewpoints.<br />
<br />
Only submissions which contribute to that goal will be considered.</blockquote>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-28699657745463555882018-10-28T05:39:00.003-07:002018-11-02T06:51:57.727-07:00Newspapers publish politicians false claim without pointing out its wrong.The Irish Independent reported on press conference with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar after the presidential election result was announced.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/presidential-election/leo-varadkar-signals-hed-like-to-see-reduction-in-sevenyear-presidency-term-37465911.html">Leo Varadkar signals he'd like to see reduction in seven-year presidency term</a> Irish Independent Cormac McQuinn October 27<br />
<blockquote>But asked by reporters if there should be an election every seven years the Taoiseach said the Constitutional Convention had recommended a five-year term.<br />
<br />
Mr Varadkar added: "I have to say my personal view is a five-year term would be more in line with modern norms than a seven-year term."</blockquote><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0giY23lSs-s/W9WuSC-1bCI/AAAAAAAACYY/tou2jZPJ9sEClQrNQJQqEuUJ3Za4Jvo9QCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-10-27%2BLeo%2BVaradkar%2Bsignals%2Bhe%2527d%2Blike%2Bto%2Bsee%2Breduction%2Bin%2Bseven-year%2Bpresidency%2Bterm%2B-%2BIndependent%2Bie.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0giY23lSs-s/W9WuSC-1bCI/AAAAAAAACYY/tou2jZPJ9sEClQrNQJQqEuUJ3Za4Jvo9QCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-10-27%2BLeo%2BVaradkar%2Bsignals%2Bhe%2527d%2Blike%2Bto%2Bsee%2Breduction%2Bin%2Bseven-year%2Bpresidency%2Bterm%2B-%2BIndependent%2Bie.png" width="390" height="640" data-original-width="729" data-original-height="1195" /></a></div>The Taoiseachs claim that the Constitutional Convention had recommended a five year term is incorrect.<br />
<a href="http://opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/Voting_Age__Presidential_Term_123211.pdf">First Report of the Convention on the Constitution</a> March, 2013<br />
<blockquote><b>Presidential Term</b><br />
A majority of the Convention members voted against the reduction of the presidential term to five years and the alignment with the local and European elections.<br />
Main <br />
<b>Recommendations:</b><br />
The Convention therefore recommends that:<br />
The Presidential term should not be reduced to 5 years, nor aligned with local and European <br />
elections.</blockquote>The voting results below show 57 convention members voted no and 43 voted yes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CyTNUsK_vO0/W9Wy-HrKmSI/AAAAAAAACZE/eib_0WU7e2oYukRjCNdVZDRCI2rSTfdsQCLcBGAs/s1600/DqivCDQX0AA07df.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CyTNUsK_vO0/W9Wy-HrKmSI/AAAAAAAACZE/eib_0WU7e2oYukRjCNdVZDRCI2rSTfdsQCLcBGAs/s640/DqivCDQX0AA07df.jpg" width=590" height="540" data-original-width="1040" data-original-height="958" /></a></div><br />
I pointed this is out to the reporter and the emailed the the Independent. The article was changed to read, <br />
<blockquote>The Taoiseach was asked by reporters if there should be an election every seven years.<br />
<br />
Mr Varadkar added: "I have to say my personal view is a five-year term would be more in line with modern norms than a seven-year term."</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PUzaxcVs71o/W9Wv9g4056I/AAAAAAAACY4/YSbA5qXH0a4aj5MX1tcrckiHji31Mw_hQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-10-28%2BLeo%2BVaradkar%2Bsignals%2Bhe%2527d%2Blike%2Bto%2Bsee%2Breduction%2Bin%2Bseven-year%2Bpresidency%2Bterm%2B-%2BIndependent%2Bie%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PUzaxcVs71o/W9Wv9g4056I/AAAAAAAACY4/YSbA5qXH0a4aj5MX1tcrckiHji31Mw_hQCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-10-28%2BLeo%2BVaradkar%2Bsignals%2Bhe%2527d%2Blike%2Bto%2Bsee%2Breduction%2Bin%2Bseven-year%2Bpresidency%2Bterm%2B-%2BIndependent%2Bie%25281%2529.png" width="398" height="640" data-original-width="718" data-original-height="1156" /></a></div>This could be seen as near-live reporting of what a politician said but it could still be fact checked in the time it took to publish it and even then, why just delete the claim rather then add further information later?<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/government-open-to-greater-transparency-around-spending-at-aras-an-uachtarain-says-varadkar-881658.html">Irish Examiner</a> and <a href="https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/government-open-to-greater-transparency-around-spending-at-aras-an-uachtarain-says-varadkar-881658.html">Breakingnews</a> also repeated the Taoiseach's claim without pointing out to its readers that it was incorrect, I emailed them about it too, no further information has added as of yet.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/government-open-to-greater-transparency-around-spending-at-aras-an-uachtarain-says-varadkar-881658.html">Government open to greater transparency around spending at Áras an Uachtaráin, says Varadkar</a> Saturday, October 27, 2018 By Fiachra Ó Cionnaith<br />
<blockquote>"The constitutional convention actually recommended every five years, but again that would require a referendum. We want a 21st Century constitution for a 21st Century republic, but there are a lot of other issues on the agenda as well," he said.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vsAr8rkTCo/W9W7ohwuEtI/AAAAAAAACZU/mwR4TS08xvUf8Lr83VHdk94DWoPYENSNQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-10-27%2BGovernment%2Bopen%2Bto%2Bgreater%2Btransparency%2Baround%2Bspending%2Bat%2B%25C3%2581ras%2Ban%2BUachtar%25C3%25A1in%252C%2Bsays%2BVaradkar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vsAr8rkTCo/W9W7ohwuEtI/AAAAAAAACZU/mwR4TS08xvUf8Lr83VHdk94DWoPYENSNQCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-10-27%2BGovernment%2Bopen%2Bto%2Bgreater%2Btransparency%2Baround%2Bspending%2Bat%2B%25C3%2581ras%2Ban%2BUachtar%25C3%25A1in%252C%2Bsays%2BVaradkar.png" width="308" height="640" data-original-width="631" data-original-height="1311" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMDk739qjwo/W9W70voAHwI/AAAAAAAACZY/qg0fgC4ERIUZv1ocxUM--8Lv3QPs2TucgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-10-27%2BGovernment%2Bopen%2Bto%2Bgreater%2Btransparency%2Baround%2Bspending%2Bat%2B%25C3%2581ras%2Ban%2BUachtar%25C3%25A1in%252C%2Bsays%2BVaradkar%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xMDk739qjwo/W9W70voAHwI/AAAAAAAACZY/qg0fgC4ERIUZv1ocxUM--8Lv3QPs2TucgCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-10-27%2BGovernment%2Bopen%2Bto%2Bgreater%2Btransparency%2Baround%2Bspending%2Bat%2B%25C3%2581ras%2Ban%2BUachtar%25C3%25A1in%252C%2Bsays%2BVaradkar%25281%2529.png" width="339" height="640" data-original-width="681" data-original-height="1285" /></a></div>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-3552561820491569802018-10-19T11:30:00.001-07:002018-10-20T06:18:14.665-07:00Irish Mirrors' fake news headline Irish Mirror turned "There is currently no provision... However... I am hopeful that we will be in a position to pay." into "Christmas bonus will not be paid" a fake news headline in that it deliberately knowingly not true.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/exclusive-christmas-bonus-not-paid-13301005">Christmas bonus will not be paid to pensioners and social welfare recipients this year</a> Ferghal Blaney 25 SEP 2018 Irish Mirror<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Exclusive: Christmas bonus will not be paid to pensioners and social welfare recipients this year<a href="https://t.co/Q6AD43wWgb">https://t.co/Q6AD43wWgb</a></p>— Irish Daily Mirror (@IrishMirror) <a href="https://twitter.com/IrishMirror/status/1044470303504715777?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
This was based on the pre-written <a href="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_employment_affairs_and_social_protection/submissions/2018/2018-09-25_opening-statement-regina-doherty-t-d-minister-for-employment-affairs-and-social-protection_en.pdf">Opening statement, Regina Doherty T.D., Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection 2018</a><br />
<center><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dp41JecW4AETY_G.jpg" width=90% height=90%></center><br />
The minster responded later that afternoon while she spoke her opening statement, calling it a "fake news headline". <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-09-25a.917&s=headline+speaker%3A346#g919">Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection Pre-Budget Discussion: Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection</a> Tuesday, 25 September 2018<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Regina Doherty:</b> The annual Christmas bonus was abolished in 2009 by the then Government due to the catastrophic collapse of the country's finances at the time. Thankfully, as the economy recovered the bonus was reinstated in 2014 at a rate of 25%. This rate was increased to 75% in 2015 and further increased to 85% in 2016 and 2017.<b> Despite the fake news headline produced in a newspaper</b> this morning I would like to put at ease the minds of the hundreds of thousands of people who have been absolutely needlessly worried this morning because of that contribution by that particular newspaper, and anybody else who contributed to it, that I have absolutely no intention of discontinuing the Christmas bonus for any social welfare recipient. It is disingenuous of anybody to try to grab a cheap headline at the expense of people who have no other income, other than their weekly fixed income from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and totally rely on the Christmas bonus. I can guarantee that whoever did so has never had to live on a fixed income in their life. </blockquote><br />
This is how it was phrased in 2017 and previous years <a href="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/Joint_Committee_on_Employment_Affairs_and_Social_Protection/submissions/2017/2017-09-28_opening-statement-minister-regina-doherty_en.pdf">2017 Opening statement, Regina Doherty T.D., Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection </a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L8EdE9liBeQ/W8scD7PEEqI/AAAAAAAACXU/V2P2qYr8-akoXyKsIqZK3YQ9IDkokvTBQCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-10-20%2BDRAFT%2B-%2B2017-09-28_opening-statement-minister-regina-doherty_en%2Bpdf%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L8EdE9liBeQ/W8scD7PEEqI/AAAAAAAACXU/V2P2qYr8-akoXyKsIqZK3YQ9IDkokvTBQCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-10-20%2BDRAFT%2B-%2B2017-09-28_opening-statement-minister-regina-doherty_en%2Bpdf%25282%2529.png" width="580" height="300" data-original-width="1081" data-original-height="620" /></a></div><br />
Fine Gael Senators <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2018-09-25a.46&s=%22fake+news%22#g71">James Reilly</a> and <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2018-09-25a.46#g61">Gabriel McFadden</a> both also called it "fake news".dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-19468577974654663462018-10-06T14:16:00.001-07:002019-09-06T11:52:25.832-07:00Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach failed to ensure an internal audit of the President's Office<a href="#orig">Original Blog</a><br />
<a href="#vote">Presidents Vote</a><br />
<a href="#allowance">Presidents Allowance</a><br />
<a href="#foi">Freedom Of Information</a><br />
<a href="#enviro">Access to Environmental Information</a><br />
<a href="#pac">Public Accounts Committee Report</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en#part3">The Irish Consitution THE PRESIDENT</a><br />
<blockquote>ARTICLE 13 8 1° The President shall not be answerable to either House of the Oireachtas or to any court for the exercise and performance of the powers and functions of his office or for any act done or purporting to be done by him in the exercise and performance of these powers and functions.<br />
<br />
2° The behaviour of the President may, however, be brought under review in either of the Houses of the Oireachtas for the purposes of section 10 of Article 12 of this Constitution, or by any court, tribunal or body appointed or designated by either of the Houses of the Oireachtas for the investigation of a charge under section 10 of the said Article.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote>10 1° The President may be impeached for stated misbehaviour.<br />
<br />
<br />
2° The charge shall be preferred by either of the Houses of the Oireachtas, subject to and in accordance with the provisions of this section.<br />
<br />
<br />
3° A proposal to either House of the Oireachtas to prefer a charge against the President under this section shall not be entertained unless upon a notice of motion in writing signed by not less than thirty members of that House.<br />
<br />
<br />
4° No such proposal shall be adopted by either of the Houses of the Oireachtas save upon a resolution of that House supported by not less than two-thirds of the total membership thereof.<br />
<br />
<br />
5° When a charge has been preferred by either House of the Oireachtas, the other House shall investigate the charge, or cause the charge to be investigated.<br />
<br />
<br />
6° The President shall have the right to appear and to be represented at the investigation of the charge.<br />
<br />
<br />
7° If, as a result of the investigation, a resolution be passed supported by not less than two-thirds of the total membership of the House of the Oireachtas by which the charge was investigated, or caused to be investigated, declaring that the charge preferred against the President has been sustained and that the misbehaviour, the subject of the charge, was such as to render him unfit to continue in office, such resolution shall operate to remove the President from his office.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<a name="vote"><a href="https://president.ie/en/about/organisational-information">Presidents Office Costs</A></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FT9o9RWkKtA/W7pn2weZPpI/AAAAAAAACV0/4pSq8YVlkKs2ttTztwx5VP8fWsRRrg7UACLcBGAs/s1600/deptcostssept.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FT9o9RWkKtA/W7pn2weZPpI/AAAAAAAACV0/4pSq8YVlkKs2ttTztwx5VP8fWsRRrg7UACLcBGAs/s400/deptcostssept.png" width="400" height="311" data-original-width="960" data-original-height="747" /></a></div><br />
Can the 894,000 be found in <a href="http://www.audgen.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/annualreports/2017/AppAcc/En/AppAccIndex_EN_2017.htm">Appropriation Accounts</a> or <a href="https://www.per.gov.ie/en/rev/">Estimates of Public Expenditure</a><br />
<br />
<b>The President's Vote</b> <a name="orig">(original blog)</a><br />
<br />
The Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach is the accounting officer for the Presidents Establishment.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/aras-gets-55m-but-has-not-faced-internal-audit-37229586.html">Aras gets €55m but has not faced internal audit</a> Independent.ie Philip Ryan August 19 2018<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The C&AG documents, which are signed and dated by Department of Taoiseach secretary general Martin Fraser, show there was no internal audit of the President's Office between 2012 and 2017</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.audgen.gov.ie/documents/annualreports/2016/appacc/en/vote%201.pdf">Appropriation Accounts 2018 Vote 1 President's Establishment</a> Comptroller and Auditor General<blockquote><b>Internal Audit and Audit Committee</b> <br />
An Audit Committee was in place for the Vote in 2016 but did not meet as the Chairman was indisposed. No internal audit work programme was agreed for 2016 due to the fact that the Audit Committee did not meet. A new chairman will be put in place in 201</blockquote><b><br />
Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach failed to ensure an internal audit of the President's Office</b><br />
Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach Martin Fraser is hiding behind the personal circumstances of somebody in order to excuse himself not having an internal audit of the President's Establishment for over 3 years. The Secretary General appointed a chairman of an internal audit committee in spring 2014 but it never met due to the personal circumstances of the chairman, but he didn't try to replace him in those 3 years.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-09-25a.7#g69">2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts 25th September 2018<br />
Vote 1 - President's Establishment</A> kildarestreet.com<br />
<div style="display: none;"><p hidden><a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-09-25a.7#g69"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoxFpL9X0AAXMvU.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoxFpL9X0AAXMvU.jpg:large" width="400" height="308" data-original-width="800" data-original-height="615" /></a></div></a><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-09-25a.7#g122"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoxFqpEX0AsuhtA.jpg:large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DoxFqpEX0AsuhtA.jpg:large" width="392" height="400" data-original-width="784" data-original-height="800" /></a></div></a><br />
</p></div><br />
Deputy Farrell asked the Secretary General about the lack of internal audit at the <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-09-25a.7#g69">PAC meeting</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Mr. Martin Fraser</b>:What happened was that I appointed a chairperson of the audit committee in spring 2014. That chair was indisposed. The committee may well know the circumstances but I do not want to get into it.<br />
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<b>Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)</b> I am not asking about that.<br />
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<b>Mr. Martin Fraser:</b>For that reason, the audit committee did not meet and, therefore, the internal audit function which I set up did not-----<br />
<br />
<b>Alan Farrell</b> May I interrupt? The audit committee did not meet. Is the Áras responsible for ensuring that occurs or is Mr. Fraser responsible?<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Martin Fraser:</b>I am happy to take responsibility for it but it is actually the responsibility of the audit committee. Having appointed a chair to the committee, it would not be unreasonable. There are particular circumstances in this case. I presume the committee is aware of what they are.<br />
<b><br />
Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)</b> I am not.<br />
<br />
<b>Seán Fleming</b> It is up to the Deputy if he wants anything said about it.<br />
<br />
<b>Alan Farrell</b> I do not want to delve into the specifics.<br />
<br />
<b>Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)</b> Then the Deputy should not.<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Martin Fraser:</b>I do think it is appropriate. It is a very sensitive matter and quite a sad matter.<br />
<br />
<b>Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)</b> I do not believe it is the committee's business but that is my own view.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-09-25a.7#g69">Later</a> Deputy Catherine Connolly asked him about it.<br />
<blockquote><b>Martin Fraser</b> There is a separate audit committee for Áras an Uachtaráin.<br />
<br />
<b>Deputy Catherine Connolly</b> How often did that audit committee meet from when it was set up in spring 2014?<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Martin Fraser </b>Again, I am afraid I have to repeat what I said to Deputy Farrell. It did not meet because the chairman was indisposed.<br />
<br />
<b>Deputy Catherine Connolly </b>It did not meet at all. That was not clear to me. What we have ended up doing is trying to avoid talking about personal matters which should not be even mentioned.<br />
<b><br />
Mr. Martin Fraser</b> It did not meet.<br />
<b><br />
Deputy Catherine Connolly</b> It did not meet. That is the fact. Mr. Fraser was the Accounting Officer. What did he put in place when that committee did not meet?<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Martin Fraser</b> As I explained to Deputy Farrell-----<br />
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<b>Deputy Catherine Connolly</b> No, explain it to me now, please.<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Martin Fraser</b> I have just explained that it is quite a personal and sensitive matter and I do not want to talk about it too much. I feel the need to-----<br />
<br />
<b>Deputy Catherine Connolly</b> Mr. Fraser will have to stop this. Listen to me. We are looking at a system of accountability. I am talking about systems and procedures. I do not want to mention a person, so please do not.<br />
</blockquote><br />
I put in Freedom of Information request to the Department of the Taoiseach to get the name of the chair appointed but it was refused under of the s42(h) <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/30/section/42/enacted/en/html#sec42">Freedom of Information Act 2014</a> as they say its a record related to the President which are exempt under the law.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.audgen.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/annualreports/2017/AppAcc/En/Vote%201.pdf">Appropriation Accounts 2017 Vote 1 President's Establishment</a> Comptroller and Auditor General 26th September 2018<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Internal Audit and Audit Committee</b><br />
There were no meetings of the Audit Committee in 2017 as there was no Chairman in place and consequently no internal audits took place. A Chairman was appointed in February 2018 and since then, the Committee has met and a plan for internal audit in 2018 has been scheduled. </blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2018-02-06a.168">Department of An Taoiseach Internal Audits</a> Dail PQ February 2018<br />
<blockquote><br />
<b>Catherine Murphy</b> To ask the Taoiseach if his Department has completed an external quality assurance assessment of its internal audit function as required by the Institute of Internal Auditor standards that were introduced in 2012 (details supplied). [5386/18]<br />
<br />
<b>Leo Varadkar (Taoiseach, Department of An Taoiseach;</b> An external peer review was carried out on the internal audit function in my Department in 2013. The review confirmed that the internal audit function met the standards required for the provision of a robust, independent and objective assurance to the Accounting Officer of my Department on the adequacy or otherwise of the systems of internal control operating within my Department. The recommendations in the review to improve the internal audit function were implemented in full. Internal reviews of the Department’s internal audit function are carried out annually in accordance with the <a href="https://govacc.per.gov.ie/internal-audit/">guidelines</a> issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://govacc.per.gov.ie/internal-audit/">Internal Audit Standards</a><br />
<blockquote>"Failure to meet the mandatory meeting attendance rate (suggested: 75%) should trigger a discussion with the member on their continued ability to meet the role requirements."</blockquote><br />
(End of original blog)<br />
<br />
<a name="allowance"><b>The Allowance</b></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1938/act/24/section/1/enacted/en/html#sec1">Presidential Establishment Act, 1938</a><br />
<blockquote>Emoluments and allowances receivable by the President.<br />
<br />
<br />
1.—(1) The emoluments and allowances to be received by the President in pursuance of section 11 of Article 12 of the Constitution shall be at the rate of ten thousand pounds per annum, whereof five thousand pounds shall be the personal remuneration of the President.<br />
<br />
<br />
(2) The emoluments and allowances mentioned in the foregoing sub-section of this section shall be charged upon and payable out of the Central Fund or the growing produce thereof and shall be paid by equal quarterly instalments or by such other periodical payments as the Minister for Finance shall, with the consent of the President, from time to time determine.</blockquote><a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1973/act/18/enacted/en/print.html"><br />
Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Act, 1973</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/si/455/made/en/print">Presidential Establishment (Amendment) Act, 1991 </a><br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/si/455/made/en/print">S.I. No. 455/1997 - Presidential Establishment Act, 1938 (Section 1 (3)) Order, 1997</a><br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1998/si/67/made/en/print">S.I. No. 67/1998 - Presidential Establishment Act, 1938 (Increase of Emoluments and Allowances) Order, 1998</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2011/act/10/enacted/en/print#sec9">Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2011</a><br />
<blockquote>Transfer of certain other functions to Minister.<br />
<br />
<br />
9.— (1) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), the following functions of the Minister for Finance are transferred to the Minister, except in so far as they consist of the power to pay moneys out of the Central Fund:<br />
<br />
<br />
(i) all functions (including functions conferred by or under statute) relating to superannuation, remuneration (including allowances and expenses), appointment and terms and conditions of service of members of staff of public service bodies;<br />
<br />
<br />
(ii) all functions (including functions conferred by or under statute) relating to remuneration (including fees, allowances and expenses), appointment and terms and conditions of service of members, or members of boards, of public service bodies;<br />
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<br />
(iii) the functions consisting of the sanctioning or approval of expenses incurred in the administration of any statute;<br />
<br />
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(iv) all functions (including functions conferred by or under statute) relating to superannuation, remuneration (including allowances and expenses) and terms and conditions of service of— <br />
<br />
...<br />
<blockquote>(VI) the President of Ireland. </blockquote></blockquote><br />
Although the Public Accounts Committee were unsure about this.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-09-25a.7#g481">Public Accounts Committee 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts Vote 1 - President's Establishment</a> 25 September 2018<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)</b> From where is it coming?<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Seamus McCarthy:</b> The Central Fund of the Exchequer.<br />
<br />
<b>Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)</b> Presumably, the Accounting Officer is our friend the Secretary General of the Department of Finance.<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Seamus McCarthy:</b> Correct.<br />
<br />
<b>Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)</b> Does the Secretary General of the Department of Finance have any audit function in respect of the figure of €317,000?<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Seamus McCarthy:</b> No, not that I am aware of.<br />
<br />
<b>Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)</b> Does anyone in the Department of Finance?<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Seamus McCarthy:</b> The Deputy would have to check with the Department.<br />
<br />
<b>Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)</b><br />
<br />
I know that sometimes my language is a little flippant, but is this a payment of €317,000 on the blind? Is it the case that no one has any remote oversight, notion or idea of what it is spent on?<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Seamus McCarthy:</b> I do not know.<br />
<br />
<b>Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)</b> Does Mr. Fraser know?<br />
<br />
<b>Mr. Martin Fraser:</b> I do not, but I presume there are procedures in place in Áras an Uachtaráin for dealing with it.<br />
<br />
<b>Marc MacSharry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)</b><br />
<br />
Can I request, on behalf of the Committee of Public Accounts, that those procedures be given to us, first, to confirm whether they are in place? Perhaps it is something the audit committee set up in 2016 can look at once it gets around to it in 2018 or 2019. What procedures govern the expenditure or use of the sum of €317,000? Perhaps we could have an indication, staying within the bounds of the constitutional position, of what it has been used for in the last seven or, for that matter, ten or 20 years. It seems bizarre that €317,000 of public money is given to whomever on an annual basis, with no oversight or responsibility by anybody, while Mr. Fraser, as Accounting Officer, states to me that he presumes there are procedures in place that govern it in Áras an Uachtaráin and the Comptroller and Auditor General confirms that he does not audit it. That is an issue.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/michael-d-higgins-expense-4268771-Oct2018/">Michael D Higgins will return €200k balance in Áras account at end of term</a> thejournal.ie 4th Oct 2018 Michelle Hennessy<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/mcaleese-returns-more-than-500-000-in-allowances-1.513118">McAleese returns more than €500,000 in allowances</a> Deaglan De Breadun Thu, May 3, 2012 <br />
<blockquote>Mrs McAleese has gifted the unused amount to the State in three separate tranches – December 2010 and November 2011, with the final transfer taking place last month.</blockquote><br />
<br />
The Internal Audit Unit of the Department of the Taoiseach also audits the National Economic and Social Council. A internal audit committee was established in 2010.<br />
<a href="http://files.nesc.ie/nesdo_documents/NESDO_AnnualReport_2010_English-Web.pdf">National Economic And Social Development Office Annual Report For The Year Ended 31 December 2010</a><br />
<br />
<a name="foi"><b>Freedom of Information</b></a><br />
<br />
Adding the Office of the President was debated during the legislating of the <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2013/89/">Freedom of Information Act 2014</a> but was rebuffed by the government due to "tradition" and amendments put were not put to a vote but withdrawn by the opposition (Fianna Fail).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/30/section/6/enacted/en/html">Freedom of Information Act 2014</a> irishstatutebook.ie<br />
<blockquote>PART 5<br />
<br />
Restriction of Act<br />
<br />
42. This Act does not apply to—<br />
<br />
(h) a record relating to the President</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20130605071910if_/http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/finance/NUJ-Submission-Feb-2013.docx">National Union of Journalists Submission</a> 1st February 2013 <blockquote>Additional Reform: <br />
The Freedom of Information Act 1997 excluded the Office of the President of Ireland from the provisions of the Act.<br />
<br />
There has been no public debate on the exclusion of the office of President. This stems from deference to the office of President and recognition of the Constitutional role of the President.<br />
Given the evolution of the office the NUJ would favour extension of the Act to the Office of President, with appropriate safeguards exempting meetings of the Council of State.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2013-02-06a.180&s=%22Office+of+the+President%22++20110101..20141231+section%3Acommittees#g217">Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform<br />
Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill 2012: Discussion</a> Wednesday, 6 February 2013<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Mr. Seammus Dooley:</b> There are circumstances within many public bodies where FOI requests are not appropriate. For instance, I would welcome the extension of the legislation to cover VECs but VECs are also employers and at VEC meetings - I am speaking as someone who spent his early career as a journalist attending VEC meetings - staff matters are dealt with along with issues that relate to personal rights and issues that are covered by data protection. Those issues are outside the scope of the Freedom of Information Act and that was used as a means to keep the VECs out for years. That does not mean there cannot be protections for dealing with those issues. There are also issues of the security of the State which are recognised but they are all capable of being dealt with.<br />
<br />
I cannot think of an organisation that should not be covered by the freedom of information legislation. The original Act excluded the Office of the President of Ireland out of deference to the office but knowing all of the office holders in my lifetime, there is no reason why freedom of information should not be extended to the President so we would know what invitations he receives. We can understand that meetings of the Council of State would be excluded.</blockquote><a href="http://opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/Final_Report_on_FoI_Bill_113613.pdf">Report on hearings in relation to the Draft General Scheme Freedom of Information Bill 2012</a> June 2013<br />
Main points as raised at the public hearings and submissions received and which the Joint Committee considers should be addressed in the legislation.<br />
Topic/Issue to be addressed/Comments of the Joint Committee<br />
<blockquote>Inclusion of the Office of the President of Ireland/The original Act excluded the Office of the President of Ireland. The Joint Committee considers that is no justification as to why FoI should not be extended to the President to cover areas such as invitations received with exemptions for meetings of the Council of State which could be excluded.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2013-11-13a.102#g759">Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform<br />
Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed)</a> Wednesday, 13 November 2013<br />
Brendan Howlin (Minister, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Wexford, Labour)<br />
<blockquote>I am also considering the administrative functions of the Office of the President.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2018-09-25a.7#g6"> Public Accounts Committee 2016 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts Vote 1 - President's Establishment</a> Tuesday, 25 September 2018<br />
<b>Mr. Martin Fraser:</b><blockquote>There is probably a policy dimension in that. I believe that government has felt the President should be separate to the normal run, and that is the policy. There is also a fundamental constitutional issue, which is the article I mentioned in my <a href=" https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/committee_of_public_accounts/submissions/2018/2018-09-20_correspondence-martin-fraser-secretary-general-department-of-the-taoiseach-32r001577-pac_en.pdf">letter</a>, in that the President cannot be answerable to the Oireachtas or to the courts. The freedom of information legislation ultimately leads to the courts.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2013-11-12a.406#g485">Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform: Select Sub-Committee on Public Expenditure and Reform<br />
Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage</a> Tuesday, 12 November 2013<br />
<blockquote><b>Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)</b><br />
I move amendment No. 9:<br />
<br />
In page 15, between lines 29 and 30, to insert the following:“(b) the Office of the President;”.<br />
<br />
<b>Brendan Howlin (Minister, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Wexford, Labour)</b><br />
<br />
Amendment No. 9 seeks to include the Office of the President in the definition of a public body under section 6. Section 42 sets out several areas where the Freedom of Information Act does not apply. This amendment would provide for the removal of the records relating to the President from this section. This matter has already been dealt with under section 6. The general view is that the Head of State should not be encompassed by freedom of information legislation. The strong advice we have received is that including it would impact on the dignity and independence of the office. For that reason, I have accepted the advice not to include it in the legislation.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
<b>Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)</b><br />
<br />
The Minister stated that it was a view held by some that it could potentially bring the Office of the President into disrepute or would be undignified. Who are the some? Who holds the view that we should not seek the view of the President?<br />
<br />
<b>Brendan Howlin (Minister, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Wexford, Labour)</b><br />
<br />
Those whom we consult in all of these matters are the officials of the line Department responsible. In this case, it is the officials who deal with the Office of the President in the Department of the Taoiseach.<br />
<br />
</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2014-07-16a.119&s=%22office+of+the+president%22#g212">Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage</a> Wednesday, 16 July 2014<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)</b><br />
<br />
I move amendment No. 20:<br />
<br />
In page 15, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:“(b) the Office of the President;”.<br />
<br />
This seeks the inclusion of the Office of the President and was discussed on Committee Stage. Amendment No. 21 seeks the inclusion of the administrative functions of Tourism Ireland because it is included as an exempt body in the schedule.<br />
<br />
<b>Brendan Howlin (Minister, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Wexford, Labour)</b><br />
<br />
These are all Deputy Sean Fleming's amendments addressing issues that were debated on Committee Stage. I have not changed my mind on the Office of the President as the tradition that the President is above politics and outside the fray is accepted. I considered the amendment but will not accept it.</blockquote><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2014-07-16a.460">Dáil debates Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report Stage (Resumed)</a> Wednesday, 16 July 2014<br />
<blockquote>Debate resumed on amendment No. 20:In page 15, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:“(b) the Office of the President;”. —(Deputy Sean Fleming)<br />
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Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.</blockquote><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2014-09-25a.182&s=president+AND+brendan+howlin+AND+FOI#g323">Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Committee Stage</a> Thursday, 25 September 2014<br />
<blockquote><br />
<b>Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)</b><br />
I move amendment No. 9:<br />
<br />
<br />
In page 15, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:<br />
"(b) the Office of the President;".<br />
<br />
These amendments seek to insert some extra bodies and important offices so they will be within the scope of the legislation.<br />
<br />
<b>Brendan Howlin (Minister, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Wexford, Labour)</b><br />
<br />
Amendments Nos. 9 and 24 relate to the Office of the President. An amendment along these lines was tabled in the Dáil and I gave it very careful consideration.<br />
<br />
Reflecting the constitutional provisions on the President, it has always been accepted that the President and the Office of the President are beyond the normal fray and to and fro of politics. The <b>tradition</b>, both in this House and the other is that we do not discuss the President. My approach is in keeping with the long-held tradition respecting the status and independence of the Office of the President. All sides of the House agree this is vital to the dignity and role of the Office of the President and presidency. This is very much appreciated by the public at large.<br />
<br />
The FOI Acts exclude records relating to the President. This obviously reflects the accepted view. The amendments before the House do not propose to remove the exclusion of the records relating to the President, only the Office of the President, but I am of the view that the smallness and intimacy of that office would make distinguishing between the President and Office of the President very difficult.<br />
...<br />
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2014-10-02a.124&s=%22office+of+the+president%22#g145">Freedom of Information Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages</a> Thursday, 2 October 2014<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)<br />
<br />
I move amendment No. 3:<br />
<br />
In page 15, between lines 32 and 33, to insert the following:"(b) the Office of the President;".<br />
<br />
The amendment proposes to include the Office of the President and the financial functions thereof and not to include the President himself or herself. The Minister rightly pointed out the President's office is subject to the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Committee of Public Accounts and an Estimate in the Dáil but not subject, like every other body, to freedom of information. I do not see how imposing this requirement on the office would impinge in any way on the functions of the President as he carries out his role as head of State. The debate has nothing to do with him or any other President but rather the running of the office.<br />
Amendment No. 4 relates to Tourism Ireland. <br />
<br />
<b>Brendan Howlin (Minister, Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; Wexford, Labour)</b><br />
<br />
It has always been the tradition, and accepted in both Houses, that the President is above politics. It has been a firm and rooted tradition since the foundation of the State, and accepted in the Dáil and Seanad, that we do not discuss the President. In keeping with this independence I felt it would not be appropriate to cover the Office of the President under freedom of information. With regard to the matter raised by Senator Byrne on financial affairs, the Vote is fully scrutinised, presented to the Houses and audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General, and all expenditure is fully exposed and subject to public scrutiny as is right and proper. This is the appropriate extent.<br />
<br />
<b>Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)</b><br />
<br />
We will sacrifice that for the sake of peace for the time being. We will try to get it on the agenda the next time changes are being made.<br />
<br />
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.oic.ie/decisions/ms-x-and-the-office-of-th-1/">Ms X and The Office of the Secretary General to the President (2014 FOI Act)</a> 8 March 2018 Office of the Information Commissioner<br />
<blockquote>On 24 February 2017, the applicant made an FOI request to the Office of the Secretary General of the President for access to various records concerning travel and <i>expenses of the Secretary General.</i></blockquote><blockquote>Findings<br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2014/act/30/section/6/enacted/en/html">Section 6(1) of the FOI Act</a> describes various entities that shall be considered to be an FOI body including, at section 6(1)(b), an entity established by or under any enactment (other than the Companies Acts). The Office of the Secretary General initially argued to the Commissioner that it was not an FOI body. This Office, having regard to sections 6 and 7 of the <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1938/act/24/enacted/en/print">Presidential Act 1938</a> (which provide for the creation of the post of Secretary to the President and for the establishment of the Office of the Secretary General to the President) did not agree. As provided for in the FOI Act, on 12 June 2017 this Office referred the matter to the Minister for a binding determination. On 22 November 2017, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wrote to this Office informing it that the Minister had determined the Office of the Secretary General was an FOI body on the basis that the definition of public body extends to any entity established by or under any enactment. It said that the Office of the Secretary General was established under statute and is therefore comprehended by the definition of a public body in the FOI Act.</blockquote><blockquote>On 22 November 2017, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform wrote to this Office informing it that the Minister had determined the Office of the Secretary General was an FOI body on the basis that the definition of public body extends to any entity established by or under any enactment. It said that the Office of the Secretary General was established under statute and is therefore comprehended by the definition of a public body in the FOI Act.</blockquote><blockquote>I find that, having regard to the determination by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, the Office of the Secretary General is an FOI body</blockquote><br />
<a name="enviro"><b>Access to Information on the Environment</b></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.kenfoxe.com/2016/06/government-jet-records-of-irish-president-could-be-released-for-the-first-time-following-landmark-decision/">Government jet records of Irish President could be released for the first time following landmark decision</a><br />
<a href="https://www.ocei.ie/decisions/dCEI_15_0007-Mr-Ken-Foxe-Raidio-Tel/index.xml">Mr Ken Foxe, Raidió Telefís Éireann and the Department of Defence</a> Ken Foxe June 10, 2016<br />
<blockquote>The appellant is a journalist with the Investigations Unit of RTÉ. On 19 February 2015, the appellant made a request to the Department for access to information relating to "all travel domestic and foreign undertaken relating to ministerial/VIP travel on the government jet(s), CASA aircraft, military helicopters and any other relevant aircraft in the period between March 2011 and the current date". The appellant requested access to five specific categories of information: "dates of travel; destination; number and name of passengers; and minutes and time on board". The appellant specifically requested access to environmental information on air travel by the President.</blockquote><blockquote>I find that the Department was not justified in refusing to provide access to MATS information on dates of travel, destinations of travel, flight durations, the number of passengers travelling, and the names of office holders and departments availing of the service, as these aspects of the request fall within paragraph (c) of the definition. I also find that information on dates and destinations of travel are environmental information under paragraph (b) of the definition.</blockquote><a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/denis-naughten-signs-environmental-data-waiver-on-presidency-5c29qpdtj">Denis Naughten signs environmental data waiver on presidency</a> Mark Tighe The Times September 30 2018<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2018/si/309/made/en/print">European Communities (Access To Information On The Environment) (Amendment) Regulations 2018</a> S.I. No. 309 Of 2018<br />
<br />
(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-article (1), in these Regulations<br />
“public authority” does not include—<br />
<blockquote>I, DENIS NAUGHTEN, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1972/act/27/section/3/enacted/en/html">section 3 of the European Communities Act 1972</a> (No. 27 of 1972) and for the purpose of giving further effect to <a href="https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32003L0004">Directive 2003/4/EC</a> of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 January 2003, hereby make the following regulations:<br />
1. These Regulations may be cited as the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) (Amendment) Regulations 2018.<br />
2. Article 3 of the <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2007/si/133/made/en/print">European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 133 of 2007)</a> is amended by the substitution of the following sub-article for sub-article (2):<br />
“(2) Notwithstanding anything in sub-article (1), in these Regulations “public authority” does not include—<br />
<blockquote>(a) the President,<br />
(b) the Office of the Secretary General to the President,<br />
(c) the Council of State,<br />
(d) any Commission for the time being lawfully exercising the powers and performing the duties of the President, or<br />
(e) any body when acting in a judicial or legislative capacity.”.</blockquote></blockquote><br />
<a name="pac"><b>Public Accounts Committee Report</b></A><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/lack-of-certainty-over-317-000-allowance-for-president-1.3808283">‘Lack of certainty’ over €317,000 allowance for President</a> Irish Times Wed, Feb 27, 2019, 14:04<br />
Jennifer Bray <br />
<blockquote>A confidential draft of a forthcoming committee report, which has been seen by The Irish Times, also finds that it is “unacceptable” that an internal audit committee set up in 2014 did not meet for almost four years.</blockquote>Why doesn't this article mention the Department of Taoiseach who are responsible for auditing the President's establishment and allowed it to go un-audited?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/press-centre/press-releases/20190313-pac-publishes-5th-periodic-report/">Fifth Periodic Report</a> Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee 13 Mar 2019<br />
<br />
<blockquote><b>2. THE PRESIDENT’S ESTABLISHMENT</b><br />
<br />
A.3. It is unacceptable that the internal audit committee for the President’s Establishment, which was established in 2014, did not meet prior to 2018. The Committee recommends that the audit committee for the President’s Establishment develops a schedule of regular meetings each year.</blockquote><blockquote>A.4. There is no statutory audit in relation to the €317,000 Presidential allowance paid from the Central Fund, which is granted under the <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1997/si/455/made/en/print">Presidential Establishment Act</a> and <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1998/si/67/made/en/print">S.I. No. 67/1998</a>. The Committee recommends that consideration be given to including under Vote 1 the €317,000 Presidential allowance, currently paid from the Central Fund, therefore making it subject to audit by the C&AG. </blockquote>How would that be done, is it constitutionally allowed?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Links</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.audgen.gov.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=-1&CatID=3&StartDate=1+January+2017">Accounts of the Public Services</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.taoiseach.gov.ie/eng/Work_Of_The_Department/Internal_Audit/">Taoiseach's Department Internal Audit Unit</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20151029135523/http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/oireachtasbusiness/committees_list/fper-committee/foiamendmentbill2012/">Submissions on the FOI Amendment Bill 2012</a>cdublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-65409882154291396982018-10-06T09:40:00.006-07:002018-12-02T06:33:03.027-08:00Joan Freeman wants to threaten the governmentApril 28th 2018 Joan Freeman discusses plan to threaten the Taoiseach with now her campaign manager Richard Mulcahy on The Last 168 Hours 29th April 2018 Dublin City FM at 54 minutes<br />
<iframe width="100%" height="300" scrolling="no" frameborder="no" allow="autoplay" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/437001729&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true"></iframe><br />
<br />
Also she hoped to meet Taoiseach at the end of May 2017? Richard Mulcahy suggested drafting an email that people could send to their TDs, he also said together "they would do something about it", does that mean run for president with a loan from a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbalife_Nutrition">multilevel marketer</a>?<br />
<br />
Joan Freeman says you need to threaten the government if you need anything done. Friday Forum with Brian Fox Dublin South FM May 19, 2018 at 33 minutes. Says she didn't know what a Senator did.<br />
<iframe width="100%" height="60" src="https://www.mixcloud.com/widget/iframe/?hide_cover=1&mini=1&light=1&feed=%2Ffridayforum-dsfm%2Fsenator-joan-freeman%2F" frameborder="0" ></iframe><br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">What kind of message would it send to the Government that the people of Ireland have elected a President who is a mental health activist? Would this force the Government to realize the people want more to be done to improve mental health services? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/politics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#politics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mentalhealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#mentalhealth</a> <a href="https://t.co/HgljaXBVdu">pic.twitter.com/HgljaXBVdu</a></p>— Joan Freeman (@SenJoanFreeman) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJoanFreeman/status/1044637700584820736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 25, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<a href="http://podcast.rasset.ie/podcasts/audio/2018/1001/20181001_rteradio1-seanorourke-presidenti_c21439943_21439951_232_.mp3"> RTE Today radio interview</a><br />
Says she thought of the presidency before becoming a Senator.<br />
<br />
Joan Freeman told Daily Mail in January that she wasn't right person for the Presidency as she doesn't have a legal or political background and it would not allow her to pursue her vocation and campaign for campaigning improvements.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0A0rzk-67JU/W7jBJSSLdgI/AAAAAAAACVk/-O5Fx4RFoqoY7_C9ErxqicHtOv--nVqawCLcBGAs/s1600/20181006_125327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0A0rzk-67JU/W7jBJSSLdgI/AAAAAAAACVk/-O5Fx4RFoqoY7_C9ErxqicHtOv--nVqawCLcBGAs/s400/20181006_125327.jpg" width="300" height="400" data-original-width="433" data-original-height="577" /></a></div><br />
<b>Timeline</b><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Freeman_(politician)">2006</a></b> Pieta House established in Lucan.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Freeman_(politician)">2008</a></b> Freeman founded the annual fund-raising event Darkness into Light<br />
<br />
<b>April 2013</b> <a href="https://twitter.com/daracalleary/status/327865023940677633">Speaks at Fianna Fail Ard Fheis</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Freeman_(politician)">2014</a></b> Freeman resigned from Pieta House in 2014 in order to concentrate on developing Solace House, a similar charity based in New York City.<br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Freeman_(politician)">2015</a></b> Solace House established in New York.<br />
<br />
<b>May 2016</b> Joan Freeman appointed Senator by Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the suggestion of Michael Martin.<br />
<br />
<b>November 2016</b> <a href="http://joanfreeman.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/PDF-Version-Proposal.pdf">The 95 Project</a> launches.<br />
<br />
<b>December 2016</b> <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2016/113/?tab=bill-text">Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016</A> initiated in Dail<br />
<br />
<b>May 2017</b> <a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/praise-senator-taoiseach-3381338-May2017/">Criticses Tasoieach over not keeping mental health budget 35million budget increase</a><br />
<br />
<b>July 2017</b> <a href="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_future_of_mental_health_care/reports/2018/2018-04-26_second-interim-report-recommended-actions-arising-from-progress-made-to-date_en.pdf">Second Interim Report on Mental Health</a><br />
<br />
<b>October 2017</b> <a href="http://joanfreeman.org/senator-freeman-made-chair-of-committee-on-the-future-of-mental-healthcare-october-2017/">Senator Freeman made Chair of Committee on the Future of Mental Healthcare</A><br />
<br />
<b>November 2017</B> <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJoanFreeman/status/925870205099798531">Launches Solace House New York</a><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/press-centre/news-and-features/20180426-committee-on-the-future-of-mental-healthcare-publishes-interim-report/">December 2017</a></b> Committee on the Future of Mental Healthcare publishes first Interim Report.<br />
<br />
<b>January 2018</b> <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/presidential-election-2018/revealed-the-blast-from-the-past-millionaire-now-backing-joan-freeman-37389999.html">Joan Freeman appears on LateLate Show</a> Richard Mulcahy informs her main campaign loan funder Des Walsh.<br />
<br />
<b>2018</b> Des Walsh donates 50,000 to Solace House.<br />
<br />
<b>February 2018</b> <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/bills/bill/2016/113/?tab=bill-text">Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2016</A> completes Seanad stages.<br />
<br />
<b>March 2018</b> Joan Freeman <a href="https://twitter.com/solacehouseinc/status/977179012215771136">signs</a> lease for second Solace House New York.<br />
<br />
<b>April 2018</b> <a href="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/committee/dail/32/joint_committee_on_future_of_mental_health_care/reports/2018/2018-04-26_second-interim-report-recommended-actions-arising-from-progress-made-to-date_en.pdf">Second Interim Report on Mental Health</a><br />
<br />
<b>April 2018</b> Joan Freeman radio <a href="https://t.co/3k6wvrcxw2">interview</a> with her now campaign manager Richard Mulcahy.<br />
<br />
<b>July 2018</b> <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/joan-freeman-may-be-seeking-nomination-to-run-for-presidency-1.3555736">Reports</a> of Joan Freeman seeking presidency.<br />
<br />
<b>September 2018</b> <a href="https://twitter.com/solacehouseinc/status/1037412959855816705">Solace House opens second location in Yonkers</A><br />
<br />
<b>Oct 2018</b> <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/press-centre/press-releases/20181017-committee-on-the-future-of-mental-health-care-publishes-final-report/">Committee on the Future of Mental Health Care publishes final report</A><br />
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/joan-freeman-des-walsh-loan-4262542-Oct2018/">September 2018</a></b> Des Walsh gives Joan Freeman a loan of 120,000 for her presidential campaign.<br />
<br />
<b>Links</b><br />
<a href="https://action.uplift.ie/campaigns/51">Make Community Mental Health Care Available 24/7</a> Uplift 27th April 2018<br />
<br />
<b>Joan Freeman election campaign staff</b><br />
Richard Mulcahy <a href="https://twitter.com/gavreilly/status/1046720406214914048">Campaign Manager</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/post/102963702/">Natasha Fennell</a> <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/joan-freeman-supported-by-herbalife-millionaire-9nfsjzpff">Stillwater PR</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.sipo.ie/en/Reports/State-Financing/Funding-received-under-Parliamentary-Activities-Allowance/2017-Expenditure-of-the-Parliamentary-Activities-Allowance/Appendix-Funding-and-expenditure-details.html">Parliamentary Activities Allowance during 2017</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xx8OSqgTZI8/W-dUrOi0aGI/AAAAAAAACbY/31JPaY5GBkwO2Irm1_vup1pmShYeF8Q9QCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-11-10%2BPAA-returns-2017-Senators%2Bpdf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xx8OSqgTZI8/W-dUrOi0aGI/AAAAAAAACbY/31JPaY5GBkwO2Irm1_vup1pmShYeF8Q9QCLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-11-10%2BPAA-returns-2017-Senators%2Bpdf.png" width="590" height="312" data-original-width="1100" data-original-height="536" /></a></div>Why is StillWater listed under <br />
<b>Categories of expenditure</b><br />
<blockquote>(a) the provision of technical or specialist advice likely to be required in connection with legislative proposals or potential parliamentary initiatives;</blockquote><br />
and not <br />
<br />
<blockquote>(d) the provision of consultant services, including the engagement of public relations services; </blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.sipo.ie/en/Reports/State-Financing/Funding-received-under-Parliamentary-Activities-Allowance/2017-Expenditure-of-the-Parliamentary-Activities-Allowance/PAA-returns-2017-Senators.pdf">PAA returns 2017 Senators</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.sipo.ie/en/Reports/State-Financing/Funding-received-under-Parliamentary-Activities-Allowance/2016-Expenditure-of-the-Parliamentary-Activities-Allowance/PAA-returns-2016-Senators.pdf">Parliamentary Activities Allowance during 2016</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9OkTMMDfGU/W-dU7ForszI/AAAAAAAACbg/61PGJ1CRUekf3e6mNUDJaDnMaZrPI8qsACLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-11-10%2BPAA-returns-2016-Senators%2Bpdf.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y9OkTMMDfGU/W-dU7ForszI/AAAAAAAACbg/61PGJ1CRUekf3e6mNUDJaDnMaZrPI8qsACLcBGAs/s640/Screenshot_2018-11-10%2BPAA-returns-2016-Senators%2Bpdf.png" width="590" height="358" data-original-width="1040" data-original-height="581" /></a></div><a href="https://www.sipo.ie/en/Reports/State-Financing/Funding-received-under-Parliamentary-Activities-Allowance/2016-Expenditure-of-the-Parliamentary-Activities-Allowance/PAA-returns-2016-Senators.pdf">PAA returns 2016 Senators</a><br />
Stillwater calls itself a Communications Consultancy Services so why not that put that down under Category "(d) the provision of consultant services, including the engagement of public relations services; "<br />
<br />
Since 2011 Stillwater Communciations worked with <a href="http://stillwater.ie/our-work/pieta-house/">Pieta House</a> and <a href="http://stillwater.ie/our-work/darkness-into-light/joan-freeman-founder-of-pieta-house-at-the-starting-line-of-darkness-into-light-2016-in-the-phoenix-park/">Darkness into Light</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.prca.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/2014-Stillwater-Pieta-Print.pdf">Stillwater Communications Pieta House and Darkness into Light Electric Ireland Review</a> Pieta told Stillwater communications to Position Joan Freeman as the lead expert on suicide in Ireland. Why would anyone do that you either are the lead expert or you are not.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.electricireland.ie/residential/helpful-links/our-sponsorships/pieta-house-darkness-into-light">Electric Ireland has been title sponsor of Pieta House’s flagship fundraising event, Darkness Into Light, since 2013</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/life/home-garden/homes/my-favourite-room-natasha-recreates-her-home-turf-29962605.html">Natasha Fennell of Stillwater Commmunications used to be director of fund-raising for Fianna Fail</A> <br />
<br />
How many millionaires?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/44230/tuams-secret-millionaire-a-hit-with-viewers">Tuam’s secret millionaire a hit with viewers</a>by Martina Nee Galway Advertiser, Thu, Sep 22, 2011 <br />
<blockquote>Pieta House in Lucan was the recipient of the largest sum of money, €25,000.</blockquote><a href="https://presspack.rte.ie/2012/09/24/the-secret-millionaire-3/">Richard Mulcahy</a> The Secret Millionaire RTE 2011<br />
<br />
Des Walsh<br />
JP McManus<br />
dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-66080670949752831222018-09-24T06:00:00.000-07:002018-09-24T14:28:34.329-07:00Did 'Sister Aaliya' meet London bomber Rachid Redouane and Khuram Butt or not?<a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/exclusive-video-there-are-at-least-150-extremists-here-who-see-ireland-as-a-soft-touch-35810718.html">Irish woman claims second London attacker was also in Ireland</a> Nicola Anderson Irihs Independent June 10 2017 <br />
<blockquote>She met the two London Bridge terrorists Khuram Butt and Rachid Redouane on at least 20 occasions both here and in the UK, she said.</blockquote><br />
When you watch the video you'll hear she was referring to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_London_Bridge_attack#Attackers">Butt</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anjem_Choudary">Chourdary</a> not Butt and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_London_Bridge_attack#Attackers">Redouane</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/irish-muslim-convert-who-had-teen-crush-on-osama-bin-laden-stirs-up-security-concerns-35812900.html">Irish Muslim convert who had 'teen crush' on Osama bin Laden stirs up security concerns</a> Maeve Sheehan June 11 2017<br />
<blockquote>Then he introduces Sister Aaliya, a 26-year-old Irish Muslim convert who moved to London, was radicalised by the notorious and now-jailed "hate preacher" Anjem Choudary, and who knew one of the three jihadis behind the London Bridge terrorist attack last weekend.<br />
<br />
This was not Rachid Redouane, whom police confirmed last week lived in Dublin until September 2015. It was the suspected terrorist ringleader Khuram Butt...</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/irishwoman-claims-second-london-attacker-was-also-in-ireland-1.31143352">Irishwoman claims second London attacker was also in Ireland</a> Jun 9, 2017<br />
Elaine Edwards Irish Times.<br />
<br />
The Irish Times has a longer video and explicit reports that she "did not know Redouane". <blockquote>The woman, who identified herself only as Sister Aaliya and who wore sunglasses and black niqab covering the lower part of her face during the press conference, said she did not know Redouane.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/irish-woman-claims-isis-cell-discussed-terror-attack-in-dublin-1.3232377">Irish woman claims Isis cell discussed terror attack in Dublin</A> Sep 24, 2017, 20:46<br />
Conor Lally Irish Times <blockquote>Last June, Sister Aaliya said she had never met Redouane</blockquote><br />
In the <a href="http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/exclusive-video-there-are-at-least-150-extremists-here-who-see-ireland-as-a-soft-touch-35810718.html">Independent video</a> the reporter asks her if she met them (the London bombers) and she replies she met them on many occasions here and in the UK, but as you see in both videos she never explicitly says she met Redouane. In the main press conference shown on the Irish Times video she talks of meeting Butt and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anjem_Choudary">Chourdary</a> many times (rather then Butt and Redouane).<br />
<br />
I contacted the Independent journalist and she refused to acknowledge the possibility she made a mistake. I also emailed the paper corrections email and editor, no response.<br />
<br />
The Irish Examiner made a similar mistake to the Indo, including Redoune in her claims, even though she was not referring to him. <a href="https://www.pressreader.com/ireland/irish-examiner/20170614/281590945548993">Gardaí step up attack probes after claims</a> Irish Examiner 4 Jun 2017 Cormac O’Keeffe <blockquote>"She claimed she saw him in Ireland “two or three times” and that he, Redouane, and other extremists operated out of a house in the Santry"</blockquote>The story <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/874964161620586497">was changed</a>, later that day, <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gardai-examining-if-pre-planning-for-london-attacks-occurred-in-ireland-452379.html">Gardaí examining if 'pre-planning' for London attacks occurred in Ireland</a> Irish Examiner June 14, 2017 By Cormac O'Keeffe.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Did she meet Khuram Butt in Ireland in England or at all?</b><br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/radicalised-irish-woman-claims-she-travelled-ireland-with-london-bridge-attacker-and-says-there-are-up-to-150-islamic-extremists-living-here-37349339.html">Radicalised Irish woman claims she travelled Ireland with London Bridge attacker and says there are up to 150 Islamic extremists living here</a> Paul Williams September 24 2018 Irish Independent.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>It was during this period that she claims Khuram Butt stayed with them on numerous occasions - although the officer in charge of the State’s counter-terrorism agency tells the programme that Gardaí are satisfied he never visited the country.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DrUmarAlQadri?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrUmarAlQadri</a> 'No Evidence' London IS Killer [Khuram Butt] was here. Irish Exmainer 01/07/2017 Cormac O'Keeffe <a href="https://t.co/fQyP1fo4hp">pic.twitter.com/fQyP1fo4hp</a></p>— steve white (@lostexpectation) <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/881229659815501827?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2017</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
<br />
If she says she met Khuram Butt in Ireland but Gardai said he never came here did she only meet him in England, or not at all?<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>More contradictory reporting in the Irish Independent from Paul Williams</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/radicalised-irish-woman-claims-she-travelled-ireland-with-london-bridge-attacker-and-says-there-are-up-to-150-islamic-extremists-living-here-37349339.html">Radicalised Irish woman claims she travelled Ireland with London Bridge attacker and says there are up to 150 Islamic extremists living here</a> Paul Williams September 24 2018 Irish Independent<br />
<blockquote>It was during this period that she claims Khuram Butt stayed with them on numerous occasions - although the officer in charge of the State’s counter-terrorism agency tells the programme that gardaí are satisfied he never visited the country.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/world-news/war-on-terror/revealed-london-bridge-isis-groups-plot-to-attack-dublin-familyfriendly-spot-36162356.html">Revealed: London Bridge Isis group's plot to attack Dublin 'family-friendly' spot</a> Paul Williams September 24 2017 Irish Independent<br />
<blockquote>The Sunday Independent understands that the Garda's Counter Terrorism International (CTI) unit has now established that Butt and Redouane stayed at the Santry address with 'Raza' on several occasions up to two years ago.</blockquote>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-20085146786144558882018-09-02T08:54:00.004-07:002018-12-31T06:10:28.428-08:004 "genuine news" orgs have published the same false claim without checking it first.<b>Independent</b><br />
Michael D Higgins has never been to Venezuela that hasn't stopped Peter Casey claiming that he has and that he used public money to do so. This has been published by 4 "genuine news" orgs without checking it, pointing it out and then challenging Casey on it.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/higgins-kept-seat-warm-while-being-paid-vast-amounts-of-money-millionaire-presidential-hopeful-slams-bonkers-pay-37265835.html"><br />
'Higgins kept seat warm while being paid vast amounts of money' – millionaire presidential hopeful slams 'bonkers' pay</a> Kevin Doyle August 30 2018 <br />
<blockquote>He [Peter Casey] added: "I wouldn't have supported him going to Cuba and supporting Fidel Castro… or extolling the virtues of Hugo Chavez. I'd like to hear his answers as what justified using taxpayers' money to go to these countries," he said. </blockquote><br />
Peter Casey is suggesting Higgins spent tax payers money to go to Venezuela, when he's never been there, Peter Casey has made the same claim on radio, that Higgins visited Cuba and Venezuela so he is referring to both "countries".<br />
<br />
<b>RTE radio</b><br />
On Thu, Aug 30 on the <a href="https://ift.tt/2C1mrRz">RTE Radio 1 Today Show with Miriam O'Callaghan</a> at the very end of the interview Peter Casey says, "I don't really think it was an attack. I made an observation that he visited Cuba and visited Venezuela"<br />
<br />
<b>RTE.ie</b><br />
<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2018/0902/991103-presidential-election-2018/">The Presidential Election: it's David vs Goliath </a> RTE.ie by Paul Cunningham Sunday, 2 Sep 2018<br />
<br />
<blockquote>The former Dragon's Den candidate Peter Casey is a case in point. Mr Casey fired a salvo at President Higgins this week - condemning him for visiting Cuba and Venezuela as President. He said: "I don't believe in him [President Higgins] supporting governments that are totalitarian and undemocratic at the Irish taxpayers' expense." </blockquote><br />
Its been corrected to say now reads "While President Higgins never visited Venezuela..." why is the word "While" used?<br />
<br />
<b>Irish Times</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/peter-casey-whoever-wins-it-it-will-not-be-president-michael-d-higgins-1.3613041">Peter Casey: ‘Whoever wins it, it will not be President Michael D Higgins’</a> Irish Times Aug 31, 2018 Ronan McGreevy<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Higgins has “certainly not embarrassed the presidency”, he says, though he believes the President should not have visited Cuba. </blockquote>This sentence originally said <a href="https://www.google.ie/search?q=Higgins+has+%E2%80%9Ccertainly+not+embarrassed+the+presidency%E2%80%9D,+he+says,+though+he+believes+the+President+should+not+have+visited+Cuba.&hl=en&tbas=0&source=lnt&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim7uaGiIveAhVLI8AKHSe2CO8QpwUIJA&biw=2048&bih=1038">"and Venezuela"</a> There was a note subsequently added at the bottom correcting this, <br />
<blockquote>This article was amended on August 31st to reflect the fact that President Higgins has not visited Venezuela, as Mr Casey suggested.</blockquote>The article hasn't been edited 'to reflect the fact that President Higgins has not visited Venezuela, as Mr Casey suggested' its been edited as if Casey never claimed he had. Why didn't the Irish Times check the claims and then ring Peter Casey and ask him about it before publishing it.<br />
dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-89112331336046715282018-09-01T11:10:00.002-07:002018-09-01T11:10:37.949-07:00Projects Arts Centre and Irish Council for Civil Liberties Vs the Charities Regulator and Planning Laws.Did Project Arts Centre or ICCL ever respond to this point made by the Charities regulator. I've no problem with the mural or the idea that art is political or shouldn't be subject to regulation but if you are going to cite legislation, then you can't really complain.<br />
<br />
<a href=" https://www.charitiesregulator.ie/en/information-for-the-public/our-news/2018/april/statement-regarding-project-arts-centre">Statement regarding Project Arts Centre</a> Charities Regulator 23 April 2018<br />
<blockquote>In its response to the Charities Regulator, the Project Arts Centre stated that it was facilitating the display of art and not engaging in political activity. However, the Charities Regulator noted that on the charity’s website, the charity stated that it was relying on an exemption relating to political advertisements under the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, which enabled it to publicise the political advertisement without the requirement for planning permission (see note to the editor). By doing so, the Project Arts Centre had itself classified the mural as a political advertisement, as opposed to the Charities Regulator making that determination.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://projectartscentre.ie/cant-paint-issue-can-paint-artwork-maser-mural-update/ ">You can’t paint over an issue, but you can paint over an artwork! Maser mural update.</a> Project Arts Centre April 20th 2018<br />
<blockquote>We draw a distinct line between supporting artists who make work that is highly political and engaging in political activism. <br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<a href="https://projectartscentre.ie/repeal-the-8th-mural-reinstalled/">Repeal the 8th: Maser's Mural Reinstalled at Project Arts Centre</a> Project Arts Centre April 10th 2018<br />
<blockquote>Since it was founded in 1966, Project Arts Centre has always placed the vision and freedom of expression of the artist at the centre of our work. We believe that all art is, in some way or other, indelibly political because it relates to the workings of the society from which it emerges. This artwork by Maser was first programmed at Project Arts Centre in July 2016 and was removed due to planning legislation. According to The Planning & Development Regulations 2001, Schedule 2, Part 2, Exempted Developments, Class 14, the mural is not subject to planning permission in the context of the upcoming Referendum.<br />
<br />
</blockquote><a href=" http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2001/si/600/made/en/print#sched2"><br />
Planning and Development Regulations</a><br />
<blockquote>CLASS 14<br />
<br />
Advertisements relating to an election to the office of President of Ireland, an election of members of Dáil Éireann, the Parliament of the European Communities, a local authority or Údarás na Gaeltachta, or a referendum within the meaning of the Referendum Act, 1994 .<br />
<br />
No such advertisement shall be exhibited, and no advertisement structure erected for the purpose of exhibiting such advertisement shall be left in place, for more than 7 days after the date of the election or referendum to which the advertisement relates.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.iccl.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/ICCL-Freedom-of-Artistic-Expression-and-Referendum-on-the-8th-Amendment.pdf">Freedom of artistic expression and the referendum on the 8th amendment</a> 2018/05 Irish Council for Civil Liberties<br />
<br />
<blockquote>A view is clearly forming among State bodies and the arts sector in response that, during the referendum period, artistic expression that was previously recognised as art and deemed worthy of funding or charitable status is now “too political” to be allowed. The change in attitude based on the referendum can be seen from the fact that, in 2016, the Charities Regulator took no issue with the response it received from the Project Arts Centre when it asked the charity for information as to how it had reached the view that Maser’s mural featuring the words “Repeal the 8th” related directly to its charitable purpose of advancing public education in the arts. </blockquote><br />
But The Project Arts Centre they took it down then too.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://projectartscentre.ie/maser-artwork-subject-planning-permission-taken/">Maser Artwork Subject to Planning Permission to Be Taken Down</a> Project Arts Centre July 25th 2016dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-58072372172959195592018-08-01T14:59:00.001-07:002018-09-20T13:59:49.394-07:00Scafisti and the Irish Navy<br />
<br />
I read about "scafisti" people who are forced to drive boats and then arrested as human smugglers, there are reports saying that Irish Navy are involved in detaining suspected smugglers and I presume the Irish Government might say its up to Italy to try them but Navy must have handed over lots of people to be detained in Italy...whats the process atleast?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN11F0SB">Italy court clears accused people smugglers, says were forced to drive boats</a> Steve Scherer Reuters 9 September 2016<br />
<br />
I asked Clare Daly TD (Member of Parliament) about it and she asked a series of parliamentary questions(PQs). <br />
<br />
I came across this Intercept article <a href="https://theintercept.com/2017/09/16/italy-imprisons-refugees-who-were-forced-to-pilot-smuggling-boats-at-gunpoint/">Italy Imprisons Refugees Who Were Forced to Pilot Smuggling Boats at Gunpoint</a> Zach Campbell September 16 2017<br />
<blockquote>“Many attorneys ask for plea bargains in order to get the quickest release of their clients,” said Fulvio Vassallo, an immigration lawyer and law professor at the University of Palermo. Vassallo explains that in Sicily, plea bargains or abbreviated trials can be a win-win for numbers-oriented prosecutors and defense lawyers alike.</blockquote><blockquote>Joof [from Gambia] denies that he drove. “They told me I was accused of being the boat’s captain,” he told The Intercept in an interview in the center for underage asylum-seekers where he now lives, in a small town outside Palermo. “I told them, ‘No, I paid my money to come here.’ I asked them to see the evidence that I was a captain. And since 2015, they haven’t shown me any evidence that I’m the one who drove the boat.”</blockquote>Joof was charged with "favoreggiamento" or “facilitating” illegal migration. It’s the lowest level smuggling charge you can get in Italy. The articles says this occurred in 2015 but I don't know that exact date.<br />
Look at the photo halfway down, it is captioned.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-enD49CR1n9Y/W2I8UECU7iI/AAAAAAAACRg/swT2E0ftOuUhUSjJmYvog8AN3hEoQ8YLwCLcBGAs/s1600/joof.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-enD49CR1n9Y/W2I8UECU7iI/AAAAAAAACRg/swT2E0ftOuUhUSjJmYvog8AN3hEoQ8YLwCLcBGAs/s400/joof.png" width="500" height="468" data-original-width="703" data-original-height="647" /></a></div><br />
<blockquote>The LÉ Niamh, an Irish naval vessel participating in Mediterranean rescue operations, rescued 367 refugees off the coast of Libya, on Aug. 5, 2015. This photo provided by Joof’s lawyer show that after the rescue, police investigators put plastic wristbands on refugees they believed to be the skippers, as well as the witnesses that identified them. A similar process happened when Joof was rescued and accused of driving. Photo: Irish Navy</blockquote><br />
Borderline Sicilia pointed me to an Italian article by which included information on Joof. A google translation to English is below <a href="https://livesicilia.it/2016/10/28/migranti-sospesa-la-pena-scarcerati-nove-scafisti_795748/">Migrants: suspended sentence nine "smugglers" suspended</a> Friday 28 October 2016 livesicilia.it<br />
<br />
<blockquote>PALERMO - The nine African smugglers who were arrested in July 2015 by the Palermo Public Prosecutor on charges of facilitating illegal immigration are free. The Giuliano Castiglia gup, who today has sentenced them to 2 years in prison, ordering the suspension of the sentence, ordered their immediate release. The motivation of the sentence to be filed within 90 days is still unknown. From the reading of the device, however, it is clear that the judge excluded that the defendants acted to profit from the crime and that they had a role of promotion and organization of the trip. Furthermore, the disputed fact was considered "of a minor nature" and all the smugglers were recognized as having general extenuating circumstances. <br />
<br />
The defendants were Serra Mamadu, Guinea Bissau, Joseph Abou, Nigerian, Maxamad Ahmad, Somali, Camara Bubu, Gambia, Mendy Omar, Senegalese, Diof Aboubacar, Senegalese, Cisse Malick, Senegalese, Drama Ebrima, Gambia and Joof Ousaineu, of the Gambia. The accusation was represented by the pm Claudio Camilleri, Alessia Sinatra and Annamaria Picozzi. The Prosecutor charged that the nine Africans had organized and carried out the transport in Italy of 115 rescued migrants, in the Sicilian Channel, from a Navy ship while they were on board a 12-meter dinghy. The danger of the life of migrants "forced to travel on a boat completely unsuitable to face the crossing, in overcrowded conditions and without the safety equipment, was also contested". (HANDLE)</blockquote><br />
<br />
Is it it the Irish Navy that put these wristbands on the people they rescue?<br />
<br />
Clare Daly TD asked a <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2018-07-03a.83">PQ</a> and the gov said the Irish Navy didn't know why the article says the photo was taken by the the Irish Navy...<blockquote>I am also advised that the Naval Service cannot stand over the provenance of the photograph used in the article in question and which is credited to 'Irish Navy'.</blockquote>Other <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/dfmagazine/sets/72157656843582412/">photos</a> from the Defence Forces from that day where you can see the rough white material covering the grey deck of the Navy ship.<br />
<b>Update</b><br />
I sent this point to Clare Daly who asked the question again pointing out the similarities between the photos. The government reversed its answer.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>For Written Answer on : 07/09/2018<br />
Question Number(s): 25 Question Reference(s): 36195/18<br />
Department: Defence<br />
Asked by: Clare Daly T.D.<br />
______________________________________________<br />
<br />
<br />
QUESTION<br />
<br />
To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 3 July 2018, if a picture (details supplied) was taken on the LÉ Niamh on 5 August 2015, in view of other images posted by the Naval Service and dated the same day which show the same details on the floor, the canopy and the particular blankets used on the ship that day. (Details Supplied) Email sent 23/08/18 at 10:44<br />
REPLY<br />
<br />
In responding to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 3 July 2018, based on advice I had received from the Defence Forces, I stated that “in the course of the event in question on 5 August 2015involving the LE Niamh, no wristbands were applied to persons rescued by personnel on LE Niamh. I am also advised that the Naval Service cannot stand over the provenance of the photograph used in the article in question and which is credited to "Irish Navy"”. I regret that the information afforded to me and which I communicated to the House in good faith at the time, was incorrect. <br />
On foot of the Deputies further question, I asked that the matter be further investigated. I am now advised by the Naval Service that the pictures supplied were actually taken on board L.É. Niamh during the time it was rescuing migrants under Operation Pontus. I am also advised that the wristband displayed in the photograph provided was applied by Naval Service personnel on board the L.É. Niamh. <br />
<br />
I am further advised that during Search and Rescue (SAR) operations undertaken in the Mediterranean, the standing operational procedure was that, as rescued persons came on board, each one was photographed and given a numbered wristband as part of their processing on board, which also included medical examination and assessment. This procedure was to account for rescued persons on-board. In addition, persons of interest, namely those persons in control of the migrant vessels and potential people traffickers, were identified as part of this process. <br />
<br />
On the 5th of August, 2015, as the Deputy will recall, there was a very significant rescue event in the Mediterranean where a fishing vessel carrying migrants capsized and several hundred migrants ended up in the water. Given the massive scale and urgency of the rescue operation, the Executive Officer on LE NIAMH made the decision, when the first RHIB returned with rescued persons to the ship, that the ship’s staff would not register embarked persons as per normal standing operational procedure, as saving lives was the main focus of their efforts and the rescued persons could be registered later. The LÉ Niamh rescued 367 persons (342 male, 12 female and 13 children). 25 bodies were also recovered and taken on board. <br />
<br />
On transit to Italy, the Naval Service deck parties were approached by rescued persons who identified a number of persons as the people who were in control of the fishing vessel. These men were tagged and their photographs taken while on board LE Niamh. The witnesses that came forward were also given wristbands. The purpose of this was to identify both groups of people amongst the 365 persons that were on-board at the time. <br />
<br />
A number of persons were subsequently charged by the Italian authorities in connection with this incident. A Mutual Legal Assistance request was received by the Central Authority for Mutual Assistance in the Department of Justice and Equality from the Italian authorities. On foot of this request the prosecuting authorities in Italy were provided with photographic and video evidence of the event held by the Naval Service and a member of the Naval Service gave evidence in Italy attesting to the validity of that evidence. <br />
<br />
I trust this clarifies the matter. I very much regret that incorrect information was supplied in my previous response to Dáil Question No. 39 of 3 July 2018 and I am happy to have this opportunity to correct the record. <br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
<a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN1LR0VC-OZATP">Italy arrests North African traffickers over migrant ship deaths</A> By Wladimir Pantaleone PALERMO, Sicily, Aug 7 (Reuters).<br />
<blockquote>A police reconstruction based on witnesses’ accounts said three of the men, part of a Libyan-based human trafficking ring, alternated steering the boat while the other two kept watch over the migrants.<br />
<br />
“The arrested are suspected of causing the confirmed deaths of 26 migrants and the presumed deaths of about 200 people who, according to witnesses, were locked in the hold of the boat that capsized,” a police statement said. </blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/migrant-crisis-refugees-charged-up-to-1600-to-board-boat-346964.html"> Migrant Crisis: Refugees charged up to €1,600 to board boat</a> Sunday, August 09, 2015 By Conall Ó Fátharta Irish Examiner<br />
<blockquote>Two Libyans, two Algerians, and a Tunisian, ranging in age from 21 to 24, were arrested by Italian police. They have been named as Ali Rouibah, Shauki Esshaush, Imad Busadia, Abdullah Assnusi, and Suud Mujassabi.<br />
<br />
“The arrested are suspected of causing the confirmed deaths of 26 migrants and the presumed deaths of about 200 people,” said a police statement.</blockquote><br />
Obviously sometimes people go beyond just driving the boat.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/07/italy-migrant-boat-capsize-five-men-accused-murder">Guardian</a> has footage of the accused men being taken off the boat, at this point they have yellow wristbands on their left wrist and blueish wristbands on the right wrist. The Independent has <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/migrant-crisis-mediterranean-five-men-charged-with-murder-200-people-10446003.html">photos</a> of he accused men.<br />
<br />
<b>Original blog continues</b><br />
I asked the author of the article and he replied I" looked through my notes. That photo was part of a collection provided by the Irish navy to Joof's lawyer. If I remember correctly, I think she got them through evidential discovery in the court case. The photos were indeed shot aboard the LÉ Niamh " and again Clare Daly asked the government what other agencies operate on Irish Navy ships and <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2018-07-24/54/">government said</a> none..., <blockquote>These agencies are not operating or investigating on Irish Naval Service ships deployed in support of Operation Sophia.</blockquote>but author of the article says <blockquote>The wristbands and interviews happen aboard the ship while still at sea. I don't know whether that was Irish navy, Frontex, Italian or other. My guess is that it varies depending on the crew.</blockquote><br />
How do these bands get on their wrist if the Irish Navy doesn't do it and no other agency comes aboard the Irish ships as the government claims?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2018-05-10/2/">PQ to Minister of Defence about Operation Sophia by Aengus O Snodaigh</a>10 May 2018<br />
<blockquote>The core task of contributing to disrupting the smugglers' business model involves identifying potential smugglers when on search-and-rescue operations and handing them over to the Italian authorities when disembarking the rescued persons. Irish Naval Service ships have not intercepted smugglers but have identified them when they are rescued and have handed them over to the Italian authorities. All rescued migrants are embarked in Italian ports.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/30-people-smugglers-handed-over-by-navy-crew-357312.html">30 people smugglers handed over by navy crew</a> Irish Examiner October 03, 2015 Sean O’Riordan <blockquote>The ship’s captain, Lieutenant Commander Daniel Wall, said that when the refugees got on board his vessel, they felt safe and would approach the crew to point out members of smuggling gangs.<br />
<br />
Lt Comdr Wall said those identified were then isolated from the rest of the refugees and pointed out to Italian authorities when the ship dropped them in ports.</blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/le-niamh-crew-help-see-people-smugglers-charged-440846.html">LÉ Niamh crew help see people-smugglers charged</a> Irish Examiner January 26, 2017 Sean O’Riordan <blockquote>Lieutenant Commander Daniel Wall travelled in December to a court sitting in Sicily to provide evidence against five men charged with aiding and abetting murder.</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/irish-defence-forces-le-niamh-sicily-rescue-2257578-Aug2015/">Five arrested over migrant drowning incident</a> Aug 7th 2015 TheJournal.ie/ AFP<br />
<blockquote>5 people have been arrested by the Italian authorities in connection with the drowning of more than 200 migrants last Wednesday.<br />
<br />
Three Libyans and two Algerians are accused of human trafficking and multiple homicide charges.</blockquote><br />
Perhaps they are just medical triage indicators?<br />
<br />
<a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:vtw5aAHfXM4J:https://www.hrw.org/video-photos/interactive/2017/11/30/saving-lives-sea+&cd=9&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ie">Saving Lives at Sea A two-week rescue mission with SOS MEDITERRANEE</a> By Judith Sunderland<br />
<blockquote>Everyone is tracked through colored wristbands – yellow for unaccompanied minors, blue for vulnerable, pink for scabies – so that MSF can flag them to relevant agencies on shore. </blockquote><br />
<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4873997/">Initial assessment and treatment of refugees in the Mediterranean Sea (a secondary data analysis concerning the initial assessment and treatment of 2656 refugees rescued from distress at sea in support of the EUNAVFOR MED relief mission of the EU)</a> Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2016<br />
M. Kulla,corresponding author F. Josse, M. Stierholz, B. Hossfeld, L. Lampl, and M. Helm <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://mg.co.za/article/2016-11-16-the-anatomy-of-a-rescue">The Anatomy of a Rescue</a> Doctors Without Borders (MSF) 16 Nov 2016 11:51 <br />
<br />
<blockquote>A woman collapses as she enters the women’s waiting area and my colleague helps her sit up and eat and drink a bit. We place a white bracelet on her wrist signalling that we need to do a more thorough assessment as soon as everyone has boarded. </blockquote><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AMkOQAFwC78" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDefenceForces%2Fvideos%2F10153411126826166%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/search/?s=Operation+Pontus">PQs on Operation pontus</a><br />
<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/search/?s=operation+sophia">PQs on Operation Sophia</a><br />
<br />
<blockquote>For Written Answer on : 08/03/2018<br />
Question Number(s): 4 Question Reference(s):<a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2018-03-08a.11">11685/18</a><br />
Department: Defence<br />
______________________________________________<br />
<br />
<br />
QUESTION<br />
<br />
To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the role played by the Naval Service in relation to the arrest of scafisti in the Mediterranean that is persons that are forced to drive boats and then arrested as human smugglers and in the event of there being an involvement to justify same; and if he will make a statement on the matter.<br />
REPLY<br />
<br />
In July 2017, Government and Dáil approval was secured for the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to serve as part of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy naval mission in the Mediterranean, Operation Sophia. Irish Naval vessel L.É. Niamh, subsequently deployed to the Mediterranean from October to December 2017. <br />
In the course of its deployment in Operation Sophia last year, the crew of L.É. Niamh were engaged in both security tasks and in responding to Safety of Life at sea events (search and rescue) in the area of operation. In addition the core task of the mission including, gathering information on oil smuggling, patrols focusing on countering illegal arms trafficking, surveillance operations with the purpose of intercepting smugglers and people traffickers and monitoring the effectiveness of the Libyan Navy & Coastguard activity from a standoff distance the L.É. Niamh also undertook search and rescue operations.<br />
<br />
All activities undertaken by the Naval Service as part of Operation Sophia in the Mediterranean adhere to and are conducted in accordance with international law, including human rights, humanitarian and refugee law and the principle of non-refoulement. The status of individuals rescued at sea is a matter for the authorities at the point of disembarkation in accordance with relevant international law and conventions on the trafficking in Human Beings. <br />
<br />
Where people have been rescued by Operation Sophia, they are brought to a safe port or transferred to another vessel to be taken to a safe port. In that regard, the ports of embarkation for migrants rescued by Operation Sophia have been in Sicily.<br />
<br />
Operation Sophia has so far contributed to the apprehension of 130 suspected smugglers and traffickers, removed approximately 520 boats from criminal organisations availability, contributed to almost 290 Safety of Life at Sea events and rescued over 42,400 migrants.<br />
<br />
At the Government Meeting of 27 February last , I secured approval for the deployment in 2018 of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to serve once again as part of Operation Sophia. Arrangements are currently being made for two Irish naval vessels to deploy consecutively under rotation for a period of approximately 32 weeks in total. </blockquote><br />
--------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
For Written Answer on : 03/07/2018<br />
<br />
Question Number(s): 39 Question Reference(s): <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2018-07-03a.83">28842/18</a><br />
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Department: Defence<br />
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Asked by: Clare Daly T.D.<br />
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______________________________________________<br />
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QUESTION<br />
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To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the person (details supplied) that put the wristbands on persons while on the LE Niamh when the vessel participated in recuse operations in the Mediterranean Sea; and if hwill make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) The LÉ Niamh, an Irish naval vessel participating in Mediterranean rescue operations, rescued 367 refugees off the coast of Libya, on Aug. 5, 2015. This photo provided by Joof’s lawyer show that after the rescue, police investigators put plastic wristbands on refugees they believed to be the skippers, as well as the witnesses that identified them. A similar process happened when Joof was rescued and accused of driving. Photo: Irish Navy. https://theintercept.com/2017/09/16/italy-imprisons-refugees-who-were-forced-to-pilot-smuggling-boats-at-gunpoint/<br />
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REPLY<br />
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Irish Naval Service vessels were first deployed as part of 'Operation Pontus' in May 2015 to assist the Italian authorities with the migrant crisis. This was a humanitarian search and rescue mission conducted in accordance with a bilateral agreement with the Italian authorities and in accordance with the applicable international conventions on the rescue of persons in distress at sea. <br />
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In 2015, L.É. Niamh deployed from July to September and during its deployment, rescued a total of 4,127 migrants from unseaworthy vessels. I am advised by the Defence Forces that in the course of the event in question on 5 August 2015 involving L.É. Niamh, no wristbands were applied to persons rescued by personnel on L.É. Niamh. I am also advised that the Naval Service cannot stand over the provenance of the photograph used in the article in question and which is credited to 'Irish Navy'.<br />
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The deployment of Irish Naval Service vessels on a humanitarian search and rescue mission in the Mediterranean over the period 2015 to 2017 has been an important element in Ireland's response to the migration crises in the Mediterranean.<br />
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L.É. Samuel Beckett is currently deployed in the Mediterranean as part of the UN mandated EU naval security operation, 'Operation Sophia' and will be replaced in mid-July by L.É. James Joyce.</blockquote><br />
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<blockquote>_____________________________________________<br />
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For Written Answer on : 24/07/2018<br />
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Question Number(s): 54 Question Reference(s): <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2018-07-24/54/">33145/18</a><br />
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Department: Defence<br />
<br />
Asked by: Clare Daly T.D.<br />
<br />
______________________________________________<br />
<br />
QUESTION<br />
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To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if agencies operate and or investigate on Naval Service ships while they are engaged in Operation Sophia.<br />
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REPLY<br />
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In July 2017, Government and Dáil approval was secured for the deployment of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force to serve as part of the EU Common Security and Defence Policy naval mission in the Mediterranean, Operation Sophia. An Irish Naval vessel was subsequently deployed to the Mediterranean from October to December 2017. Participation in Operation Sophia represented the first involvement by the Naval Service in a multilateral security operation under a United Nations mandate.<br />
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In February 2018, the Government approved a further Naval Service contribution to Operation Sophia. This will involve a total of 2 naval vessels deployed consecutively during the year for a period of up to 30 weeks in total. The deployment will run from mid April to end November. <br />
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In accordance with the mandate for the mission, the Naval Service can be involved in surveillance and intelligence gathering operations, search and rescue operations and disposal of migrant boats and Force Protection Operations. <br />
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Operation Sophia has a close relationship with other EU organisations and agencies involved in countering human smuggling and trafficking. Cooperation with such organisations and agencies is mainly around the area of the mutual exchange of information which increases Operation Sophia's overall operational awareness. These agencies are not operating or investigating on Irish Naval Service ships deployed in support of Operation Sophia.</blockquote><br />
<b>Further News Report of August 5th 2015 rescue</b><br />
<a href="https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKCN1LR0VC-OZATP">Italy arrests North African traffickers over migrant ship deaths</A> By Wladimir Pantaleone PALERMO, Sicily, Aug 7 (Reuters).<br />
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<br />
<a href="https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lastampa.it%2F2017%2F05%2F12%2Fitalia%2Flite-irlandaitalia-cos-morirono-migranti-PecVjJMFeIrbA7ngQhOjfP%2Fpagina.html&edit-text=&act=url">On 5 August 2015, the Dublin Navy refused to intervene off the Libyan coast. The Coast Guard ordered the commander to organize the rescue, but it was late</a> <a href="http://www.lastampa.it/2017/05/12/italia/lite-irlandaitalia-cos-morirono-migranti-PecVjJMFeIrbA7ngQhOjfP/pagina.html">Lite Irlanda-Italia, così morirono 25 migranti </a> La Stampa Riccardo Arena 12/05/2017 <br />
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<a href="https://www.herald.ie/news/le-niamh-rescuers-recall-horrific-scenes-during-bid-to-save-migrants-31433589.html">LE Niamh rescuers recall horrific scenes during bid to save migrants</a> Herald.ie Alan O'Keeffe – 07 August 2015<br />
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<a href="https://www.thesun.ie/news/990143/i-s-terror-attack-fears-held-up-major-irish-navy-rescue-mission-during-incident-which-saw-200-die/">I.S terror attack fears held up major Irish Navy rescue mission during incident which saw 200 die</a> Owen Conlon The Sun 13th May 2017 <br />
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<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/naval-service-defends-actions-of-patrol-ship-during-migrant-rescue-1.3084161">Naval Service defends actions of patrol ship during migrant rescue</a>Irish Times, May 16, 2017 Lorna Siggins<br />
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<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0807/719787-migrants/">Five men detained after presumed drowning of more than 200 migrants</a> RTE.ie 7 Aug 2015 <br />
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<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/migrant-crisis-refugees-charged-up-to-1600-to-board-boat-346964.html">Migrant Crisis: Refugees charged up to €1,600 to board boat</a> August 09, 2015 By Conall Ó Fátharta <br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/07/italy-migrant-boat-capsize-five-men-accused-murder">Five men charged with murder of 200 migrants drowned in the Med</a> Stephanie Kirchgaessner 7 Aug 2015<br />
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<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/coveney-blasts-inhumane-trafficking-trade-31436305.html">Coveney blasts 'inhumane' trafficking trade</a> Irish Independent Philip Ryan August 8 2015<br />
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<a href="https://mashable.com/2015/08/05/migrants-mediterranean-boat-disaster/?europe=true#uMbtkICxbEqF">Hundreds saved, but dozens dead after boat capsizes in the Mediterranean</A> By Christopher Miller Aug 05, 2015 Mashable<br />
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<a href="https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/12/06/migranti-procura-di-palermo-chiede-lergastolo-per-tre-scafisti-accusati-dellomicidio-di-200-persone/3242599/">Migranti, procura di Palermo chiede l’ergastolo per tre scafisti: accusati dell’omicidio di 200 persone</a> IlFattoQuotidiano.it 6 dicembre 2016<br />
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<a href="https://palermo.repubblica.it/cronaca/2017/11/29/news/migranti_provocarono_200_morti_due_scafisti_condannati_a_14_anni-182530328/">Migranti, provocarono 200 morti: due scafisti condannati a 14 anni</a> repubblica.it 29 novembre 2017<br />
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<table><tr><td>Ship</td><td>Location</td><td>date</td></tr>
<tr><td>le Eithne</td><td>Departs for Med</td><td><a href="https://www.newstalk.com/LE-Eithne-departs-for-Mediterranean-mission">16 May 2015</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Le Eithne</td><td>Palermo</td><td><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ministers-pay-tribute-to-heroic-work-of-l%C3%A9-eithne-crew-1.2276145">30th June 2015</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Le Eithne</td><td>Returns from Med</td><td><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/lé-eithne-returns-after-mediterranean-search-and-rescue-1.2287506">16th July 2015</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Le Niamh</td><td>Departs for Med</td><td><a href="http://www.military.ie/en/press-office/news-and-events/single-view/article/19-july-2015-le-niamh-rescued-98-migrants/?cHash=78d5273978091186697c63d01790ba85">10th July 2015</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Le Niamh</td><td></td><td><a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2018-09-07a.64&s=le+niamh#g66.r">5th August 2015</a></td></tr>
<tr><td>Le Niamh</td><td>Departs Med</td><td><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/le-niamh-returns-from-mediterranean-rescue-duties-1.2375272?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fireland%2Firish-news%2Fle-niamh-returns-from-mediterranean-rescue-duties-1.2375272">Oct 2, 2015</a></td></tr>
</table><br />
<b>Further News Reports</b><br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/ministers-pay-tribute-to-heroic-work-of-l%C3%A9-eithne-crew-1.2276145">Ministers pay tribute to ‘heroic work’ of LÉ Eithne crew</a> Jul 7, 2015, Lorna Siggins Irish Times<br />
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<a href="https://www.newsdeeply.com/refugees/articles/2017/07/14/italys-smuggling-prosecutions-ruin-lives-while-real-criminals-go-free?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=refugeesdeeply&utm_content=Italy%27s%20Smuggling%20Prosecutions%20Ruin%20Lives%20While%20Real%20Criminals%20Go%20Free">Italy’s Smuggling Prosecutions Ruin Lives While Real Criminals Go Free</a> News Deeply by Ilaria Sesana July 14, 2017<br />
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<a href="https://www.thesun.ie/news/680364/two-smugglers-jailed-for-causing-deaths-of-14-migrants-found-locked-in-barge-rescued-by-irish-navy-in-med-sea/">Two smugglers jailed for causing deaths of 14 migrants found locked in barge rescued by Irish Navy in Med Sea</a> Owen Conlan The Sun 8th March 2017 <a href="https://www.google.ie/search?q=Ezzedine+Ouled+Wafi&hl=en&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj1w7_Mnv7cAhWbF8AKHRqpDKEQ_AUICSgA&biw=1814&bih=1006&dpr=1.25">Italian articles</a> covering these member refer to them as scafisti<br />
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<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/l%C3%A9-niamh-rescues-367-people-after-capsize-in-mediterranean-1.2308120">LÉ ‘Niamh’ rescues 367 people after capsize in Mediterranean</a> Aug 6, 2015, Irish Times Lorna Siggins<br />
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<a href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/international/81108-150806-over-200-migrants-feared-drowned-off-libya">Rescuers search for over 200 migrant bodies after boat capsized off Libya</a> Men with coloured wristbands 08/06/2015 i24NEWS<br />
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<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hundreds-feared-drowned-after-migrant-boat-capsizes-in-mediterranean-31429825.html">Hundreds feared drowned after migrant boat capsizes in Mediterranean</a> Ed Carty & Independent.ie August 5 2015 <br />
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<a href="https://www.herald.ie/news/med-trafficking-suspect-picked-up-by-irish-navy-31360403.html">Med trafficking suspect picked up by Irish navy</a> Herald.ie Cormac McQuinn – 08 July 2015 <br />
<blockquote>It is understood that the crew of the LE Eithne were unaware that the man was a suspected trafficker.</blockquote><blockquote>The State Police told the Herald that they "identified and arrested" Mr Ltayef on suspicion that he was the "smuggler" of a boat of migrants.</blockquote><br />
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<a href="http://www.ansa.it/sicilia/notizie/2015/07/01/arrestato-scafista-a-palermo_112e271c-6442-4e21-9772-81b75838b88a.html">Arrested smuggler in Palermo</A> ANSA 01 July 2015 <blockquote>ALERMO, 1 JULY - The State Police arrested one of the smugglers who landed yesterday in Palermo with the Irish ship Le Eithne who rescued 647 migrants in the Sicily channel. During the night, the stories of the migrants were collected and indicated Bairam Ltayef, 24, Tunisian, as one of the smugglers who organized the trip from the coasts of Libya. Even a Moroccan citizen, Adil Aboulfettah, 33, was arrested because he had already been expelled.</blockquote><br />
Searched for mention of <a href="https://www.google.ie/search?q=scafisti+wristbands+-zachary+-intercept+-bracelet+-bracelets&safe=active&hl=en&lr=lang_en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwirkLPPuf7cAhVHgVwKHSIEAO4QuAEIJg&biw=1765&bih=960">scafisti and wristbands</a> found <a href="http://www.refworld.org/docid/56bda21d4.html">Europe's Refugee Emergency Response - Update #13, 27 November – 3 December 2015</a> <blockquote>In Chios, UNHCR initiated the use of colour wristbands to track different arrival groups in order to enhance<br />
registration management and timely provision of protection and assistance. </blockquote><br />
<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2017/02/22/europe/europe-refugee-policy/index.html">How some European countries are tightening their refugee policies</A> <br />
By Judith Vonberg, CNNFebruary 22, 2017 Photos<br />
<blockquote>Migrants wear identification bracelets aboard a Norwegian ship during a search-and-rescue mission off the Libyan coast on Tuesday, September 1</blockquote><br />
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<a href="http://www.military.ie/press-office/news-and-events/">Irish Military news</a> military.ie<br />
dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-59251769964336104512018-06-28T15:03:00.001-07:002018-06-28T15:31:43.170-07:00Councillors should not be able to co-opt anybody on to their seat if they leave the council within a year of when the next election is due.Councillors should not be able to co-opt anybody on to their seat if they leave the council within a year of when the next election is due.<br />
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I notice many councillors quit around a year before the next elections are due in order to co-opt a replacement and to give them profile before the election. Im not impressed.<br />
<a href="http://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/coyle-calls-time-on-20year-political-career-but-has-no-plans-to-disappear-29301242.html">Coyle calls time on 20-year political career but has no plans to disappear</a> Fingal Independent May 28 2013<br />
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<blockquote>Speaking to the Fingal Independent about his decision to retire, Mr. Coyle, said he had always intended to step down a year ahead of the next local elections to allow his replacement to be co-opted on the council and establish a record for themselves before facing the electorate. </blockquote><br />
If you want to get on the council campaign and go for election and win. Isn't it your work in the community that establishes your record, not being co-opted?<br />
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If a councillor is elected to another position he should be allowed co-opt a replacment.<br />
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Councillors quit for various reasons, work or family commitments or health. One could say that you coulnd't punish somebody for poor health and should have nothing but sympathy for them but heres <a href="https://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/i-just-tried-to-do-my-best-36646240.html">an example</a> of somebody who says he is retiring due to ill-health but says he decided this year before he stood down, so he can't have been that poorly.<br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h-jxm0gGOcInvfbcRNnpEDyiEV_RRV4N4SEtYYmjOLU/edit?usp=sharing">List of co-options around a year before 2014 local elections</a><br />
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS0FpBK4UdgiVP4OzoWyy_q6pzBSUpsYdbneexutlhg5cV2kofvrvarntKepuu_kPv3yWByLfx4MA1b/pubhtml?gid=0&single=true&widget=true&headers=false" width=600 height=600></iframe><br />
<a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h-jxm0gGOcInvfbcRNnpEDyiEV_RRV4N4SEtYYmjOLU/edit?usp=sharing">List of co-options before 2019 local elections</a><br />
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vS0FpBK4UdgiVP4OzoWyy_q6pzBSUpsYdbneexutlhg5cV2kofvrvarntKepuu_kPv3yWByLfx4MA1b/pubhtml?gid=800201497&single=true&widget=true&headers=false" width=600 height=600></iframe><br />
The Fingal County Council <a href="https://t.co/L9M0qMNHcG">standing orders</a> says If a non party councillor members dies, his/her family gets to nominate a replacement. Would be better if it were his election agent?<br />
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<A href="https://adriankavanaghelections.org/2016/07/06/city-and-county-council-members-co-options-and-changes-since-the-2014-local-elections/">City and County Council Members – Co-options and Changes since the 2014 Local Elections</A> Adrain Kavanaghdublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-55979815361583477092018-06-26T12:36:00.000-07:002018-06-26T12:43:06.860-07:00Why does legislation take so long? Political decision, indecision, or lack of legal drafting staff?Why does legislation take so long? Political decision, indecision, or lack of legal drafting staff?<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For Dept of Transport, it looks like this (from a previous request relating to different time frame) <a href="https://t.co/7KPDxPMyPm">pic.twitter.com/7KPDxPMyPm</a></p>— Ken Foxe (@kenfoxe) <a href="https://twitter.com/kenfoxe/status/1001537710035816448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
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<a href="https://www.dccae.gov.ie/documents/FOI%202017%2072%20File%20for%20Web.pdf">dccae example</a> via <a href="https://www.dccae.gov.ie/en-ie/about-us/compliance/freedom-of-information-(foi)/published-foi-requests/published-foi-requests/Pages/Disclosure-Log-2017.aspx">DCCAE log</A><br />
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<a href="https://www.google.ie/search?q=foi+esubmissions">FOI and esubmissions search</A><br />
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Get esubmission lists compare with Dail answers and see when decisions were made.dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-17250720814773920732018-06-21T10:02:00.001-07:002019-03-09T04:51:35.286-08:00We need Media Legibility as much as Media Literacy<b>Reuters Digital News Report 2018</b><br />
As part of the <a href="http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/">Reuters Digital News Report 2018</A> <a href="http://media.digitalnewsreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2018-Digital-News-Report-Survey-FINAL.pdf?x89475">survey</a> a question was asked of the public in each country 'Who is typically responsible for writing a press release? The results of the <a href="http://www.bai.ie/en/download/132964/">Irish survey</a> carried out by <a href="http://www.fujo.ie">FUJO</a> surprised me.<blockquote>33 percent thought journalists and news outlets write press-releases for organisations; only 36 percent correctly identified the role of a PR spokesperson.</blockquote>Would a "Press Officer" answer option let more people choose the correct answer? , or was there a confusion between a press release tha its usually written and then offering spokesperson (as in speech) as the correct answer option? A survey is fine but why did they get the answer wrong?<br />
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<center><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DgOdXniXcAMYbmE.jpg" height=525 width=575></center><br />
I read some other <a href="https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/handle/10355/34713">US studies</a>/<a href="http://digitalcommons.uri.edu/jmle/vol6/iss3/3/">surveys</a> of media literacy recently and the most of the questions seemed very basic to me, Im not sure how familiarity with the particular phraseology used by the news media is actually a news literacy test, a lot of the phrases are not actually used in the news, questions on general sceptism would be more useful. The <a href="http://www.bai.ie/en/download/132964/">2018</a> and <a href="http://www.bai.ie/en/irelands-trust-news-higher-international-average/">2017</a> Reuters report seem to be about how the ignorant public get things wrong and are being misled by social media and outside forces, no mention of a catastrophic unending Mid-East war based on lies buoyed by the media or phone "hacking". The <a href="http://media.digitalnewsreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Digital-News-Report-Questionnaire-2017.pdf?x89475">2017 questionnaire</a> directly compared social media and news media and seem to prime the respondents to compare and contrast them rather then consider news media by its self. <br />
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<b>Media Literacy vs Media Legibility</b><br />
One of the functions of the <a href="http://www.bai.ie">Broadcasting Authority of Ireland</a> is 'media literacy', news/media literacy seems to be (generally aimed children) but also to be all about the public's ignorance of the media and how it works, how about the media be more transparent.<br />
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I think the other side of the coin to 'media literacy' might be 'media legibility', as an example, the <a href="http://www.digitalnewsreport.org/survey/2018/ireland-2018/">Reuters Digital Report 2018</a> report says a lot of the public were not clear about who writes press releases. If the media was clearer about often just turning press releases into articles (perhaps by including the entire press release they were sent at the bottom of the article or linking to it), that would be 'media legibility', ie. being clearer about what they are doing. Does BAI have Media Legibility Policy / Network or does is my example have any part of the Media Literacy policy? <br />
<br />
I think media <a href="http://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2017/11/irish-news-media-corrections-policies.html">correcting their mistakes</a> and using <a href="http://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2016/09/why-do-print-and-online-newspapers.html">hyperlinks</a> or embedding to source documents is crucial. Maybe news media literacy is a consumer facing issue and news legibility is a journalism industry issue. So does anyone in Ireland promote news legibility for the public benefit? The Press Council/Ombudsman is extremely limited as <a href="http://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2018/05/irish-newspapers-have-no-accountability.html">I recently discovered</a>, its for the press not the public. The NUJ seem to be like lawyers and just defend reporters no matter how they carry out their job. The are number initiatives like the <a href="https://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/journalism-ethics/programs/the-trust-project/trust-project-launches-indicators/">Trust Project Indicators </a> which would aid media legibility but none are active in Ireland. The <a href="http://dit.ie/researchenterprise/ourresearch/researchinstitutescentresgroups/researchgroups/criticalmedialiteracy/">Centre for Critical Media Literacy</A> is for student journalists, will they be able to change industry practices once employed in the industry?<br />
<br />
<b>Broadcasting Authority of Ireland</b><br />
<br />
The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland operates under the <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/18/enacted/en/html">Broadcasting Act 2009</a><br />
<br />
Among the <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/18/section/26/enacted/en/html#sec26">functions</a> of the BAI is to,<br />
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<blockquote>(g) to undertake, encourage and foster research, measures and activities which are directed towards the promotion of media literacy, including co-operation with broadcasters, educationalists and other relevant persons. </blockquote>it also <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/18/section/154/enacted/en/html#sec154">funds</a> <blockquote>(b) new television or sound broadcasting programmes to improve adult or media literacy, </blockquote><br />
<a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/18/section/2/enacted/en/html#sec2">Definition of media literacy</A><br />
<blockquote>“ media literacy ” means to bring about a better public understanding of:<br />
<br />
(a) the nature and characteristics of material published by means of broadcast and related electronic media,<br />
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(b) the processes by which such material is selected, or made available, for publication by broadcast and related electronic media,<br />
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(c) the processes by which individuals and communities can create and publish audio or audio-visual material by means of broadcast and related electronic media, and<br />
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(d) the available systems by which access to material published by means of broadcast and related electronic media is or can be regulated; </blockquote><br />
Can this not include media legibility? can you not bring about a better public understanding of the nature and characteristics of material published by means of broadcast and related electronic media by encouraging the publishers to provide transparent and rich content?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bai.ie/en/viewers-listeners/understanding-media/">BAI Understanding media and the Media Literacy Network</a><br />
<br />
<b><a href="https://twitter.com/medialitireland">Media Literacy Network Ireland</a></b><br />
<br />
BAI's <a href="http://www.bai.ie/en/download/131565/">Media Literacy Policy</a> <a href="http://www.bai.ie/en/download/132542/">Document</a> on the working groups of the Media Literacy Network Ireland and the Interim Steering Groups and an infrequently updated <a href="https://mailchi.mp/d6a5fb54d02f/media-literacy-ireland-newsletter">mailing list</a>.<br />
<br />
<b> Press Council / Press Ombudsman </b><br />
<br />
There is independent of government <a href="http://www.presscouncil.ie/">Press Council/ Press Ombudsman</a> which was <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2010/si/163/made/en/print?q=%22press+council%22&search_type=all">set up</a> to accompany the <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/31/enacted/en/print#sec44">Defamation Act 2009</A> which outlines the mininum standards <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2009/act/31/enacted/en/print#sched2">Minimum Requirements in Relation to Press Council</a>. <blockquote>The principal objects of the Press Council shall be to—<br />
<br />
(a) ensure the protection of freedom of expression of the press,<br />
<br />
(b) protect the public interest by ensuring ethical, accurate and truthful reporting by the press,<br />
<br />
(c) maintain certain minimum ethical and professional standards among the press,<br />
<br />
(d) ensure that the privacy and dignity of the individual is protected. </blockquote><br />
Could this include encouraging media legibilty (or even media literacy?) The Press Ombudsman doesn't take <a href="http://www.presscouncil.ie/making-a-complaint">complaints</a> from third parties only those "personally affected" which leaves a lot of mistakes with no outside body to enforce correction.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Further Research</b><br />
<br />
I came across Brian O'Neills papers on media literacy which revealed to me why I dislike the concept of media literacy so much in <a href="https://arrow.dit.ie/aaschmedcon/16/">Communication Rights, Digital Literacy and Ethical Individualism in the New Media Environment</A> <blockquote>Commentators have noted that the new emphasis on media literacy in public policy represents a significant shift of responsibility from collective forms of regulation and control, represented by legislation and regulatory control at member state level, to the individual who is now deemed responsible and assumed to be capable of making informed choices in matters of communication and social interaction in today’s mediated environment (Livingstone, Lunt et al. 2007; Penman and Turnbull 2007). The ideal subject of digital literacy appears to represent a form of ethical individualism in which the source of moral values and principles, and the basis of ethical evaluation is the individual (Lukes 1973).</blockquote><br />
Sonia Livingstone <a href="http://www.lse.ac.uk/media@lse/WhosWho/AcademicStaff/SoniaLivingstone/pdf/Livingstone-and-Das,-manuscript.pdf">has highlighted</a> media legibility as the other side of media literacy but seems to be mostly referring to bad interface design rather then the content, I don't quite see it as problem to be overcome but an opportunity, the usefulness of hyperlinks and embedding in order to make news media legible, perhaps if I referred to it as "news media legibility and transparency (honesty...opacity) that would be clearer. <br />
<blockquote>As with our other pairings, the notion of literacy implies a text to be read, raising questions of legibility – what interpretations are afforded, what knowledge is expected, what possibilities are enabled or impeded. The case may also be made in reverse – the more complex or, especially, the more “illegible” (or hard to read, to decode) the text or media environment, the greater the task of media literacy. On this account, many new digital interfaces should be understood as illegible (illdesigned, non-user-friendly, possibly deliberately obscure or deceptive); only as literacy develops and, one hopes, as the text/technology is redesigned responsively, can literacy and legibility achieve a tolerable balance.</blockquote><br />
<blockquote>The focus on legibility, together with the recognition that literacy is culturally and historically conditioned, not simply a matter of individual cognition (Scribner and Cole 1973; Snyder 2001), foregrounds a critical perspective long important to audience research.</blockquote><br />
Maybe in the second paragrpah she also means in the individual versus collective sense that she and Brian O'Neill wrote about? (when will academic papers be legible?)<br />
<br />
Reading other mentions from her of legibility...<br />
http://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/assets/documents/research/eu-kids-online/news/EUKidsOnlineresponsetoFCCNOIDec2009.pdf<br />
http://henryjenkins.org/blog/2009/06/an_interview_with_sonia_living.html<br />
https://books.google.ie/books?id=Bpb4CgAAQBAJ&lpg=PA155&dq=Sonia%20Livingstone%20media%20legibility&pg=PA155#v=onepage&q=medium&f=false<br />
http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/48962/1/Livingstone_Maximising-opportunities-and-minimising-risks-for-children-online_2009.pdf<br />
http://digilitey.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/S-Livingstone-Slides.pdf<br />
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/15b1/ff26d9d6eb0ccef9f21cd1f9a5334fb01c41.pdf<br />
http://www.lse.ac.uk/media%40lse/WhosWho/AcademicStaff/SoniaLivingstone/pdf/Media-literacy,-chapter-6,-Lunt-and-Livingstone-in-Media-Regulation,-manuscript.pdf<br />
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/mediapolicyproject/2018/05/08/media-literacy-everyones-favourite-solution-to-the-problems-of-regulation/<br />
http://www.lse.ac.uk/media@lse/Polis/Files/digitalnatives.pdf<br />
https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/4155054.pdf<br />
http://www.lse.ac.uk/media-and-communications/assets/documents/research/eu-kids-online/news/EUKidsOnlineresponsetoFCCNOIDec2009.pdf <br />
Her definition of media legibility,<blockquote>for internet literacy depends on online ‘legibility’ – namely a transparent, interpretable, conventionalised environment for users. </blockquote><br />
<br />
But if Sonia Livingstone suggests that media legibility is essential for media literacy should it not be core of the BAI Media Literacy Policy and the Media Literacy Network? <br />
<br />
<b>Links</b><br />
<a href="https://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/reports/strategy-studies/show-sources/">‘Build credibility through transparency’</a> The American Press Institute.dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-19306735755337361872018-05-30T15:37:00.002-07:002018-06-21T12:15:09.847-07:00If a TD thinks an Irish president shouldn't be returned without a vote, why have they not initiated a bill to prevent it?Michael Fitzmaurice TD says he wants to try and force a presidential election,(I think there should be one too).<br />
<a href="https://soundcloud.com/oceanfm/ill-stand-myself-against-president-higgins-if-there-is-no-election-insists-td">Ill stand myself against President Higgins if there is no election insists TD</a> Ocean FM Nialll Delaney 2017<br />
<a href="https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/home/266201/fitzmaurice-says-he-would-contest-presidential-election-to-stop-president-michael-d-higgins-getting-a-free-run-at-a-second-term.html"><br />
Fitzmaurice says he would contest presidential election to stop President Michael D Higgins getting " a free run" at a second term</A> Liam Cosgrove 21 Aug 2017<br />
<br />
I asked Michael Fitzmaurice TD, "do you think that it should be possible for an Irish President to return to office without an election?"<br />
<br />
He replied "I think that should not happen".<br />
<br />
I then asked him,<br />
<br />
"would you then be sponsoring a bill to to remove <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html">Article 12 5°</a> from the constitution?"<br />
<blockquote>Where only one candidate is nominated for the office of President it shall not be necessary to proceed to a ballot for his election. </blockquote><br />
I received no reply from Michael Fitzmaurice TD.<br />
<br />
<br />
The Constitutional Convention members made up of 66 citizens and 33 public reps voted on potnetial changes to the <a href="https://t.co/FNjsimXv6Q">length of Presidential term</a>.<br />
Yes <br />
No<br />
<br />
Reduce the presidential term to five years<br />
43<br />
57<br />
0<br />
<br />
One-term presidency – seven years<br />
44<br />
44<br />
12<br />
<br />
One-term presidency – five years<br />
14<br />
78<br />
8<br />
<br />
<br />
Perhaps limiting it to one 7 or 8 year term would the simplest way to propose to resolve this, whether it would pass through the Oireachtas is another story.<br />
<br />
If Michael Fitzmaurice or any other TD feels this strongly about this, why havn't they initiated such a bill. <br />
<br />
Reducing or broadening the nomination criteria may be another way to address this without removing the option entirely.<br />
<br />
Potential candidate <a href="http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html#part15">senators can not initiate bills to amend the constitution</a> but they could ask their potential TDs nominators to do so.<br />
<b>Links</b><br />
<a href="https://t.co/FNjsimXv6Q">Constitutional Convention report on presidential terms</a><br />
<a href="http://archive.constitution.ie">Previous consitutional reviews</A><br />
<br />
<br />
Ps Who are these other potential candidates? Who is Dr John McHugh from US / Donegal? <br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Request to council for nomination to the president from Marie Goretti Moylan <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/aras18?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#aras18</a> <a href="https://t.co/3ane14M6PI">https://t.co/3ane14M6PI</a> <a href="https://t.co/UR3Y4DXUJ0">pic.twitter.com/UR3Y4DXUJ0</a></p>— steve white (@lostexpectation) <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/1001773778261725184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 30, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Three people ask Longford council for support in Presidential election <a href="https://t.co/iMzF9vkq2N">https://t.co/iMzF9vkq2N</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/ShannonsideFM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shannonsidefm</a> Dr John McHugh from the US and Marie Goretti Moylan? and Kevin Sharkey</p>— steve white (@lostexpectation) <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/1001607752949616640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2018</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><br />
<br />
dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-85066310608677222932018-05-30T03:54:00.000-07:002019-11-03T07:30:29.222-08:00Constitutional Convention and Citizens Assembly Polling Company Recruitment standardsBefore suggesting new citizen's assemblies / constitutional conventions shouldn't we get answers on the lax recruitment standards used for them, a few examples below.<br />
<br />
<b>Constitutional Convention 2012 - 2014</b> <br />
<br />
A women called "Louise from D12" rang up <a href="https://www.rte.ie/radio1/liveline/programmes/2013/0219/368568-tuesday-19th-february-2013/">RTE's LiveLine</a> in February 2013 to discuss the Women in the Home debate and casually admitted (<a href="http://dublinstreams.com/temp/20130219_rteradio1-liveline-womeninthe_c20158277_20158279_232_.mp3">at ~24ms</a>) that a friend that works for the company recruited her, and did so because she knew she would fill out the survey, because she had done surveys with her before and she fit a demographic, considering the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130822085229/https://www.constitution.ie/Documents/BehaviourAndAttitudes.pdf">rules of selection</a> required a recruiter to start at a randomly selected house, what are the chances she was following the rules or just got lazy.<br />
<br />
There were multiple versions of the convention <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130822085755/https://www.constitution.ie/Documents/ListOfMembers.pdf">membership list</a> as people dropped out and others were added and I have not found a Louise ? Dublin 12 in any of the lists I have, but there is a Yvonne X Dublin 12. A woman called Yvonne spoke on <a href="https://www.rte.ie/radio1/liveline/programmes/2013/0415/381519-liveline-monday-15-april-2013/">RTE 's Liveline during April 2013</a> who joked about the Chair Tom Arnold calling her Louise and who Joe Duffy described as the only person to speak publically about the Constitutional Convention. So this is obviously the same person.<br />
<br />
It was a different polling company to the one use for the Citizen's Assembly, but same lack of standards, I looked and couldn't find an ethical code for market research staff and the companies would not give them to me.<br />
<br />
I did try to find engage Behavior and Attitudes re the "Louise" situation they equivocated. I was told "Our interviewers are told not to return to respondents until an extended period of time has elapsed. " but what if the fieldworker becomes familiar with a person views if they have surveyed them multiple times, should they return to them at all if the survey is about socio-political issues?<br />
<br />
I submitted a complaint to <a href="https://www.esomar.org/what-we-do/about-us">ESOMAR</a> through their <a href="https://www.esomar.org/what-we-do/standards#protecting-you">complaint form</a> never heard back from them.<br />
<br />
For the constitutional convention a married couple and some neighbours were chosen to be members which doesn't seem very random or demographically spread.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/concern-as-couple-and-set-of-neighbours-are-randomly-selected-for-constitutional-body-29074928.html">Concern as couple and set of neighbours are 'randomly selected' for constitutional body</a> Independent.ie Fionnan Sheahan February 16 2013<br />
<br />
It interesting that this was added to the <a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/About-the-Citizens-Assembly/Who-are-the-Members/Red-C-Methodology-Document.pdf">Citizens Assembly methodology <br />
</a><blockquote>Interviewers selected a start address at random within the DED allocated to them. <b>They then tried to complete interviews at every nth house within that specific location.</b> <b>Within each household a random selection process was used to identify the person to try and recruit if more than one person was available.</b><br />
Direct applications from members of the public to take part in the Assembly were not accepted, as the members of the Assembly had to be chosen at random to ensure a completely unbiased approach and be broadly representative of all citizens using demographic variables as reflected in the Census. <b>Similarly, interviewers were not allowed to recruit friends or family together.</b></blockquote><br />
The <a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/About-the-Citizens-Assembly/Who-are-the-Members/Red-C-Recruitment-Questionnaire-.pdf">questionaire</A> asked people what way they voted in the last election but the Assembly said they did not use that information to select, It seems it was asked to cover themselves from accusations of political party stuffing.<br />
<blockquote>How people voted at the last election was asked in the recruitment questionnaire by REDC in case it was required for quota purposes. It was however, decided not to quota the sample on this basis but only on the basis of demographics.</blockquote><br />
Seems like a direct attempt to address the issues highlighted in that article and elsewhere but they haven't addressed the issue of a recruiter using people they've surveyed before as I highlight above.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Citizen's Assembly</b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/News/Statement-from-the-Citizens%E2%80%99-Assembly.html">Statement from the Citizens’ Assembly re issue with the recruitment of some replacement members in December 2017/January 2018</a> <br />
<a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/News/RED-C-Internal-Audit.pdf">RED C Internal Audit</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.redc.ie">REDc</A> were asked to recruit 13 more people after drop outs before the <a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/Manner-in-which-referenda-are-held/Manner-in-which-referenda-are-held.html">referenda session</a> and turns out one recruiter was having trouble recuiting people so asked his family and friends to suggest people and then rang them rather then do it by random door knocking as per the <a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/About-the-Citizens-Assembly/Who-are-the-Members/">rules of the recruitment</a>, he recuited 7 people in this improper way. So the close votes for the referenda session are being deemed invalid.<br />
<br />
REDc say they checked and said all previous recruitments were correct so previous sessions such as abortion not affected...<br />
<br />
I don't know how the problem wasn't spotted when there is supposed to be as RED C state "a secondary validation screening process to double check that those who had been recruited were a. definitely happy to take part and b. were recruited as prescribed". <br />
<center><a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/About-the-Citizens-Assembly/Who-are-the-Members/Red-C-Validation-Questionnaire.pdf">REDc follow-up validation questionnaire</a></center><center><img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DesEqKkW0AA2bri.jpg" height=300 width=500></center><br />
I asked the Citizens Assembly about this and they justed quoted the report I had already read back at me,<br />
<blockquote>In response to your specific query, I refer to section 8 on page 14 of the Audit Document, specifically point (g) under the heading "Audit Response" . I include the full text of point g below for convenience:<br />
<br />
"g) The verification documents show that a full and proper verification procedure was initiated and completed with each of the seven members, but the responses given by each did not point to the irregularity of recruitment which has since been identified."<br />
<br />
I hope this answers your query.</blockquote>No it doesn't, how is that they asked these people about how they were recruited and none said they contacted first by phone which is what this suspended recruiter did, (not by a door knock) against the rules of the recruitment process. Did the recruiter tell all 7 to lie to the next REDc employee to call them about how they were first contacted but 1 of them forgot to lie to the secretariat at the meeting? <br />
<br />
Their <a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/News/RED-C-Internal-Audit.pdf">audit</a> says,<br />
<blockquote>This came to light in final checks conducted by the Secretariat among new members attending their first meeting on the 13th & 14th January 2018, when one replacement member stated that recruitment had been initiated by telephone rather than face to face. <br />
</blockquote>So secretariat had suspicions on the day but let the people continue (otherwise the meeting would have to have been cancelled?).<br />
<br />
It was reported at the time the recruiter directly involved was suspended, would like update on the disciplinary procedure.<br />
<a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/recruiter-for-citizens-assembly-suspended-after-replacement-members-enlisted-through-personal-contacts-and-not-randomly-36629881.html">Recruiter for Citizens Assembly suspended after replacement members enlisted through personal contacts and not randomly</A> Irish Independent Allison Bray February 21 2018 <br />
<br />
Theres long been criticism of pollling, thats its often done by people ringing their mates to fill a quota and here we have that exact thing happening...<br />
<br />
<b>Another rogue recruiter</b><br />
A person <a href="http://www.thejournal.ie/citizens-assembly-meeting-3024890-Oct2016/#comment-5549527">commenting on TheJournal article</a> said that somebody tried to recruit him to the citizens assembly on the street as opposed to door knocking as was required in the contract, I didn't believe him at the time because he said he was asked about his vote, the <a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/About-the-Citizens-Assembly/Who-are-the-Members/Red-C-Methodology-Document.pdf">REDc methodology document</a> they put out at the time didn't mention asking about last vote, they published the questionaire a week later and it included a question about their last vote, the Assembly said they didn't use it as selection criteria but they obviously asked as way to cover their ass regarding accusation of political stuffing.<br />
<br />
Now that the <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2018-05-29a.5#g22">Taoiseach</a> and <a href="https://www.labour.ie/act">other political parties</a> are looking at more Citizens Assemblies, wouldn't it be useful to scrutinize the ethical standards of the polling/recruitment staff of the companies used. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://banda.ie/about/">Behaviour & Attitudes</A><br />
<blockquote>We are members of <a href="https://aimro.ie/">AIMRO</a> and <a href="https://www.esomar.org/">ESOMAR</a>, and adhere to their standards as well as those dictated by top tier membership of MRS.</blockquote><br />
I searched for the standards and found standards for the companies but not standards for the field workers themselves.<br />
<b>Advocacy groups members vadilation fails</b><br />
<a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/citizens-assembly-member-replaced-over-role-with-pro-choice-group-1.2838626">Citizens’ Assembly member replaced over role with pro-choice group</a> Oct 21, 2016, 16:38<br />
Sarah Bardon<br />
The quote from Red-C suggest he did not mention his past participation in advocacy groups but he says he did.<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Looking like there's no more <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/citizensassembly?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#citizensassembly</a> for me RedC recruiters failed to enquire into my past in advocacy groups after I mentioned it</p>— Micheal O'Riordain (@SuperMikeyMan) <a href="https://twitter.com/SuperMikeyMan/status/789144633674784768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 20, 2016</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <br />
<a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/About-the-Citizens-Assembly/Who-are-the-Members/Red-C-Methodology-Document.pdf">REDc methodology document</a> <br />
<blockquote>As the Assembly will be discussing five separate predefined topics, it was agreed that members of advocacy groups on these topics (should they be randomly approached),will be excludedfrom membership of theAssembly. The rationale for this decision is based on the fact that interest groups will be invited to make presentations/submissions on the matters concerning them</blockquote><blockquote>During the recruitment and validation process each member confirmed that they were entitledto vote at a referendum, and confirmed that they have not been nor intend to be acting in an advocacy role for any interest or lobby group currently campaigning on any of the issues to be considered by the Assembly.</blockquote><br />
How did validation fail again?<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Links</b><br />
<a href="https://www.esomar.org/what-we-do/standards">ESOMAR standards</a> <a href="https://www.esomar.org/uploads/public/knowledge-and-standards/codes-and-guidelines/ESOMAR-WAPOR-Guideline-on-Opinion-Polls-and-Published-Surveys-August-2014.pdf">ESOMAR Guideline on Opinion Polls and Published Surveys August 2014</a><br />
<a href="https://aimro.ie/standards">AIMRO standards</a><br />
<a href="https://www.mrs.org.uk/standards/code-of-conduct">MRS standards</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Update on<b> Constitutional Convention 2012 - 2014</b> 2019<br />
<a href="https://truestoryaward.org/story/51">Finbar's Intervention</a><br />
Author: Bastian Berbner First Published: Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin, Germany, 2018-05-25<br />
<br />
<blockquote>That day, as on any other workday, Finbarr drives his van 110 kilometers over the rolling green hills and narrow stone bridges around the small, southern Irish city of Macroom, making stops at 540 mailboxes in total. After delivering the last of the day’s packages and letters, he breaks for a coffee on his way home. He’s sitting alone at a table, when a woman enters the café.<br />
<br />
He knows her, but then, he knows almost everyone here. O’Brien is a good mailman. Not the kind to snoop in people’s postcards. Rather, he’s the kind of mailman people are eager to share their news with. The kind they tell where the spare key is hidden, in case they’re out. O’Brien knows whose car is whose here, who is sick with what, where the kids have gone to study, and what brand of food the dogs get.<br />
<br />
As for the woman who enters the café that day, he knows that her name is Caroline, and that she works for a polling institute, or something. She comes over to his table. Finbarr, she says, would you be interested in going to Dublin one weekend a month for about a year, to consult on a new constitution for Ireland?</blockquote>The <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130822085229/https://www.constitution.ie/Documents/BehaviourAndAttitudes.pdf">rules of selection</a> required a recruiter to start at a randomly selected house. It could be that the cafe is the random address it doesn't say it it excludes business address's (but it might) but she didn't just go to a random person (or the owner) but somebody who as the articles says she knew the name of, what else did she know about him, his political views? <br />
<br />
Further down the articles says,<br />
<blockquote>Chris Lyons is 26 in autumn of 2012 when a friend’s mother, who works at a polling company, emails him and asks: Would you like to be part of this? </blockquote>This is not how the constitutional convention members were to be recruited.<br />
<br />
Recruiting for this assembly was very hard but that's no reason to break the rules.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Links/Sources</b><br />
<a href="https://www.mixcloud.com/rt%C3%A9radioplayerlatestpodcasts/liveline-the-citizens-assembly/">RTE Liveline: The Citizens' Assembly</a> 25/04/2017<br />
<a href="https://www.rte.ie/radio1/liveline/programmes/2018/0528/966632-liveline-monday-28-may-2018/">RTE Liveline: The Citizens' Assembly</a> 28/05/2018<br />
<a href="https://www.citizensassembly.ie/en/Manner-in-which-referenda-are-held/Manner-in-which-referenda-are-held.html">Manner in Which Refenda are Held</a>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-1331187560708635352018-05-22T06:11:00.001-07:002020-03-08T09:54:58.495-07:00Irish newspapers have no accountability as Press Ombudsman won't tackle fake news in member newspapers.The Irish Independent's Kevin Doyle misparaphrased Darragh O'Brien Fianna Fail TD and former foreign affairs spokesperson by suggesting he said 'Russian jets have entered Irish airspace' in his article titiled <a href="https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/ireland-is-now-a-fullyfledged-participant-in-modern-cold-war-as-varadkar-says-we-cant-be-neutral-36751533.html">Ireland is now a fully-fledged participant in 'modern Cold War' as Varadkar says we can't be neutral</a> (March 28 2018) he actually said "Irish-controlled airspace" see <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2018-03-27a.419&s=airspace#g422">the transcript</a> <a href="http://bit.ly/2yyjG8R">video</a> at 4hr 56m. Its worth making the distinction between 'Irish airspace' and 'international airspace', that Irish air traffic control helps to manage traffic in. If one is treating this issue with seriousness it deserves, this needs to be reported accurately.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQD9XugEksw/W_QZ1rsXvnI/AAAAAAAACdA/UMQQuqPJb1Yxc8-EzQcLHlYf_Wqo49TCgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-11-20%2BIreland%2Bis%2Bnow%2Ba%2Bfully-fledged%2Bparticipant%2Bin%2B%2527modern%2BCold%2BWar%2527%2Bas%2BVaradkar%2Bsays%2Bwe%2Bcan%2527t%2Bbe%2Bneutral%2B%255B...%255D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NQD9XugEksw/W_QZ1rsXvnI/AAAAAAAACdA/UMQQuqPJb1Yxc8-EzQcLHlYf_Wqo49TCgCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_2018-11-20%2BIreland%2Bis%2Bnow%2Ba%2Bfully-fledged%2Bparticipant%2Bin%2B%2527modern%2BCold%2BWar%2527%2Bas%2BVaradkar%2Bsays%2Bwe%2Bcan%2527t%2Bbe%2Bneutral%2B%255B...%255D.png" width="400" height="102" data-original-width="710" data-original-height="181" /></a></div><center><b>The Independent said Daragh O'Brien said Irish airspace.</b></center><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nYxr9-thkI/W_QZ3-Cg6kI/AAAAAAAACdE/VgKdpCcSdSwvBOLbV5EzwKcn_wccS-P-gCLcBGAs/s1600/Screenshot_2018-11-20%2BD%25C3%25A1il%2B%25C3%2589ireann%2Bdebate%2B-%2BTuesday%252C%2B27%2BMar%2B2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9nYxr9-thkI/W_QZ3-Cg6kI/AAAAAAAACdE/VgKdpCcSdSwvBOLbV5EzwKcn_wccS-P-gCLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot_2018-11-20%2BD%25C3%25A1il%2B%25C3%2589ireann%2Bdebate%2B-%2BTuesday%252C%2B27%2BMar%2B2018.png" width="400" height="70" data-original-width="918" data-original-height="160" /></a></div><center><b>Daragh O'Brien said Irish-controlled airspace, which isn't all Irish airspace</b></center><br />
I have got a similar mistake corrected in the <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/803290420885200896">Sunday Business Post</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/569187259322392577">RTE</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/lostexpectation/status/639423708780752896">Irish Times</a>, I complained to the Press Ombudsman about it after the Independent didn't reply, the Ombudsman rejected it on the basis it didn't personally affect me even I though I genuinely feel my safety and security is jeopardized by this inaccurate and thus inflammatory misreporting. <br />
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The Independent published something that isn't true, has been informed it isn't true, so is publishing something which its know not to be true, which is the definition of fake news, The Independent is publishing fake news and the Press Ombudsman won't do anything about it.<br />
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There is no accountability in Ireland for Irish newspapers.<br />
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ETA: I informed Darragh O'Brien TD about this and asked him to contact the Independent to get a correction made, he hasn't, he obviously didn't take his job as foreign affairs spokesperson seriously.<br />
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ETA: A journalist told me that newspapers do have accoutability because you can just stop buying newspapers if you think they publish news that is fake, but 1. I don't buy the Independent I read it onine if I do read it, and 2. How many people actually knew the above was false news, in order for it to effect anybodies purchasing habits? and for those purchasing choices to affect the paper.<br />
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Previously <a href="http://dublinstreams.blogspot.com/2017/08/if-genuine-news-orgs-dont-address-or.html">If 'genuine' news orgs don't address or correct their mistakes then they are fake news.</a>dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3836420780693828723.post-56819091465417986602018-04-23T13:29:00.000-07:002018-06-18T11:36:01.276-07:00Lack of scrutiny by opposition parties of opposition/private members billsTrying to figure how its correct for parties to vote for various private members bills that seem to have, not small but large flaws in their concepts or justifications. which they don't seem to consider all parts but will be seen to endorse by voting for the bill. They say they deal with issues at committee but should it be before?<br />
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There some comment on the amount of private members bills being started in the Dail, most of them go nowhere, either delayed by the government and FF or by backlogs in the committee, there also questions over the quality of the bills, partly because there opposition parties didn't have the legal help the government have (although this has been <a href="http://opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/Final_Report_of_the_Capacity_Review_of_the_Office_of_the_Parliamentary_Legal_Adviser__OPLA_174723.pdf">reviewed</a> and the Office of the Parliamentary Legal Advisor is being given more reseources) but they can be still used as <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/legislating-and-the-art-of-preventing-others-from-getting-what-they-want-468502.html">self-promotion tool</a> for months despite all these problems. <br />
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I've noticed that small parties and independents groups are voting for opposition bills without any of their party or Dail group speaking on the bill, so whether they support the entire bill or just parts of it, the proposing party can claim support even if there are huge flaws in the bills or their justifications. <br />
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The opposition party's refrain is that it can be fixed in the committee stage, and that is where most of the work on the bill occurs, committee officials help the politicians write a <a href="http://opac.oireachtas.ie/liberty/opac/search.do?queryTerm=bill%20scrutiny&mode=BASIC&operator=AND&title=Title%20...%20enter%20here&publicationYear=Year&yearTo=Year%20To&catalogAuthors=Author&mainSubject=Subject&resourceCollection=All&=undefined&modeRadio=KEYWORD&activeMenuItem=false">report scrutinising the bill</a> and asking for the governments and stakeholders views on them and then proposing amendments.<br />
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But <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/how-laws-are-made/">second stage</a> is supposed to be where the general principles of the bills are discussed and I've noticed a few bills where the opposition parties don't seem to have considered the principles of the bills.<br />
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Soldarity <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2018-04-19a.357#g383">say</a> they are supporting the Sinn Fein's <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=37764&&CatID=59">Extreme Weather (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2018</a><br />
but during second stage they didn't mention one half of the bill about threatening to arrest people who might, say surf on the morning before a storm during a red weather alert, and be accused of risking the life of the of rescue workers they may or MAY NOT need help from.<br />
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The Irish Coast Guard and Irish Water Safety both already said they didn't agree with legislating to criminalise this behaviour.<br />
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Why don't private members bills have pre-legisation scruitny <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/how-laws-are-made/">Government bills</a> do.<br />
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<blockquote>The Irish Coast Guard and Irish Water Safety concur, and believe legislation would be almost impossible to implement fairly</blockquote><a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/should-we-punish-reckless-people-who-need-to-be-rescued-1.3262109">Should we punish reckless people who need to be rescued</a> Irish Times.<br />
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<a href="http://www.kfmradio.com/node/78677">Listen: Irish Coastguard Director Not In Favour Of Legislating "For Stupidity". | Kfm Radio</a> 04/20/2018<br />
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Paul Murphy spoke on the bill but only on the half of the bill related to workers being allowed off work and still being paid during a red weather alerts, his spokeperson thinks its ok to ignore the other half bill even with significant organisations disagreeing with the concept of the legislation.<br />
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I also have pointed out <a href="http://www.politics.ie/forum/fianna-fail/260873-fianna-fail-want-start-censoring-social-media-10.html#post11708169">false</a> <a href="http://www.politics.ie/forum/fianna-fail/260873-fianna-fail-want-start-censoring-social-media-10.html#post11703363">claims</a> in to justify the FF <a href="https://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=37414&&CatID=59">Online Social Media Online Transparancy Bill</a> which the Socdems and Greens didn't speak on at <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/debate/?id=2017-12-13a.559">second stage</a> but <a href="http://dublinstreams.blogspot.ie/2017/12/fianna-fail-false-claims-used-to.html">did vote</a> for.<br />
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Catherine Murphy's spokesperson refuses to acknowlege the problems with a section of the bill she voted for, and also said she hasn't fully considered the Extreme Weather Bill and thus missed the opportunity to express her thoughts on it at <a href="https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2018-04-19a.357#g383">second stage</a> it will be voted on this Thursday.<br />
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<b>Links</b><br />
<a href="http://opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/Final_Report_of_the_Capacity_Review_of_the_Office_of_the_Parliamentary_Legal_Adviser__OPLA_174723.pdf">Capacity Review of the Office of the Parliamentary Legal Advisor</A><br />
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A <a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/racing/comment-the-passing-of-bills-is-as-tortuous-as-it-ever-was-despite-the-era-of-new-politics-468503.html">The passing of bills is as tortuous as it ever was, despite the era of ‘new politics’</a> Brendan Howlin March 20, 2018<br />
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<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2018/0222/942613-blog-dail-leglisation/">Legislative backlog making busy fools of our politicians </a> <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2018/0222/942600-dail-legislation-parties/">Parties in call to tackle growing backlog of Private Members' Bills</a> Thursday, 22 Feb 2018 Justin McCarthy<br />
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<a href="https://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/legislating-and-the-art-of-preventing-others-from-getting-what-they-want-468502.html">Legislating and the art of preventing others from getting what they want</A> Irish Examiner March 20, 2018 By Elaine Loughlin.<br />
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<a href="https://data.oireachtas.ie/ie/oireachtas/libraryResearch/2018/2018-06-15_l-rs-note-private-members-bills-pmbs-admissibility-government-messages-and-detailed-scrutiny_en.pdf">Oireachtas L&RS Note: Private Members’ Bills (PMBs): Admissibility, Government messages and detailed scrutiny</a> 15 June 2018dublinstreamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15670492570354241920noreply@blogger.com0