Exc: Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly admits he failed to register rental property in Dublin on time with the RTB, and only did so late last week after Robert Troy revelations. Spokesman blamed "oversight" on failure to register since 2019
New: All travellers flying into Ireland from any country will have to provide a negative PCR test from the previous 72 hours. Date of onset to be agreed
@IrishTimes
Lots of anger this morn. Understand the frustration with Government comms entirely. But I saw some people last night attack
@ciaraphelan_
for just doing her job & it makes no sense. Political journalists are supposed to find out what’s happening, through contacts and interviews.
Another day on Twitter. Called a despicable propagandist amongst many other slurs. Many by faceless trolls. It is most often on foot of articles about Sinn Féin. I mute and block & am totally grand but it would be nice to see SF TDs who are tagged in this stuff call it out.
So that's a former minister resigning his seat, a spicy byelection in works, the vaccination programme being majorly recast, the DUP leader on the ropes, and a former Sinn Fein councillor charged with murder
#Tuesday
Astounding claim from Stephen Donnelly on
@newstalk
with
@gavreilly
that the deputy CMO had dismissed the idea of vaccinating younger people first, days before he told our newspaper that he was considering it. Why say it then?
I am well used to getting abuse online and I have learned how to deal with it. But for tonight it would be very helpful to take me out of the equation and just read the story for what it is. It is not about me.
Level 5 restrictions to remain “for the forseeable future” well into the next few months leading up to summer. Beyond schools don’t expect any moves to ease restrictions next week - that’s the message coming out of that Cabinet committee meeting this evening
@IrishTimes
NEW: Sinn Fein member says she felt forced to resign from the party after being told not to discuss internal issues in public following Stanley controversy - a member of the party called to her house to ask her to delete recent critical tweets. Read here
Two members of the HSE board who dissented from the decision to approve legal documents have this evening said the State should own the land the hospital is built on as they expressed concerns about governance. More shortly on
@IrishTimes
The Dept Health
@roinnslainte
will not release a copy of the international evidence re Covid cases and pubs. This is despite the fact it was cited by the Minister today & mentioned in NPHET letter to Gov. Why not let people see the rationale behind key decisions like this?
New: Residents in Phibsborough complained to Fianna Fáil TD Robert Troy about “dangerous” conditions on a property he co-owns in Dublin. Residents raised concerns about crumbling walls that could collapse “at any minute”
On a few days off but 1: fair play to
@aoifegracemoore
and
@PTHosford
(where are the “msm do nothing” people here?) and 2: press advisors trying to tell journalists what to ask.. are you having a laugh. Christ.
NEW: Huge anger at Fine Gael PP tonight. Varadkar warned that the public is losing confidence in Government as TDs tell him "we have a problem". Taoiseach Micheal Martin's media performances described as "appalling". Read here:
via
@IrishTimes
New: Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly lobbied for tax breaks for ‘accidental landlords’ for four years - in a 2020 election hustings he described himself as an accidental landlord
After seven amazing years at the Irish Daily Mail working with great people, delighted to say I'm moving over to join the
@thetimesIE
as part of their political team. A top class publication, looking forward to it.
We spoke to
@Billbrowder
- arch foe of Vladimir Putin - who is in Dublin today to lobby for an Irish Magnitsky Act. He is warning that without it, Ireland could become a haven for money launderers
@EOBroin
@IrishTimes
Hey Eoin. I fact checked the developments referenced and go into detail on the context of each including Sinn Féin statements or explanations on same. I also reference other party’s opposition to various disposals and schemes.
NEW: Sinn Féin has asked Facebook to remove a secret group of 16,000 supporters, members and activists - TDs and councillors were in the group until this week when the Irish Times asked questions about the abusive and sometimes violent content inside it
Saw that tweet from yer man about being mentioned 41 times by Barbara Pym and “make of that what you will” 🙄 The fact is that account called me a soft hack with no backbone etc. Until I wrote a story about Sinn Fein and suddenly I was “brave”. Sad stuff all round.
Last day today with the amazing team at
@thetimesIE
! Business as usual though from Monday onwards because I'll be joining the political team at the
@IrishTimes
. Looking forward to it 👍🏻
“We can change our mind on Fine Gael, so why can’t we change our mind on Sinn Féin?” Fianna Fáil members air their grievances as Micheál Martin comes under pressure for postal vote on any FG deal
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald says Fine Gael can not continue to defend their “desperate” record on housing and health and gives her reaction to their new slogan
@IrishTimes
A few things: a lot of those heckling Mary Lou McDonald are well-known members of the far right. Second - Govt members later held their pressers indoors. Third - I’ve heard condemnation across political spectrum of how she was yelled at. Bonus fourth - I think she handled it well
Meanwhile following today's Nphet meeting and just ahead of the Cabinet committee kick-off I am told by various people that Tony Holohan is in a good mood (don't shoot the messenger!) and that the team have been more liberal than some might expect. Take from that what you will
This man pulls over off the road to tell Simon Harris that he had Covid, that he has recovered and he wants Harris to be Taoiseach. Hacks jokingly ask if he has been paid
Breaking: Tanaiste Leo Varadkar will not be charged over the leak of a GP pay deal contract following conclusion of DPP examination, it has been confirmed
@IrishTimes
Latest: Opposition politicians now calling on Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to make a statement before the Dáil on failure to register tenancy for 3 years - Labour says it is a significant oversight while PBP say it is neither acceptable or excusable
Coveney under pressure to answer questions on Zappone job as Fianna Fáil, Social Democrats and Independent members request a hearing of foreign affairs committee
There is a phrase in politics that if you are still the story after 10 days you are toast - and this one will rumble on: analysis on the unfolding events of the last two weeks
Regina Doherty telling
@gavreilly
on Newstalk that Verona Murphy was not the victim of a character assassination and that the mess is “of her own making”... also says she “doesn’t subscribe” to view of Charlie Flanagan re media giving Gemma O’Doherty a free pass. Oof
The absolute blind panic when you delete a word document with a lengthy piece in it hours before deadline. The relief when it is recovered. Never let it be said that journalism isn’t a thrill a minute
More trouble: Green Party calls on Tánaiste to give a “full and detailed account to the Dáil” says “the passing on of sensitive information in this manner was not appropriate. The timelines and the full impact of the disclosure on all involved needs further scrutiny.”
@IrishTimes
Many of us are terrified to let even a chink of light in for fear of being utterly disappointed but multiple studies from Israel are pointing us towards reasons to be hopeful: Israeli study finds 94% drop in symptomatic COVID-19 cases with Pfizer vaccine
Your blood will boil reading this, or at least it should. Very aware that there's a lot of heavy news out there at the moment but this is important and worth your time: ‘I have far too many stories’: 30 Irish women on harassment and assault
11 properties, five HAP contracts, two RAS contracts, one rent a room, many errors: Troy apologises for ‘very serious mistake’ in failure to declare interests
At a private FG meeting tonight Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said a Biden administration could help Ireland with Brexit negotiations saying the “democrats watched our back on Brexit” & Biden has a “genuine” attachment beyond “just a golf resort” in clear swipe at Trump
@IrishTimes
All questions and debates aside, & it’s normal and healthy to have this debate on the NMH, some of the abuse levelled at
@ellenmcoyne
(who is doing her job interrogating the topic) is off the charts. Twitter will be Twitter but some have lost the ability to respectfully disagree
I pretty much took notes reading this, a great start to the day 🌤
75 reasons to be cheerful – by Mary McAleese, Chris de Burgh, Sinéad O’Connor and more
via
@IrishTimes
Verrrrry early doors but Greens Neasa Hourigan doing well in Dublin Central behind Mary Lou McDonald. Transferring well from all parties and candidates
#GeneralElection2020
A very difficult moment for Mary Lou McDonald here on the death of Paul Quinn and says senior SF figure Conor Murphy will apologise for remarks about criminality - it was only last night Mary Lou said it was her understanding comments had NOT been made
#rtept
Disappointing to see this kind of narrative emerge with echoes of Trumpism - to attack the media when an unpleasant story comes out. Always open to criticism but it’s plain wrong to say anyone who writes critical pieces is in the pocket of other parties.
We will have a story up shortly on in relation to the property on Rathdown Road co-owned by Robert Troy. We went to him and FF for comment today but heard nothing..
At the PBP think-in today. Richard Boyd Barrett says the Govt’s policies “have failed abysmally to address a crucifying situation for households” as he calls for tens of thousands to hit the streets
@IrishTimes
Another crazy and weird week done, laptop just closed, last report in. Family checked in with. Plans include drinking this and watching the
@RTELateLateShow
. Cheers 🍸
Popped into office for podcast and found a little pink letter waiting for me. Thought I had a secret valentines admirer. Alas it was a letter giving out about abortions. Oh well
The joy of deleting an unnecessary response to a persistent online troll instead of sending it. Just happily remembering that it really doesn’t matter. 👌🏻
I see most of us missed the CNN announcement after days of slavish dedication to the wall of numbers. I was regrouting tiles. As a Fanta coloured man might say, SAD
The out of office is on. Any time I hear the word Brexit over the next two weeks I’m going to immediately reach for a drink. Goodbye silly season hello wine.
#hols
The State’s ethics watchdog has said it will not investigate Tánaiste Leo Varadkar over the leaking of a draft GP contract - but two out of five commissioners at the body voted against the decision not to investigate, it has now emerged. From
@JackHoJo
@Jennifer_Bray
🤔Looking at your profile pic, you look sad and lonely. I can see the sadness in your eyes. Plus, you are in a hotel room, how depressing.
Maybe you should have had a family, your career was great when you're young, but you have nothing to look forward to now.
President Michael D Higgins has broken his silence on the letter written by Sabina Higgins – spokesman says he is “unequivocal in his condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine” – no specific comment on letter. More on
@IrishTimes
anon
Hi, I'm a print journalist. You may know me from my greatest hits including "I don't write the headline", "yes I got your email" and "no, I'm not telling you what questions I'm going to ask"
Hi, I'm a journalist on Twitter. You may know me from my greatest hits including, "Don't shoot the messenger", "That's not actually what I said", and "Just because you weren't sampled, doesn't mean it's not a real opinion poll."
Neasa Hourigan : “I have significant concerns as to the impact of this legislation on levels of homelessness across the State” read more of her statement as she resigned as party whip here:
This is in tomorrow’s Irish Times. I spoke to a large number of female politicians anonymously and through their stories, backed up with letters, emails, and messages - some horrifically explicit - they reveal the scale of the abuse and threats they are forced endure
@IrishTimes
'He started screaming and roaring and coming up into my face': Pick up The Irish Times weekend paper tomorrow to read Jennifer Bray's report on the harassment and threats that have left female politicians fearful for their lives
Malcolm Byrne giving a short speech after his election. “Racism and the language of hate and division has no place in Wexford politics. Wexford is better than that. Ireland is better than that.”
@IrishTimesPol
Such a harrowing story but so important that it’s told. What never fails to shock me is that almost every woman I know has been sexually harassed and/or assaulted. I have been subjected to both too. I don’t say that lightly. We need to do better as a society, this piece shows it
Neasa Hourigan has resigned as Green Party whip after voting against the Government on tenants Bill - it is understood she wants to stay in the party but it will be a matter for new whip/party leadership. More on
@IrishTimes
shortly
So very sad to hear this. Michael had many gifts, he was politically incisive but on a personal level he was unfailingly kind and there is just not enough of that in this world. RIP to a gent, friend and colleague x