02.15.07
Posted in Domestic/Relationships, Irish Politics at 9:31 pm by Sarah
(translators note: European Parliament vote on Extraordinary Rendition)
Ok, I got the voting document – 68 pages of voting details on various amendments. I decided to skip to the end and see who voted on the final resolution and then double checked back randomly on some of the amendments to check for consistency.
Here are the final results:
FOR (i.e. the good guys)
Coveney, Higgins, McGuinness, Mitchell (all FG), McDonald (SF), De Rossa (Labour), Harkin and Sinnott (Ind).
(Coveney was actually on the committee so 3 cheers etc).
AGAINST (i.e. the toads)
surprise surprise….
Aylward, Crowley, O’Neachtain, Ryan (all FF).
So the notable points are:
Where was Avril Doyle? She is not listed as an abstention so obviously not in the Parliament that day. WHERE was she? We must write and enquire.
Marian Harkin was an interesting vote “for” I thought. I had considered her to be relatively government friendly, but it appears not.
Read some of the report summary – it looks like Poland and Italy are the big baddies. They were in the “definitely actively knowingly co-operating” gang as opposed to Ireland who were in the “What? Planes? In Shannon..nooooooooooooo. Condi said its FINE its FINE AM I going to call her a Liar Noooooooooooo sireeeeeeee. What do you want? Intel to pull out??? Forget about it!!!! Now, don’t we have another manifesto oops sorry! I mean “national plan” to launch somewhere? Yes right, bye now!!!”
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Posted in Domestic/Relationships at 6:19 pm by Sarah
Hey, Greens are getting in on the act….I just received this:
“Dear valued members of the blogging community,
We’d like to give you a heads-up that our National Convention/Ard Fheis takes place next weekend (23 :25 February) in the Galway Bay Hotel. (Please pass on this invite to any other bloggers that you think might be interested : we have a URL you can link to at http://blogs.greenparty.ie/2007/02/blogging_the_convention.html )
Obviously, given the year that’s in it, it will be one of the most important events in our pre-election calendar. RTE will be broadcasting live on Saturday and there’s already quite a scrum from the offline media for interviews/hotel rooms/etc.
There will be WiFi facilities for bloggers and members of the press.
We would be delighted to see you in Galway, and please drop us a line if you are coming so we can make sure you have access to the media facilities.
More details, including lists of B&Bs, public transport links, and a draft agenda can be found at: http://www.greenparty.ie/en/library/convention_2007 and http://www.greenparty.ie/en/content/download/10825/119283/file/convention2007-sml.pdf
For more information please get in touch with the press office: greenparty.press.office@gmail.com
P.S. Arrangements have been made to ensure that anybody that is interested will be able to watch the Ireland v England Six Nations rugby game, which kicks off at 5.30pm on the Saturday afternoon.”
That would be a bit of a laugh actually and the lucky bastards have the international green agenda all over the meeja. I’d say they will do well as the middle classes seek to find an outlet for their consumer guilt. These are the guys the PDs need to watch….
And gee, I am a valued member of the blogging community!! Bit of old ego massage and love never goes astray. I know its bullshit and still I feel a warm glow. I am a sucker for affection 
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Posted in Domestic/Relationships at 4:58 pm by Sarah
Miriam Lord captured this in her sketch in the IT today. Funny…Pat Rabitte having a go at Bertie which backfires…
“I don’t know what the Taoiseach’s diet is made up of,” began smart-alec Pat Rabbitte, about to outline how the price of meat, an essential purchase for most households, has risen since the Groceries Order was abolished.
Sounding like he was auditioning to present the livestock marts’ round-up, the Labour leader began to read his closing prices.
“Beef: 10 per cent higher.
“Lamb: 6.6 per cent higher.
“Pork: 1.8 per cent higher.”
Then a voice piped up from across the way. “Rabbitte: 2 per cent lower.” That was it. The entire place collapsed.
Bertie buried his head in his chest and tried to cover his face with his hand, but his shoulders were heaving. The Fianna Fáil backbenchers roared. The Opposition howled.
Minister of State Seán Power sat back and basked in the glory.
As for Pat, he looked stunned, wearing a piqued expression which said: “Don’t they know I am the only wit in the village?” He regained his composure. He took a deep breath. “Fish” The backbenchers went into paroxysms. The advantage was lost. Pat should have known better than try to match Bertie on the numbers front.
The Taoiseach smiled to himself. Saved by statistics again.”
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Posted in Irish Politics at 3:44 pm by Sarah
I’ve been catching up with PO’Neill..always enlightening and amusing. He draws attention to this bizarre way of debating the use of torture…
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Posted in Domestic/Relationships at 12:22 pm by Sarah
One more thing this morning before Frank rings up looking for my column..
I had a post half written yesterday which I didn’t get time to finish. I am raging now because today’s headlines would have completely vindicated the time alloted.
Sometimes I really wonder about this man’s mental health. In a “swear to God not having a go mode” but in a spirit of genuine curiousity I wonder is there some high/low behaviour going on with this week being a spectacular high, bordering on mania.
If I had time I’d get all the links to play back for you – maybe tonight – but this week has seen very tetchy and volatile interviews:
Monday – Labour’s tax proposal – Pat Rabitte a hypocrite bla bla
Tuesday – The Pension increase row (great interview on Morning Ireland with Cathal McCoille – very aggressive)
Wednesday – Criminal Justice Bill and very snotty about Michael O’Higgins comments
Thursday – Mahon Tribunal Row!!!
Friday – Who knows????
A different and significant row everyday!
Will there be a corresponding low? Will he stay quiet for a few weeks before entering the foray again? I reckon we should start a McDowell mental health watch…
Update : Great letter in the IT today on that MI interview
“Madam, – I heard the Tánaiste on Tuesday’s Morning Irelanddescribing the political party of which he is leader as “a Ronseal Party. It does what it says on the tin”.
I have such a tin to hand. The legend on its side informs me that the contents are ultra-tough and impart a deep gloss to wooden material. They are, however, very toxic and contain a high percentage of volatile compounds. Prolonged contact is not recommended.
In cases of extended exposure immediate washing with plenty of soap and water is advised. Above all, they should be kept out of the reach of children. – Yours etc,”
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02.14.07
Posted in Irish Politics at 1:21 pm by Sarah
Hurrah! The European Parliament has voted to accept the report which says European governments, including Ireland, have been co-operating with Extraordinary Rendition.
And well done to Simon Coveney for a VERY authoritative performance on the News At One. Refuted Dermot Ahern’s statement on the matter very well.
Thoroughly recommend playing it back, you’ll get it here shortly (on the all new super duper RTE website…)
Hmmm let’s get a list on what way Irish MEPs voted….
Update: gottit – see new post above.
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Posted in Feminism at 10:55 am by Sarah
Oh well, crap at soccer, struggling at Rugby but we beat the hell out of the Brits on some fronts!
We came ninth in a UNICEF quality of life rating for children. Britain 21st. There were 21 industrialised countries surveyed..so that means they are em, the worst!
Those Scandinavians are tops of course. How DO they do it?
Here’s a link (thanks to Isobel) to the details in the Guardian – can’t find anything in the IT or Indo. Which is odd. I stand to be corrected..anyone see anything?
(couldn’t help but notice the quote from the Tories in the article refers to “Brown’s Britain” – I see they have made the transition even if Labour hasn’t – good for them).
Update: I see at 11:09 the survey makes it into Ireland.com’s Breaking News…..
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02.12.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:35 pm by Sarah
The wonderful Ben Goldacre has a great article in the Guardian exposing “Dr.” Gillian McKeith.
Ben and Tom will particularly like it I am sure.
I like this bit best:
“So what can you do? There’s the rub. In reality, again, away from the cameras, the most significant “lifestyle” cause of death and disease is social class. Here’s a perfect example. I rent a flat in London’s Kentish Town on my modest junior doctor’s salary (don’t believe what you read in the papers about doctors’ wages, either). This is a very poor working-class area, and the male life expectancy is about 70 years. Two miles away in Hampstead, meanwhile, where the millionaire Dr Gillian McKeith PhD owns a very large property, surrounded by other wealthy middle-class people, male life expectancy is almost 80 years. I know this because I have the Annual Public Health Report for Camden open on the table right now.
This phenomenal disparity in life expectancy – the difference between a lengthy and rich retirement, and a very truncated one indeed – is not because the people in Hampstead are careful to eat a handful of Brazil nuts every day, to make sure they’re not deficient in selenium, as per nutritionists’ advice.
And that’s the most sinister feature of the whole nutritionist project, graphically exemplified by McKeith: it’s a manifesto of rightwing individualism – you are what you eat, and people die young because they deserve it. They choose death, through ignorance and laziness, but you choose life, fresh fish, olive oil, and that’s why you’re healthy. You’re going to see 78. You deserve it. Not like them.”
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Posted in Uncategorized at 6:09 pm by Sarah
(not sure if that’s spelled right).
ANYWAY COULDN’T help but notice that the poncy West Brit Rugby supporters (yeah yeah working class in Munster we know) waited politely until the end of the National Anthem to cheer. Not like the allegedly more “Irish” GAA types who start cheering half way through….
update : first effort was Amhrainn Na Bhian..honestly, its no bloody wonder people give up on Irish..it is far too hard to spell words
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Posted in Sunday Times Columns at 4:23 pm by Sarah
There was a bit I kept in the back of the press just in case. I suppose what you’d call a 10 spot. I’d say I’ve smoked about half a dozen times in the last two years. (actually, probably 3 years) It just knocks me out now and I go straight to sleep and not even the contented relaxed sleep it used to induce – more a slightly anxious giddy sleep. I offered it to a visitor (who can out himself here if he wants) a while back and he took a bit, but not the lot, though I pressed it upon him.
Anyway, today I was cleaning up and found it and thought, you know what Sarah, you are never going to smoke this. You just don’t like it anymore and a glass of wine does the trick anyway. So I threw it in the bin.
This is a hash free house! (although I did take back the roche papers and Rizzla’s – no point wasting them).
I feel grown up. Is that the appropriate feeling?
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