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Mark Stedman/ Photocall Ireland

Premium rate calls to be blocked from Leinster House telephones

Committee on Procedure and Privileges said it was “clear that facilities were being abused”.

THERE IS TO be a permanent “complete” block on calls made to premium rate phone lines from Leinster House.

The Dail’s Committee on Procedure and Privileges has decided to block access to such phone lines in the wake of 3,636 calls made to vote for Michael Healy-Rae on a TV reality show from a phone in Leinster House.

The Committee, chaired by Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett, it was important to act “where it was clear that facilities were being abused”. A statement read:

The Committee… was acting in response to an incident in which premium rate calls costing over €2,600 were made to a voting line for a reality TV game show. The Committee said that access to facilities such as telephones was essential for the work of the Dail and its Members but that it was equally important to act where it was clear that facilities were being abused.

The decision now goes to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission for regulations relating to TD facilities to be amended.

Michael Healy-Rae: ‘I knew nothing about it’>

Healy-Rae will pay back money from Dail calls>

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    Mute Dan Danny
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    Oct 30th 2023, 7:18 AM

    Ya dress up your pet with the cute outfit from Amazon or alibaba and get loads of likes on insta…”Soooooo cute xxx” don’t forgot Xmas outfit too

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    Mute Margaret Ryan
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    Oct 30th 2023, 11:25 AM

    @Dan Danny: hah

    7
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    Mute Paddy Short
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    Oct 30th 2023, 12:30 PM

    Between what they already know about you via the wealth of information that your “smartphone” provides, your internet history, your credit/debit card spending habits, your Tesco Clubcard, the final nail in the coffin will be the European Digital Currency. With that they will know exactly what makes individuals and communities tick and how to best manipulate them. Gone will be the concept of the individual, everything will be reduced to the data. I for one will never spend a single cent of European Digital Currency on principle but it will be up to the younger generation coming through on whether they are happy to be “barcoded” and reduced down to a mere set of digits instead of a human being. Be warned, if you have fears of this system, once implemented, there will be no going back.

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    Mute DJ Bermo
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    Oct 30th 2023, 3:25 PM

    @Paddy Short: Oh, ffs, stick to the topic, and if you’re lucky enough to own a dog, get some fresh air by taking it for a walk.

    44
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    Mute
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    Oct 30th 2023, 11:53 AM

    How about you don’t let off fireworks for two weeks before and two weeks after Halloween, like a scuzzy bucket

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    Mute Marie B
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    Oct 30th 2023, 8:52 AM

    Lol. Look at the image for the daily pole article.

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    Mute Marie B
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    Oct 30th 2023, 12:01 PM

    @Marie B: btw gone now. it was a dog with a white ghost costume over its head

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    Mute JoeJoe Kilbride
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    Oct 30th 2023, 12:27 PM

    @Marie B: what’s a daily pole?

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    Mute Pato
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    Oct 30th 2023, 7:27 AM

    Why is there so much rubbish about dogs and don’t get me started on cats!

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    Mute Chris Finch
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    Oct 30th 2023, 7:55 AM

    @Pato: Ah go on, tell us a small bit about your contempt for cats on this Bank Holiday Monday morning.

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    Mute Clare Power
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    Oct 30th 2023, 10:16 AM

    @Pato: judging by previous comments yr a women hater, now yr telling us u don’t like animals…wot a bad seed you are!

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    Mute
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    Oct 30th 2023, 11:53 AM

    @Pato: where did the furries hurt you?

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    Mute J M
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    Oct 30th 2023, 1:03 PM

    To much molly coddling, not saying they don’t get a bit worked up. But not as much as the owners do and certain groups. No different than thunder and lightning.

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    Mute
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    Oct 30th 2023, 7:33 AM

    .

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    Mute Athena
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    Oct 30th 2023, 6:39 PM

    What about stop mammy-ing and baby-ing your dogs and expose them to noise and unusual sounds throughout the year?
    I have yet to see a gun dog panicking over fireworks.

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    Mute Martin Mongan
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    Oct 30th 2023, 11:25 PM

    @Athena: wait are you saying that a dog breed specifically for hunting and being around gun shots isn’t put off by loud noises?!? Well colour me shocked

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    Mute Ham Hat
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    Oct 30th 2023, 8:49 AM

    Let Aleeexpress make some money, Yank dude

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    Mute Paul Moloney
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    Oct 30th 2023, 11:06 AM

    If that’s what you are in to do enjoy your self if you’re a bit of a dressing up to

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    Mute Jon Jon
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    Oct 31st 2023, 11:48 AM

    My dog loves dressing up as Kiss from sting , he’s not a good boy

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