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Twins Jonah and Beau react with the Sulley Monster Mask at the toy store Hamleys in London. Pic: Frank Augstein/AP/Press Association Images
HERE ARE THE things we learned, loved and shared today as we round off the day in three easy steps.
THINGS WE LEARNED
#RECESSION Ireland has officially re-entered recession, according to official data from the Central Statistics Office. It says that the Irish economic output shrank by 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of the year. The data also revises its earlier figures for previous growth in the Irish economy – showing the economy fared worse than expected in the second half of 2012.
#ANGLO TAPES One of the Anglo-Irish executives from the Anglo Tapes controversy has resigned from his role as interim CEO of the Irish Association of Alcohol and Addiction Counsellors. Peter Fitzgerald resigned earlier this week, following the release of the tapes by the Irish Independent. In a statement earlier this week, Fitzgerald denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Justice Minister Alan Shatter has said that the Anglo tapes are ‘nauseating’.
#ABORTION BILL The AdMobile billboard company has discontinued the Youth Defence campaign after an incident in which an ad with an anti-abortion message was parked opposite the Dublin Rape Crisis headquarters. The company had been contracted by Youth Defence to carry the campaign billboard on a route around Dublin city centre. Meanwhile, the Abortion Rights Campaign has said it cannot support the abortion bill as it is not sufficient to alleviate their concerns.
#PROSTITUTION An Oireachtas committee has said that buying sex should be a crime, but selling it should not. The Report on the Review of the Legislation on Prostitution in Ireland by the Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality also recommends harsher punishments for organising prostitution.
#MANDELA Nelson Mandela’s condition ‘improved during the night’, the current President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma said. He said he visited the 94-year-old earlier today and that his medical team said he “remains critical but is now stable”. “We must pray for Tata’s health and wish him well. We must also continue with our work and daily activities while Madiba remains hospitalised,” he told a concerned public.
#LIVELINE Two complaints about Joe Duffy’s Liveline programme on RTÉ One have been upheld by the Broadcasting Association of Ireland. Both complaints related to the treatment of Fr Brian McKevitt, a guest on the show on 15 March this year. The first complainant claimed that the priest was harassed by the presenter while on air. He also said that the line-up of callers abused the priest. The second complaint – from a Mr Fanning – dealt with the same issue.
Oscar Wilde pictured with a rainbow flag, marking the start of the Pride celebrations this weekend in Dublin. Pic: Brian O’Connor
THINGS WE LOVED
THINGS WE SHARED
(Jake K/YouTube)
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In Ireland there are almost 100 empty houses for every homeless person.
Funny, I don’t think Enda mentioned that last night.
Threshold do excellent work but they really shouldn’t have to.
I think its disgusting to use the picture of a homeless child in the 3rd world to contrast against housing problems in this country. The child you have depicted doesn’t have access to social services or the care we take for granted in this country.
Send your child out to sleep on the street tonight and then tell us about the difference it is being homeless in Ireland tonight and being homeless in a third world country. At least in a 3rd world country they dont set their homeless on fire
Alfalfa. Go to India or Bangladesh and see how the people in the slums live, they’re treated like vermin, they exist on nothing. the rats in this country have a better quality of life.
Sorry John to me a homeless Child here in December is at risk as much any anyone anywhere. Most 12 year old’s are not aware of the services you speak about. Plus obviously no one would print a picture of a homeless child in Ireland, its too small a country.
Maybe it’s the shape of things to come John ??
more than eight million Bangladeshis live on less than USD 2 a day. Its disgusting how people in our sheltered first world bubble compare their ‘hardships’ to the people of the 3rd world. We don’t know real hardship in this country. Open your eyes!
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4794
Contrast the few comments on this issue with the outpourings of the do-gooders on the earlier ‘racist’ item.
John… Charity BEGINS at home.. I dont know what kind of a mind would think its ok for an Irish child to suffer a little bit.. Its ok to be cold and hungry and wet.. At least she isnt suffering like those in the third world..
A child should be subjected to NO suffering.. no matter what part of the world you live in..
Gg
“Suffer little children to come unto me”
I say no more; think about it.
fantastic work is being done in cork in regard to homeesess and your journal is doing a great job in high lightind the matter my em address is danielgreydog@yahoo.co.uk used to do a lot of hunting in glanmire woods happy christmas an the new year too god bless
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