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A woman photographs a fallen tree which crashed through the wall of Phoenix Park and on to Blackhorse Avenue in Dublin. Alamy Stock Photo

Cabinet to discuss setting up new 'Extreme Weather Event Assistance Scheme'

The new junior ministers will also be appointed today.

THE NEW CABINET will meet today with the supports for those impacted by Storm Éowyn high on the agenda.

Following the Taoiseach’s visit to Roscommon yesterday, where he visited communities impacted by power outages and water shortages, Micheál Martin has asked various ministers to bring updates from their departments on the response to the aftermath of the storm.

While memos will be brought on supports for communities on housing, social protection and business, the Cabinet will also discuss the establishment of a new ‘Extreme Weather Event Assistance Scheme’.

The establishment of a new scheme is a commitment in the new Programme for government.

There are already humanitarian assistance schemes in existence under the remit of the Social Protection Department and a specific flooding scheme, however, this overarching package will be for homes, community organisations, farmers and businesses.

The programme for government outlines a commitment prepare and manage the impacts of extreme weather events “as climate risks continue to rise”.

Separately, the appointment of the new junior ministers will be approved by Cabinet.

There will be record number of 23 Ministers of State in the new Government. The split is likely to be ten to Fianna Fáil and eight to Fine Gael.

Martin has faced criticism over the gender breakdown of the new Cabinet with women holding just three senior ministries. 

The Taoiseach did not indicate yesterday that the junior appointments alone will balance out the gender gap.

Instead he told reporters in Roscommon: ”There will be a lot of other appointments,  ministers of state tomorrow, with Dáil committees, and then senators. And in their fullness, you will see  the government being strong around the gender balance issue in respect of our nominees.” 

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:06 PM

    Ahh, wouldn’t it be great if we had a legal system like this in Ireland, over 40 years in prison for murder, that would definitely be a deterrent.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:12 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: Malcom McArthur is still in prison nearly 40 years later as far as I know. Like the above case, it seems high profile killings attract stricter sentences.

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    Mute Damo.f
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:22 PM

    @Winston Smith: McArthur was released in 2012.

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:23 PM

    @Winston Smith: MacArthur was in Shelton Abbey, day care centre of a ‘prison’. Not to be confused with harsher regimes in US.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:24 PM

    @Damo.f: right you are, apologies. He did do 30 years though, which is fairly significant sentence.

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:25 PM

    @Winston Smith: I believe McArthur is living around the Stepaside or surrounding areas now but he seems to be the only one who’s recieved such a sentence.

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    Mute Oliver Francis
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:25 PM

    @Winston Smith: he was released in 2012 !

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    Mute Dave Barnaville
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:29 PM

    @Trevor Hayden:

    17,284 reported murder and non-negligent manslaughter cases in the U.S in 2017. Hardly a deterrent.

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    Mute Winston Smith
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:36 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: there’s been a few over the years actually. Not in a while and mainly for capital offences, but interesting reading.

    https://courtsnewsireland.ie/7-irelands-longest-serving-prisoners-3/2016/02/03/

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    Mute Brianto
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:59 PM
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    Mute John
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    Jan 31st 2019, 2:42 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: John Cullen is in since 1985 thats almost 34 years and Barnie Dunne is in just as long, there are a few murderers doing a good sentence.

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    Mute Ed
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:28 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: A great deterrent. Look at how few homicides there are in the United States.

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    Mute Trevor Hayden
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:50 PM

    @Ed: Comparing the population to Ireland is completely different, then again thankfully we don’t have the same gun controls.

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    Mute Peter Pistolé
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:08 PM

    @John: yes but he was sentenced 34 years ago. When in recent years has anyone got a proper sentence for murder, or manslaughter as we like to reduce it to here in Ireland

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    Mute Chin Feeyin
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:22 PM

    @Michael Lynch: Shelton Abbey is no “day care Centre” – far from it.

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    Mute Brian O'Byrne
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    Jan 31st 2019, 5:32 PM

    @Damo.f: he had the government by the short and curleys part of the release agreement was that there would be no book

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    Mute James Wallace
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    Jan 31st 2019, 6:50 PM

    @Trevor Hayden: whatever about the merits of longer sentences as regards keeping murderers off the streets, prison or indeed the death sentence for murder don’t work as deterrents

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    Mute Carmel Reynolds
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    Feb 1st 2019, 3:20 AM

    @Winston Smith: mc.arthur was released a couple of years ago

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    Mute Michael Fitzpatrick
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    Feb 1st 2019, 11:31 AM

    @Winston Smith:

    No he’s not, he served 30 years and was released.

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    Mute John Flood
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:30 PM

    Helter skelter! What that group did back then terrorized California. Sheer brutality. She should remain in prison for the rest of her natural…

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    Mute Jim Buckley Barrett
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:12 PM

    @John Flood: I’m guessing that the state is thinking that at her age, she will start costing them more and more on medical services.

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    Mute Patrick Nolan
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:42 PM

    @Jim Buckley Barrett:
    She will be doing that in or out.

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    Mute Celia Murphy
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    Jan 31st 2019, 2:02 PM

    She was 19 years old at the time..19….theres a lot of stupid adults still out there. Give her some small opportunity for some semblance of a life for a few years

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    Mute Michael Lynch
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:28 PM

    @Celia Murphy: More than likely institutionalised by now. Mightn’t last long on outside.

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    Mute Rebecca De Stanleigh
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:32 PM

    @Celia Murphy: Celia I have to agree.

    I have read all the books- my Dad collected books on the Mansons. What happened was disgusting and I still get extremely upset for all the victims- especially Tate and her baby as she was close to her due date.

    But some of the girls were children when indoctrinated into Manson’s cult. The right thing to do might be to let them have some sort of life.

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    Mute Paddy J
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:54 PM

    @Celia Murphy: 100% agree, she has served her time.

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    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
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    Jan 31st 2019, 4:53 PM

    Troubled childhood – an excuse for everything

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    Mute Shimmy Shammy
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:34 PM

    Anyone know the status of Malcolm MacArthur?

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    Mute Quentin Moriarty
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    Jan 31st 2019, 5:59 PM

    @Shimmy Shammy: John Shaw is in jail 43 years and counting
    His accomplice popped his clogs in 2012 while in jail

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    Mute Greg Browne
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:21 PM

    Malcolm mc Arthur was released a number of years ago.

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    Mute Frank Emerson
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    Jan 31st 2019, 3:20 PM

    Clearly according to the legal system, if you murder a celebrity, the sentence must be much harsher. Because…..em…….well it just is.

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    Mute Greg Browne
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    Jan 31st 2019, 1:17 PM

    Mc Arthur was released a number of years ago.

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    Mute WoodlandBard
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    Jan 31st 2019, 5:05 PM

    It would think it would be another life sentence to be released from prison. She would find it very hard to get a job, no pension, and probably nobody to take her in. If they did she would probably be some kind of servant, another prison, or on the streets homeless.

    Probably best she serves out the rest in a low security open prison. The big thing is who pays the medical bills from now on, though?

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    Mute Margaret Kane
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    Jan 31st 2019, 7:47 PM

    Murder in Ireland now is manslaughter what a joke

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    Mute Adrian Dervin
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    Feb 1st 2019, 12:12 AM

    Srgnt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band!

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