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TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has signaled that he will not reprimand two Fine Gael Senators who chose to go to the Ireland v England rugby match at the weekend instead of voting in the referendums.
As reported by the Irish Independent earlier today, Fine Gael Senators John McGahon and Garret Ahearn did not vote in the Family and Care referendums on Friday because they were traveling to Twickenham in the UK for the Six Nations match on Saturday.
McGahon told the Irish Independent: “Regrettably I was out of country, with a flight that boarded at 8am, making voting in Dundalk impossible.”
Ahearn said: “Unfortunately I was out of the country and could not cast my vote in Tipperary.”
When asked if he would reprimand the pair today, the Taoiseach responded:
“Ah look, they’re grown adults and I’m not their mammy”.
“I’m not going to be telling them what to do with their weekends and perhaps it was a trip that was organised long before the polling date was set – I don’t know,” Varadkar said.
The Taoiseach added that personally, he would not be one to miss many votes, although he has missed “the odd one” for work reasons.
“Decisions are made by those that turn up,” he added.
Varadkar was speaking to reporters in Boston, where he has started the second day of his trip with a visit to Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox.
When asked what message he would deliver to President Biden on Gaza and Ukraine when he visits the White House later this week, the Taoiseach said he would thank America for its support of Ukraine so far.
“Please stick with us. We need to remember the lessons from the 1930s – You can’t appease a dictator. Putin will come back for more. And Europe and America must stand together on this,” he said.
Varadkar added that he would be asking the US to put forward a funding package for Ukraine just like the EU has done.
“It is in all our interests,” he said.
On Gaza and Israel, the Taoiseach said he is very keen to push for a ceasefire.
“And more importantly, to ask America to get involved once again in the drive for peace,” he said.
While in Boston today, the Taoiseach took a tour and met with Irish company, Output Sports, who specialise in sports data.
The option to pitch a ball on the mound was given to Varakar while visiting Fenway Park, but he chose not to, joking that he knew well how it would turn out.
The Taoiseach was presented with a Red Sox jersey with ‘Varadkar’ stitched on the back, as a batting mit and baseball.
Fenway Sports Group, who own the Red Sox as well as Liverpool Football club, recently launched PGA Tour Enterprises that will lead all commercial activities for the PGA Tour.
Along with his new jersey, he was also presented with a signed gold cap by Rory McIlroy.
During photos being taken with the Irish ambassador to the US, Geraldine Byrne Nason and Sheila Fitzgerald, the Irish consulate in Boston, there was some repositioning of the Taoiseach for the photograph.
With a smirk, the Taoiseach joked that we could just “edit the photos” and people in later – a nod to the ongoing controversy with Kate Middleton.
The Taoiseach will speak at an Ireland Funds Young Leaders event where he will reflect on the Government’s theme for St. Patrick’s Day 2024 “Ireland’s future in the world”, celebrating the achievements of young diaspora leaders across the fields of innovation, creativity, community development, business, and academia around the world, including in the US.
With reporting from Jane Matthews.
Political Editor Christina Finn will be in the US throughout the week for the Taoiseach’s visit. Follow @thejournal_ie and @christinafinn8 for all the latest.
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Good idea. My cousin works on Grafton street and she’s threatened weekly by people sleeping in the shop front. She’s also regularly had to clean up excrement and needles from the shop front. Nobody should have to do that to start their day.
@Figo murphy: Obviously you’re a Fg voter, Disgusting opinion for your fellow man/women
@StillNotNews: as opposed to what? It’s wrong to prioritize staff and customer safety?
@StillNotNews: let’s see someone poo on your doorstep and see how happy you will be then
@Louise Tracey: And this is what’s wrong in Irish society today, blame the victims not the people who put them there, and before you say it It’s not a life choice.
@StillNotNews: your saying they didn’t choose to take drugs? Pretty sure they did.
@StillNotNews: so it’s everyone else’s fault that these people use drugs?
@StillNotNews: troll
@StillNotNews: are you saying that disney store put them there?
@StillNotNews: Obviously you’re a complete idiot
@StillNotNews: look at the thumbs up she got compared to your comment. your a clown no doubt as well
@smart cat: yeah because it’s all about the thumbs up and calling people names!
@StillNotNews: obviously never stepped foot in grafton St or surrounding area at that time of the morning. Idiot
Above you see a veritable who’s who’s of “let them eat cake” proponents. Believing all homeless people are drug addicts, I feel sorry for you all.
@StillNotNews: vast majority are and/or have mental health issues. It’s not let them eat cake at all, but you have to want to help yourself before the help of others. It’s not as simple as giving everyone a “forever” home
@StillNotNews: what type of cake?
@StillNotNews: noone said that they are all drug addicts. But some of them are unfortunately. And it is enough to pose a reasonable threat to employees. Security gate would be completely justified in this instance. Also people should stop acting like they are taking away beds from a shelter. They’re not
@Gordon Hughes: might want to remove the social justice label’s from profile, looks stupid now.
@herp: you might want to stop hiding behind a fake acc, but hey
@Gordon Hughes: social justice lol
@tooler doogan: another faceless anon acc… Zzzzz
@Gordon Hughes: don’t reply zzzzzz
@herp: troll
@Figo murphy: she should whistle while she works
@Kasia Krzyzyk: Why not ask the council to help the person in the doorway and as the business owners/rate payer they should ask the council, homeless charities, government how they maybe able to help the person have a dry, warm place to sleep. If a person is sleeping in a doorway that person needs some form of urgent help. Addiction is a terrible thing and people cut themselves off from family, and society turns a blind eye and walk past trying not to look, but look we should as it could very easily be one of us or a close family member someday. Without some kind of humanity for our most weak and vulnerable in society we are nothing! You don’t have to take drugs to become homeless, remember we have a massive mental health issue in this country and our health system has nothing to offer people in distress and with no hope in life you have nothing and can easily end up in a doorway.
@StillNotNews: Fine gael voters, Verona Murphy number 1
@StillNotNews: you go in and clean up their toilet droppings and pick up their needles so
@Louise Tracey: I’ve had to sleep rough a couple of times this week. It wasn’t a choice. I had no other option.
Well, no, I had a choice… sleep rough, or be terrified that my housemates friend, who was staying with us, was going to take the liberty of coming into my bed with me, despite my assertions it wasn’t wanted. This has happened in the past, and I’ve had to go stay elsewhere.. this time, circumstances meant I had nowhere to crash for a couple of days.
I’ve had 2 alcoholic drinks in the past 6 months, I don’t touch drugs or even smoke.. I was basically someone that had to choose between sexual assault and the streets.. a doorway is not a nice place to be, but it’s better than being assaulted in your own bed.
Oh, and this guy has my housemate convinced that I’m crazy about him and totally want all the attention.. that I invite his advances.. yeah, I’m asexual.. most sexualised stuff grosses me out.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: hope things get better for you Mirabelle. Take care of yourself.
@StillNotNews: and obviously you don’t work in one of these shops or you’d know what faces workers daily
@Figo murphy: maybe if fg gave a crap about irish people and actually built some houses then those people wouldn’t be there at all
@Thomas Maher: this is it, there has always been homeless people with addiction problems etc, and let’s not forget men who have been turfed out off their homes because their wife decided she had fallen out of love and into love with some other guy. Very biased family law in this country. Now look at the rise in homelessness in ireland under ffg governance how the numbers have risen sharply through their free market neoliberal policy’s with the amount of family being turf onto the street by greedy corporate landlords. To these people mixed up with with the addicts and abandoned fathers as a lot of people on here are doing is plain ignorance.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: why did you go out and sleep rough why not have phone on ready and ring police if your friend was really a friend she would not expect you to leave your home for someone else why not put a lock on your door sorry but you are given in to this toerag
@Figo murphy: of course you cant dare agree or you’ll be accused of actually wanting homeless dead! Forget how dangerous it might be for whoever’s opening up in the morning
@Charliegrl80: and you know they are or are not seeking help for them? Businesses are legally obliged to ensure safety of their staff. There are homeless people yes and it is getting worse. But you can hardly expect we will all stop in our tracks to observe it and do something about it. What those people need is housing and professional care. I am pretty sure disney store and other businesses do not have that in their job description. Allowing homeless people to sleep and take drugs on their doorstep is hardly fixing the problem.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: One visit to the Gardai would sort this out. If you require assistance with this seek me out. You should never have to spend another night out…
@Yorkie1892: Poo cake
@StillNotNews: I thought we shot the commies and socialists ? No one cares what you and people like you think. Many of these “homeless” are junkies ,completely self inflicted
@StillNotNews: blame the victim ? Lol . Who forced these wasters to stick needles into their arms ? It says a lot about many of them that not one single member if their family want anything to do with them. Lunatics like you need to be educated that the government is not responsible for every time you fail in life
@StillNotNews: you are a simpleton, so spare us your needless sympathy , we are not remotely sorry for your stupidity .
If we can all be completely honest here we wouldn’t want them sleeping on our doorstep either and would take measures to move them on. This is not Disney’s fault they are trying to run a business and provide employment. The blame lies elsewhere.
@2thFairy: agreed
@Shirley Hollingsworth: Seconded, and I didn’t even read the article. I went straight to the comments for the faux outrage.
@2thFairy: Yes. The measure I would take (and do) is to ardently vote against and campaign against governments who profit from homelessness and care only about themselves.
Get rid of FFFG and maybe we’d see an improvement in the situation.
@Shazam37: how does the government profit from homelessness? And you think a different government would sort homelessness??
Aviva Life & Pensions DAC as the landlord are putting up the gate on behalf of their Tennant. Who the Tennant is is irrelevant, they’ve cited their reasons for the requirement of one.
That’s it really.
@⚡ Seánie ⚡: the tenant likely has a long term lease. As per the article it is the tenant who applied for planning permission, with permission from their landlord. This is common. It is Disney who applied for for permission.
That being said I see no issue with this. It’s understandable that they don’t want people sleeping in their doorway. The homeless issues aren’t their fault.
*cough cough* Eh Disney…
Peter Pan & the Lost Boys and Mowgli are characters of yours that are homeless
Although in fairness, if staff are genuinely experiencing this then you can’t really argue with it. Disney will be made the villain here when the reality is the state has failed those people, not some shop in the Grafton “Quarter”
@Jesus Christ: incorrect.
@Jesus Christ:
Mowgli is lost in the jungle by his parents.
The lost boys are widely believed to be dead. Peter is their guardian who helps transfer them from this world to the next.
In fact if you look into the Peter Pan background, the story that we relate to today (Disney’s version) is very far removed from the original story.
Same goes for the jungle book. Totally different version to the original publication.
Very difficult for the rough sleepers and a really uncomfortable position for staff to have to try and move them on dark, freezing mornings. Both the business and the homeless are victims of the housing crisis, make sure not to misdirect your anger and blame anywhere other than the cause which is the FG government.
@Rochelle: absolutely on point. Some people who comment need reality check. I would love to see how they would feel and act if they had to deal with that in their own doorstep. Pretty sure that “empathy” would go right out the window. Acting on health and safety of your employees does not erase empathy you might have towards some unfortunate homeless people
@Rochelle:
Whatever government it is, it will always be the case. Always.
@Peter: then why had this problem
Gotten so much worse in the last decade?
@Shazam37:
You’ve problem my point since it hasn’t been the same government in the past decade
* proven
Oopsy
Such heartwarming company, no?
@Mark V: so your ok with employees being threatened and subjected to abuse? Stepping over drug paraphernalia? Of course you are
@Mark V: what you expect from a Micky Mouse Company.? But in fairness,staff have a right to go to work without being harassed.
@Louise Tracey: maybe u should consider the cause then the effect …policies of the government and previous governments has made people destitute .so you know when it’s time to vote maybe the way u vote suits u but not the things that make u sick to ur stomach.as the adage goes give a little it will help a lot
@Michael Nolan: yes of course, it’s all the governments fault for the people choosing to take drugs. Let’s blame them for it raining today as well.
@Louise Tracey: trying seeing the bigger picture Louise, broaden your mind!
@Louise Tracey: well you a thing called climate change
Hahaaja
@tooler doogan: some people’s mind can’t see beyond the screen in front of there nose ..pity ….but chickens always come home to roost
@Michael Nolan: but what if the chickens are homeless
@Mark V: Is just sad and shocking how many people agree with this. I guess a sign of the times we live in.
@Louise Tracey: That exactly the kind of person I’m talking about: devoid of empathy.
@Michael Nolan: Hens Michael!! Hens come home to roost!!!
@Louise Tracey: so… 100% of people sleeping in doorways are druggies, is that a fact?
@Mirabelle Stonegate: 100% sure my comment didn’t state that fact. I said employees shouldn’t be subjected to abuse, threatened or having to step over drug paraphernalia which the article clearly states is happening. But don’t let the truth get in the way of your outrage.
After reading all comments for the faux outrage.. The people sleeping homeless in doorways in Grafton street shooting up and defecating on the ground are not victims of a housing crisis.. they are victims of vices that led them to that dark place.. people comparing to direct provision centres etc are just incorrect. Unless you expect the government round them up and force cold turkey on them then there is very little to be done, they wont take hostel beds as drugs are not allowed.. I dont know what the answer is but you can’t blame the government for this type of homelessness or behaviour.. my opinion !
@Jon Shannow: This is a pretty uninformed view of homelessness. Not all rough sleepers are there due to vice or their own choices. Also, are you so perfect yourself that you can judge people who have fallen into hard times and addiction? Addiction is an angry beast and a monster that latches itself onto the victim and holds on as tight as possible. I have seen this monster first hand. I too blamed the victim. It destroys good folks. Learning not to judge people is a gift that was passed on to me by another, wiser person. I hope you receive that gift some day.
@Shane McGrath: I didn’t say they weren’t victims, I was just disagreeing that they were victims of a housing crisis exclusively.. did I judge them or say they should not be helped? I also never said it was their own choice.. Addiction to vices can be very powerful and some never overcome it but blaming society for letting them down as others were doing is what I disagreed with..
Why is there even an article about this? Also why is it written is such a name and shame manner?
I hope the author allows the homeless to sleep on their doorstep.
@joe: clickbait, plain and simple.
@joe:
I do feel the title of the article is an attack on Disney from TheJournal’s staff
Nobody wants to see anyone sleeping in a doorway but by unfortunate circumstances these people have no choice. Those migrants that were found in the container in Rosslare were offered immediate accommodation and some absconded. There’s now obvious vacancies. If these homeless people were to show up at this direct provision center would there be a bed for them?
@Jess Kelly: A lot of homeless don’t want beds or places to stay. They want to remain on the doorways and benches.
Obviously not all of them.
@Peter: I understand that it for some it’s the only beds they have.
@Jess Kelly:
I don’t think there would be a bed for them, which is sad really.
As music plays in shop, ” you got a friend in me”..
How about sponsoring some beds with the money instead Disney?
@Sea Graham: I think there is no reason why people who feel strongly enough should go down and each bring home 1 person..sure a couch hot shower food would be better than the street..how do ye sleep at night.going home and leaving them there.
@Sea Graham: The problem isn’t that they are homeless. The problem is their behaviour. Shooting up drugs and defacating in someones doorway is not acceptable. Children frequent the Disney store. Would you want them at risk of picking up a dirty needle? I wouldn’t.
@Shirley Hollingsworth: I work in the city centre and I regularly buy food for some of the homeless that I’ve gotten to know over the years. I won’t give any of them money to feed any habit they may have though. How about you bring home a few and let us know how that works out for you before you start preaching at others.
@Sea Graham: You think a billion dollar corporation spending some of its vast wealth to alleviate a homelessness and drugs crisis is comparable to an individual taking in a homeless drug addict for the night?
Daft.
@Sea Graham: why should they.. They are not responsible for them if countries government can’t house them why should a company who already pays rates and taxes
@Sea Graham: she’s doing a wip round for family back home posted an hour ago..
Maybe Anthony Flynn will rock up in the morning and assist staff to move on the homeless when they are trying to open in the morning??? Good man Anthony
The homeless situation is getting dire, what has this country come to when our children are sitting on a piece of cardboard in the freezing cold eating their dinner, this government needs to do something & fast!
@Colette Kearns: what can they do that they aren’t already doing?
@Colette Kearns: personal responsibility has to come into play here too
@Shane Murray: its easy to pass judgement on this, perhaps some of these people are on their own can’t find way out.
@herp: it’s also easy to say ‘the government aren’t doing anything’
@Shane Murray: not doing enough.
@Shane Murray: indeed dam those pesky children for not taking “ personal responsibility “
@Colette Kearns: I obviously meant their parents.
@Shane Murray: not all had the luck are perhaps unlucky to have had parents, parent.
@Colette Kearns: people are literally ‘going homeless’ as they believe it’s a fast track to free housing, the same as having a blast of kids as a young single mother was seen a few years ago, instead of putting in any effort the easy way is to hit rock bottom and then let the country sort them out, most of these homeless wouldn’t be homeless if they took the slightest responsibility for their own actions but of course that requires a modicum of effort and will power and they don’t do that.
@Ron Kingston: perfectly said
@Shane Murray: Utter total rubbish. There are working homeless out there – are you aware of that? Full time jobs which don’t pay enough to cover rent and feeding children – is your message to those parents “take some responsibility? Children being raised in hotel rooms.
And the government are doing enough are they? We need something 140000 social homes and in the last year built something like 2000 and you’re attitude is – yea they’re doing great in government.
If they were doing enough the numbers would have come down over the course of their TEN years in power. They’ve gone up.
The government have done nothing because it suits them to have high housing costs and high rents. Homelessness is the by product of their big business high cost of living philosophy.
@Ron Kingston: you don’t seem up to date with the homeless situation at all. People are loosing their homes due to the landlords increasing their rents by a few 100€ pm. or more. Landlords are putting tenants out on their ear in order to get more money. Then look at what’s available Jesus I’ve seen damp mouldy disgusting kips going for over 1200 pm. & that’s room only. Their even advertising Bed Sharing for god’s sake. Then what about the people that loose their jobs through no fault of their own? Or the people the fall I’ll ? I could go on & on because there’s lots of reasons people can fall on hard times & it can happen to anyone!
@Shane Murray: well their not building enough affordable houses and they are allowing vulture funds and corporate landlords run a muck with unaffordable rent levels. Are you suggesting the rise in homelessness is because there has been a huge spike in drug users. Get a grip. Blue shirt.
@Colette Kearns: those aren’t the ones sleeping in doorways I assure you.
Dublin city councillor Anthony Flynn said the company had shown a “lack of empathy and compassion” to homeless people, the Sunday Times reports
Yeah, that tends to happen when you get threatened for trying to get into work and your first chore of the day is cleaning up shit, piss,blood and puke.
Being homeless and causing havoc due to addiction is not a free pass to everybody’s empathy.
As a gesture maybe Disney donate to brother Kevin or Peter McVerry…this is a difficult one all round but what we really need to do is push this government to address the issue with more bed nights and targeted resources not trying to “cleanse” the public thoroughfares of this ‘nusiance’ and sweep it under the carpet . There will always be those who will not accept a bed (I know a chap in Galway…can’t bring his dog to the hostel so he won’t abandon his pooch)but homelessness is at epidemic levels now and gettin progressively worse. C’mon its nearly christmas….season if goodwill an all that!
@sinead foley-coleman:
How about the landlord doing the donation? I think it makes more sense.
I’m not saying that they should or shouldn’t donate at all.
@Peter: absolutely Peter…it doesn’t matter who makes the donation but maybe Disney might provide an akruistic and life lesson for their target audience, the children thats what i was aiming at but i do take ur point.
@sinead foley-coleman: altruistic even!!!
I haven’t read the article. I just went straight to the comments and I can tell you I’m outraged at whatever it was on about. Is that the correct position to adopt? I hope I’m right.
@Tom Tom:
No, no.. let me change your mind…
….
….
Did it work?
@Peter: You know what? I never thought about it like that. Thanks man. I totally get it now!
As a family we went into Eyre Square tonight to see the twinkly Christmas lights, the decorations and the amazing array of gifts with the fabulous aroma of mulled wine and lovely foods on offer. We were all feeling festive and full of the joys of the season as we turned onto shop street and the surrounding area. Door after door filled with bundles of rags, many of which contained some poor human being, a couple snuggled into a few duvets, an elderly lady wrapping her two little dogs in a blanket before wrapping herself in cardboard, a young lad of our sons age resting his head on his knees and on and on ….none of them begged or even made eye contact. We came home feeling deflated and ashamed that in this day and age such desperation still exists. Jesus people you would need a swinging brick for a heart….i acknowledge that some cauae problems and are threatening which is not on but they are human…who knows..someday it could be one of our own family….utterly depressing.
A company built on racist undertones, this doesn’t surprise me.
@Ananya Sharma: have the homeless around to your house to leave needless, threaten you and take a dump outside your door so. Sounds good?
@Ron Kingston: The homeless are not needless, they have needs,that’s why they’re homless.
@Ron Kingston: so.. you’re saying that 100% of those sleeping on the streets are druggies, is that right?
@Ananya Sharma: bloodysick of the word racist..the Irish are not racist..anything but..have given over last 50 years to every badly off country in the world.more than most-have…we are not in a position at the moment to help others..as our own sons and daughters cannot get accommodation..and if there landlord decides to sell .they are homeless..only not because of war.or drugs or drink..but because that’s the economic situation at the moment..so any Irish person who things we are racist is wrong..just looks GOOD..the situation is out of control and needs to stop..the house is full no vacancies..bloody hell.i have no home .I’ll have a hotel.which would you like..the Gresham..and as for Disney paying to house druggies.rinse your mouth out.they won’t take a bed..they give jobs..
@Shirley Hollingsworth: I said Disney was, they’re not an Irish company as far as im aware.
No one should be abused trying to enter or leave work or have to pick their way through or pick up excrement and / or drug paraphernalia.
That being said some people are homeless because of addictions others become addicts due to homelessness (fear and misery of living in the street with all its attendant threats).
While defecation in public is repugnant for all concerned unlike public urination it is not illegal, using door ways and public streets as toilets at night is an inevitable consequence of closing most of Dublin’s public toilets.
I have worked in Dublin city center on swing shifts for years and have had to navigate around people sheltering in doorways to get out but there has never been an occasion when the homeless people were abusive or threatening, they have usually nervous of being moved on, they are very vulnerable to abuse and violence.
There are no winners in this story just victims.
Let it go.They are Frozen.
A shame. Shouldn’t have to do this, but staff and customer’s safety is priority I guess. FG failing us time and time again
Of course you wouldn’t sant homeless people sleeping in your doorway. It’s uncomfortable for staff and also looks shit for customers.
Disgusting! Being homeless is no joke. If they don’t want people on the streets in front of their store, why don’t they contribute to a charity that will help these people with social housing or medical aid. It’s not like they can’t afford it…
@Jen Sandford: la la land suggestion…. very practical we’ll done
@Tony Henry: It’s a perfectly fair suggestion. That a large billion dollar corporation have a more socially responsible focused outlook.
What’s wrong with that?
@Shazam37: They are providing jobs here directly and indirect and you want them to assist with sorting the city’s homeless problem…. that’s some logic
@Jen Sandford:
Why shouldn’t the landlord do it?
Why should the landlord do it?
If there was a gate up the entire time, it wouldn’t have cost them anything in donations.
Michael Collins Would turn in his Grave What FG Corruption Party Have done this Country Homeless Children have No Homes Why Would any God Loving Person Buy from Disney after this Vile Act on Homeless People
Why is this in the news, only to try and make the occupiers and owners of the building look bad. Pathetic . Perhaps they should withdraw paying the rates to Dublin CC until they are allowed to protect their property . How on earth did that head banger get into a Council ? Not like he’s achieving anything.
They should get Mickey Mouse out to knock the b***ox out of them…
This the problem with the yanks. They want to spread their vile way of life around the world
THAY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEIR HEAVEN HANDED APPROACH AS WHEN THE Disney family had to leave their home in Carlow southern Ireland thay were glad of some where to rest and take refuge
There not affecting business are they.
Oh unless your open 24 hours
Cop on
have your say