Fr. Peter McVerry says there's no chance we will be able to build the 35,000 houses the Govt are planning for Ukraine refugees. “I don’t think there's a hope in hell of that happening. We’ve had a crisis in housing for the past 15yrs and that crisis is turning into a nightmare.”
A warning from
@GabrielScally
as COVID-19 restrictions ease to lvl 3. "If we have a very merry Christmas and meet lots of friends and relations, I fear in January and February we may be burying some of those friends and relations. That is the cruel truth of that virus..."
Aontú leader
@Toibin1
says the Govt is failing to provide communities with information around refugees and asylum seekers, which is creating a lot of anger.
Asked by Cormac about the St Patrick's Day parade, INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha
“I think that puts too much strain on our public hospitals... After any mass gathering our hospitals are overwhelmed... I agree with
@ProfJohnCrown
...
Clearly it should be cancelled”
Health Minister
@DonnellyStephen
has asked the HSE to suspend vaccine operations at the Beacon Hospital with the exception of those people who have already been scheduled to get their vaccine at the centre. Alternative arrangements are being put in place by the HSE.
On using vacant and derelict properties to address current housing and refugee accommodation issues Associate Prof. of Law at TCD Dr Rachael Walsh says our constitution clearly says "the State is empowered to restrict property rights to secure the common good and social justice".
Immunologist Prof
@KingstonMills
says he really thinks it was a mistake to drop the COVID certs because there is no doubt the uptake in the booster vaccine in the younger group 'has been poor’ ... ‘they [the Govt] may come to regret it’.
The
@SocDems
will be bringing a motion to the Dáil next week calling for full public ownership and control of the new national maternity hospital.
@WhitmoreJen
tells
@MrJustinMac
'the state needs to buy this land, either buy it or CPO it. A decision needs to be made quickly.'
As the controversy over the 2008 purchase of a site in Limerick by Niall Collins' wife goes on,
@fionamacky
, an Independent County Councillor spoke to
@colmomongain
about a lack of transparency in local authorities
"In this situation... Sick pay becomes a question of public health... We're talking about people on low incomes, in precarious employment. We need to ensure they're not out of pocket"
- Louise O'Reilly
@loreillysf
.
@MaryMcAuliffe4
says history should not be optional. Actually, she says, "it should be core" and points to the weakness in British people's knowledge of their colonial past.
#SaturdayRTE
Evan Cullen President of
@IALPA
tells
@SaturdayRTE
the loss of the 480 Stobart jobs 'is only the tip of the iceberg. There will be thousands of layoffs this winter in the Aviation sector if this government does not act'
#SaturdayRTE
Anne Burke from
@INMO_IRL
says their Mayo University Hospital members say they are working under some of the most challenging & overwhelming conditions they have ever faced.
Sinn Fein Housing spokesperson
@EOBroin
says despite the Govt saying it will end long term leasing to local authorities for social housing, new figures he obtained through a parliamentary question show leases will continue in very significant numbers until 2026.
New figures obtained by
@SaturdayRTE
reveal that between Sat 16th Jan and Thurs 21st Jan a total of 11,049 passengers arrived into Dublin Airport. There were approx 80 recorded breaches of the requirement to have a PCR test 72 hours prior to arrival, rep 0.7% of total arrivals.
NPHET's
@CillianDeGascun
says there is no evidence of "on island transmission" from the 3 cases of the Brazilian COVID variant detected here and that those cases have been "completely contained".
#SaturdayRTE
Minister
@McConalogue
tells
@SaturdayRTE
1500 seasonal horticultural workers 'will have to quarantine at home' when they arrive here in the coming weeks.
@RoisinShortall
asks how can they quarantine when
they are 'in the main living in very overcrowded conditions'.
#SaturdayRTE
Sinn Féin education spokesperson
@Donnchadhol
says Leaving Cert students must be given a choice between accredited grades or sitting exams this year and that Min. for Education needs to reconvene the stakeholder group meetings to discuss all the issues around exams.
"We have confirmation from the HSE that any barriers to the recruitment of nurses and midwives has been lifted... That is welcome, but it should have happened much earlier"
- Phil Ní Sheaghdha, INMO
Sinn Féin TD
@loreillysf
says the Govt is causing panic by ending the eviction ban ‘having not put in place necessary systems to ensure people do not become homeless’, and says Govt can’t answer the simple question of 'where will people go?'
Integration Manager for Immigrant Council of Ireland
@TBuczkowska
says Govt needs to engage migrant-led, community based organisations around the country who have the cultural knowledge and know what it is like to be a migrant in Ireland to help Ukrainian refugees arriving here.
Labour’s
@ivanabacik
will chair a new oireachtas special committee on gender equality to examine and deliver the recommendations from the citizens’ assembly from earlier in the year.
UCC Professor of Immunovirology Liam Fanning says we need an agile decision making process from NIAC on when we can start the vaccines for children. He says the day after the vaccines are in the country they need to be in children's arms.
CEO of National Parents Council Áine Lynch wants more information on the reasons why mask wearing has been brought into schools for 3rd class and up, and wants a review of the decision over the Christmas break rather than waiting until mid-Feb.
Patient advocate and health campaigner
@walls2
says it's "shameful to see in this day and age that we're still relying (on paper records) ... the chances of errors being made or things being missed is far, far higher".
HSE CEO
@paulreiddublin
says "We have formally gone into surge capacity." He says "We have triggered the private hospital agreement and have about 125 beds supported in private hospitals for non-Covid care such as for heart or cancer patients."
#saturdayrte
New figures obtained by
@SaturdayRTE
reveal that since travel restrictions from SA and the UK came into effect on Jan 9th, approx 80 cases where passengers didn’t produce a PCR result have been investigated by the gardai and in each case a file will be referred to the DPP.
We go through the main issues in the upcoming referendums:
- What is a “durable relationship”?
- How will the state “strive” to support carers?
- What difference will it make to remove the “women in the home” clause?
@MaryButlerTD
@SenatorMcDowell
@SeeryKearney
@TomClonan
Director of
@changebydegrees
@shine_tara
says now's the time for a new form of leadership on climate action. ‘We’re going to need much more bravery … our leaders are going to have to serve their countries and their people rather than serve themselves.’
RAI CEO
@adriancummins
says they're going ahead with a legal challenge after government plan that sees restaurants resume indoor dining 5wks later than hotels. He says they're waiting for Minister to sign the statutory instrument allowing hotels to open then they'll go to court.
CEO of
@Ryanair
Michael O’Leary says the Govt needs to remove the CTA restrictions with the UK which would've helped Stobart along with Aerlingus and Ryanair as tourism picks for the summer.
#LeavingCert
2022- should a hybrid model be back on the table?
@Donnchadhol
tells
#SaturdayRTE
a hybrid model should be run again this year.
'we need to rollout the same model or a similar model as last year. Its only fair that leaving cert students have a choice'⬇️
Roisin Shorthall
@SocDems
tells
@SaturdayRTE
'it just seems incredible that an experienced politician (Barry Cowen) hasn't yet got the message about drink driving. As a public representative its a very poor example to people'
#SaturdayRTE
@RoisinShortall
@rtenews
Reacting to the RTE Prime time story of the multi-million debt write down for former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey Fine Gael Min. of State
@nealerichmond
says he is not aware of other write downs of that size.
PBP TD for Dublin South Central
@bridsmithTD
says the Russian Ambassador should 'butt out' and that he should apologise to the family of Irishman Finbar Cafferkey who was reported to have been killed while serving as a military volunteer in Ukraine earlier this week.
@RTERadio1
This Saturday we host the FIRST Presidential Debate with ALL six candidates live on
@RTERadio1
at 1pm.
This is the first time all candidates are coming together in a live setting to debate their candidacy ahead of Oct 26th.
Watch on
@RTENewsNow
and
@RTEplayer
Gen Sec of
@INMO_IRL
Phil Ní Sheaghdha says the health system is stretched to breaking point and ‘we need to go back to telling people the number of people who are dying and the number of people who are really sick … if you don’t hear it you think it’s actually not happening’.
.
@aoifemcl
of
@ISAGCOVID19
says the 'living with the virus non-strategy isn't working..we have to try something else. Our public health doctors are crying out for more supports, they have to be resourced'
@ISAGCOVID19
's
@WeCanBeZero
campaign launches 2moro
#SaturdayRTE
CEO of
@Ryanair
Michael O’Leary says he’s not surprised by the Stobart Air collapse and that there'll be more failures as the Govt still refuses to allow British travellers through our airports & has failed to roll out the EU Digital Certificate for vaccinated people.
Kieran Christie, Gen Sec of
@astiunion
says there's "trepidation and fear among teachers and students" with the possibility of Level 5 and schools remaining open. He says the balloting of members for industrial action over safety concerns during Covid is ongoing.
#saturdayrte
Min. for State at the Dept. of Health
@FrankFeighan
says there are more important matters for the Dáil to be dealing with than a Sinn Féin no confidence vote. Senator
@LNBDublin
says it’s very telling that the Govt has lost its majority because it is ‘presiding over chaos’.
.
@RoisinShortall
tells
@SaturdayRTE
the resignations of Tom Keane and Laura Magahy from Slaintecare is 'a massive loss'. She has 'written to the Chair of the Health committee proposing that we invite' them in to 'give us first hand their reasons for resigning'.
@rtenews
Nurses & healthcare workers with long covid have been told the Special Leave with Pay scheme is to be cut off from July 1.
@SIPTU
Kevin Figgis says staff are unhappy at “failure and refusal of the HSE to engage with the unions” on decision to disband the scheme.
HSE CEO
@paulreiddublin
tells
@SaturdayRTE
that he believes by the end of next week the vaccination all of frontline healthcare workers will be completed. 'We will use this week to finalise any last ones'
Plans for €100 Electricity Credit per household
Leader of Aontú
@Toibin1
tells
#SaturdayRTE
'people like Michael O'Leary and JP McManus will get it whether they like it or not which is an incredible thing'
'we should have it targeted at low and middle income earners'
.
@RAI_ie
CEO says survival of the hospitality sector is at risk following the Taoiseach’s comment that no consideration will be given to opening hospitality until mid-summer.
@adriancummins
says this puts restaurants & hospitality businesses closer to financial ruin & meltdown.
Fine Gael spokesman on European Affairs
@nealerichmond
says reaching fisheries deal is "a decision for the UK to make" & ahead of tomorrow's deadline, that common sense dictates there needs to be a deal, but that "common sense went out the window" for Brexit a long time ago".
.
@GabrielScally
says level of COVID around the country right now is “significantly higher” than it was in first two weeks of December. He says a surge in cases in countries across Europe shows the road out of lockdown won't be a “smooth downward path”.
Labour's Ivana Bacik says Citizens' Assembly on Drugs will allow for a more '"rational approach" to drug use...adding that the criminal justice approach is not serving society or the user
'This report is a disgrace...it should be rejected in its entirety'
@bridsmithTD
reacts to publication of the Mother and Baby Homes report on
@SaturdayRTE
We're back, for an exciting new season of political questioning, dissecting the week gone by and debates on the issues to come. Join Katie and panel from 1pm tomorrow, for your Saturday fix of the stories that are engaging the nation.
Labour’s
@AodhanORiordain
says it’s time for the church to ‘read the room and back off’ when it comes to the delivery of basic care for women in terms of maternity services.
Chairperson of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers
@MurphyDunne
says 260 service providers will be closing their doors next year because the Govt's new core funding model fails to address across-the-board increases in costs for the sector.
'no matter what we wear or where we go yes means yes and no means no'
@loreillysf
recalls her childhood experience of sexism and tells
#SaturdayRTE
'we need a database of gender based violence. If we don't know what the quantity of this issue is we can't fix it'⬇️
Minister for Transport
@EamonRyan
tells
@SaturdayRTE
that the legislation for mandatory hotel quarantine will be introduced in the Dail next week. In 'a week or two", it will be through the Dáil and Seanad and 'up and running'. Accommodation hasn't been secured yet.
#SaturdayRTE
As thousands turnout for today's Ireland for All rally in Dublin, People Before Profit TD
@RBoydBarrett
says the message is to not buy into the claims of the far-right.
Infectious diseases consultant
@HIVTox
says we need the public to have access to quality antigen tests at an affordable price along with education on how to use them correctly and guidance on the right time to use them.
.
@adriancummins
tells
@SaturdayRTE
'there are growing concerns from individual restaurant owners that they would like to take a legal challenge' against government plans to confine the reopening of indoor dining in restaurants in June to hotels. The
@RAI
will support a test case.
Immunologist Prof.
@KingstonMills
says he’s surprised by the pace at which the restrictions have been eased especially regarding COVID certs and says other variants remain a cloud on the horizon.
Sinn Fein spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade and Employment
@loreillysf
says they’re bringing a private members bill to the Dail this week and is calling for a national database on domestic, sexual, gender based violence.
Minister Catherine Martin tells
@SaturdayRTE
People with solar panels on their roofs will be able to sell excess electricity back to the grid. Details will be announced in the coming weeks.
Increased grants and lower loans will be introduced in January for retrofitting homes.
.
@Labour
leader
@ivanabacik
on why they have filed a complaint under the Ethics in Public Office Act to the Dáil's Committee on Members' Interests in relation to former Minister of State Damien English.
'we could see a complete and total collapse of our industry in January if we’re not allowed to open for December'.
@adriancummins
also tells
@SaturdayRTE
'banks are moving in on businesses to make sure they pay their loans'.
@RAI_ie
@rtenews
#SaturdayRTE
HSE CEO
@paulreiddublin
tells
@SaturdayRTE
that the national recruitment campaign for vaccinators is continuing.
'Over 3,000 applications have been received to date.
2,300 of those have been screened and contracts will be offered this weekend.'
HSE’s
@CcoHse
says “relying on a healthcare system, intensive care beds and hospitals to be a line of defence is not a strategy’ … ‘no healthcare system could be designed to withstand the kind of (COVID) numbers we’re seeing right across Europe now’.
Garda Representative Association Pres. Brendan O’Connor rejects allegations made by independent chair of talks between GRA & Garda management re info being circulated by his organisation. "We're absolutely satisfied the information we've circulated is correct and accurate."
Soc Dems Dublin Central TD
@GaryGannonTD
says legislation on grooming children into a life of crime is welcomed but needs wrap-around supports. "If it's not met with an anti-poverty strategy, intensive trauma-based recovery programmes, education ...I know it's not going to work'.
The
@labour
leader
@alankellylabour
tells
@SaturdayRTE
its 'ridiculous' the NPHET advice on reopening indoor hospitality on July 5th 'isn't coming out now'.
Its disrespectful to the thousands of people who are planning to holiday around the country this summer.
#SaturdayRTE
Green Party TD for Waterford
@MarcKC_Green
says if the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law passes then the rewetting of agricultural peatland will be made compulsory for the State but remain voluntary for farmers.
@RTERadio1
So sad to hear about the passing of Marian Finucane. A brilliant broadcaster and colleague to us all here on Radio 1 weekend programmes. It's a terrible loss and one we're still coming to terms with. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
'we can't be part of such a flawed and unfit-for-purpose process'
Karina Molloy Spokesperson for
@WomenOfHonour
tells
#SaturdayRTE
they want a full commission of inquiry into allegations of sexual assault and harassment in the Defence Forces.⬇️
📻:
HSE Chief Clinical Officer
@CcoHse
says no medical advice has yet been crafted to give to Government to extend the gap between doses of the Pfizer vaccine beyond the current 28 day interval.
#SaturdayRTE
@DavQuinn
@MichealMartinTD
David, our programme did ask Maria to participate last Saturday but she responded to our invitation to say she would not be available
Fianna Fáil TD for Clare
@CathalCroweTD
tells
@SaturdayRTE
he does not believe Micheál Martin will be leading the party into the next general election.
'There will be a new leadership by then'
@rtenews
NPHET chair,
@CillianDeGascun
says there are concerns that the mutated coronavirus found in Danish minks may impact the vaccines that will be rolled out over the next 6-12months.
#saturdayrte
Labour senator
@marie_sherlock
says there are serious questions around the 5-day isolation rule for workers worried they’ll end up being out of pocket.
Labour Leader & TD for Dublin Bay South
@ivanabacik
says although she doesn't have confidence in the government's handling of policing, this weekend is not the time to be playing party politics.
#SaturdayRTE
Director of
@NWCI
@OrlaNWCI
says the
#CitizensAssembly
has done an enormous service for Irish women and has made 'groundbreaking recommendations' that demand a referendum on Article 41.2 of the Constitution to happen early next year.
'we want an apology, we are the victims of abuse'
Karina Molloy of the
@WomenOfHonour_
speaks to
@SaturdayRTE
ahead of a meeting with the Minister for Defence Simon Coveney on Tuesday.
'he needs to listen very carefully to us'
Listen in full here:
Lucky Khambule, Co-founder of
@masi_asylum
welcomes the support the Govt is giving to Ukrainian refugees but says there are other people already here who are seeking the same kind of protections but feel ignored as they are waiting months on end for services.
BREAKING: Tom Costello has resigned as Chair of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board. His resignation has been accepted by
@SimonHarrisTD
. We'll have reaction from government and opposition on
#SaturdayRTE
at 1pm
Have nurses struggling with long Covid been abandoned by the HSE?
10 years on – Why is the National Broadband Plan still so far behind target?
And we’ll be going live to the Cost of Living protests around the country.
@smytho
@davidcullinane
@marie_sherlock
"We're very much lagging behind, we're at the bottom of the table.."
@AvrilKennan
CEO of Health Research Charities Ireland on how Ireland's health service performs when it comes to getting medical records off paper and into an electronic form.
A tragic week on our roads, will there be a U-turn on proposed longer hours for pubs & clubs?
The Special pay scheme for health workers with Long Covid comes to an end.
And the political implications of Jeffrey Donaldson's resignation.
@jackfchambers
@Farrell_Mairead
@Toibin1