Reposted by Stephen Bourke
We are barely 30 days removed from Housing Minister James Browne saying he believes he can end the housing crisis in the next four years
Government video on how to cope with moving back in with parents slammed as 'dystopian'
“Is this Waterford Whispers?,” was the immediate reaction from one Opposition TD.
www.thejournal.ie
December 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM
We are barely 30 days removed from Housing Minister James Browne saying he believes he can end the housing crisis in the next four years
The problem isn't, of course, the comms people who commissioned this crazy nonsense. The problem is that nobody anywhere in the Department of Housing with eyes on this had the wit or instinct to shoot it down.
“A very bad joke”, “embarrassing”, “patronising”, “dystopian”, and “tone deaf” are some of the words that have been used to describe a video from the Department of Housing advising people on moving back in with their parents.
www.thejournal.ie/department-o...
www.thejournal.ie/department-o...
Government video on how to cope with moving back in with parents slammed as 'dystopian'
“Is this Waterford Whispers?,” was the immediate reaction from one Opposition TD.
www.thejournal.ie
December 8, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The problem isn't, of course, the comms people who commissioned this crazy nonsense. The problem is that nobody anywhere in the Department of Housing with eyes on this had the wit or instinct to shoot it down.
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
“A very bad joke”, “embarrassing”, “patronising”, “dystopian”, and “tone deaf” are some of the words that have been used to describe a video from the Department of Housing advising people on moving back in with their parents.
www.thejournal.ie/department-o...
www.thejournal.ie/department-o...
Government video on how to cope with moving back in with parents slammed as 'dystopian'
“Is this Waterford Whispers?,” was the immediate reaction from one Opposition TD.
www.thejournal.ie
December 8, 2025 at 4:40 PM
“A very bad joke”, “embarrassing”, “patronising”, “dystopian”, and “tone deaf” are some of the words that have been used to describe a video from the Department of Housing advising people on moving back in with their parents.
www.thejournal.ie/department-o...
www.thejournal.ie/department-o...
The navy already had some of the best available military technology to track drones fitted on the WB Yeats but still bungled it (if there were any drones at all). The media has been pretending the boat had no such capability. Do not pass go and remit €17 million in public money to the arms trade.
Up to €17m to be spent on technology to track and intercept drones
Up to €17m to be spent on technology to track and intercept drones
Incident during Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s visit is believed to have been intended to cause embarrassment to the Republic and highlight weak defences
www.irishtimes.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The navy already had some of the best available military technology to track drones fitted on the WB Yeats but still bungled it (if there were any drones at all). The media has been pretending the boat had no such capability. Do not pass go and remit €17 million in public money to the arms trade.
It has been explained to us elsewhere that there only exists "grainy video" of these UFOs. There is no excuse for this after spending millions on world-class fire control optics for the Beckett class ships. I want to believe, but that has to be explained.
Harry McGee, on the IT politics podcast, just asserted that the recent drones seen around Zelenskyy’s visit were military grade weapons launched from within the Irish state by foreign agents. There’s no evidence for any of this, it’s absolutely unhinged.
December 7, 2025 at 2:02 PM
It has been explained to us elsewhere that there only exists "grainy video" of these UFOs. There is no excuse for this after spending millions on world-class fire control optics for the Beckett class ships. I want to believe, but that has to be explained.
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
Headline: “Housing targets at risk as Dublin apartment build costs top €600k”
Fact: Assuming Dept Housing using same basis as previous years, this is an “estimate” from industry from one unnamed project, not independent, not market research, & not audited costs www.businesspost.ie/politics/hou...
Fact: Assuming Dept Housing using same basis as previous years, this is an “estimate” from industry from one unnamed project, not independent, not market research, & not audited costs www.businesspost.ie/politics/hou...
Housing targets at risk as Dublin apartment build costs top €600k
www.businesspost.ie
December 7, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Headline: “Housing targets at risk as Dublin apartment build costs top €600k”
Fact: Assuming Dept Housing using same basis as previous years, this is an “estimate” from industry from one unnamed project, not independent, not market research, & not audited costs www.businesspost.ie/politics/hou...
Fact: Assuming Dept Housing using same basis as previous years, this is an “estimate” from industry from one unnamed project, not independent, not market research, & not audited costs www.businesspost.ie/politics/hou...
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
Is there not one journalist in Ireland who will question Garda statements instead of uncritically reproducing them. It is not a criminal offence to pitch a tent
Refugee group has ‘deep concern’ over asylum seekers sleeping rough to show need for beds
Refugee group has ‘deep concern’ over asylum seekers sleeping rough to show need for beds
Government figures show there were 3,480 ‘beds available’ in centres operated by IPAS at the end of October
www.irishtimes.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Is there not one journalist in Ireland who will question Garda statements instead of uncritically reproducing them. It is not a criminal offence to pitch a tent
That purportedly "patchy" video feed of the UFOs would be PAL supplied from a £2.5 million gimbal-stabilised day/night fire control system on the Beckett class ships with the capacity to track multiple aerial targets at once, on thermal imaging, at night, even 5km away.
December 6, 2025 at 1:52 AM
That purportedly "patchy" video feed of the UFOs would be PAL supplied from a £2.5 million gimbal-stabilised day/night fire control system on the Beckett class ships with the capacity to track multiple aerial targets at once, on thermal imaging, at night, even 5km away.
These protests would be more effective if the bus lanes weren't already clogged perpetually with taxis.
Dublin taxis to stage six days of disruption in ‘major escalation’ of Uber app dispute
Dublin taxis to stage six days of disruption in ‘major escalation’ of Uber app dispute
Monday to Saturday protest marks ‘beginning of a national reckoning’, group says
www.irishtimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:43 AM
These protests would be more effective if the bus lanes weren't already clogged perpetually with taxis.
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
Did you see this (IMHO) convincing post setting out what was actually in the air at the time to be mistaken for drones www.reddit.com/r/Dublin/s/c...
tvmachus's comment on "Four military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelensky's arrival in Dublin"
Explore this conversation and more from the Dublin community
www.reddit.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Did you see this (IMHO) convincing post setting out what was actually in the air at the time to be mistaken for drones www.reddit.com/r/Dublin/s/c...
The implications of this are huge if true, but you would also have to seriously question several aspects, particularly the bit where we are told there's "no air defence capability save for the machine guns of the naval vessel".
Unidentified military-style drones entered a no-fly zone and flew towards the flight path of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plane as it landed in Dublin on Monday evening.
jrnl.ie/6893104 🧵 1/5
jrnl.ie/6893104 🧵 1/5
Four unidentified military-style drones breached no-fly zone to target Zelenskyy's arrival in Dublin
Gardaí are investigating whether the drones took off from land in Dublin or from an undetected ship.
jrnl.ie
December 4, 2025 at 11:50 PM
The implications of this are huge if true, but you would also have to seriously question several aspects, particularly the bit where we are told there's "no air defence capability save for the machine guns of the naval vessel".
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
Aer Lingus pilot feared ‘retribution’ from senior airline personnel, WRC hears
Aer Lingus pilot feared ‘retribution’ from senior airline personnel, WRC hears
Pilot was stripped of command duties after his aircraft failed to pick up a navigation beacon on approach to Dublin Airport in 2023
www.irishtimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Aer Lingus pilot feared ‘retribution’ from senior airline personnel, WRC hears
I just hope there's clear video of everyone giving him a big bualadh bos, or not doing so, so we won't have the unedifying spectacle of certian political writers having to argue the point.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has become the second person ever to address a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas twice, writes Sandra Hurley
Entreaty to stay the course as Ukraine war grinds on
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has become the second person ever to address a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas twice, writes Sandra Hurley.
www.rte.ie
December 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
I just hope there's clear video of everyone giving him a big bualadh bos, or not doing so, so we won't have the unedifying spectacle of certian political writers having to argue the point.
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
Nope. That just hasn't happened. The Home Secretary saying "I'd like this to be the case" is not the same as Parliament passing an Act. This is such basic stuff.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
December 2, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Nope. That just hasn't happened. The Home Secretary saying "I'd like this to be the case" is not the same as Parliament passing an Act. This is such basic stuff.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Armoured Garda convoy through Ballsbridge, it must be assumed, for Zelensky.
December 2, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Armoured Garda convoy through Ballsbridge, it must be assumed, for Zelensky.
We do really need to remember that much of what Simon Harris has to say about the state of the nation really is awfully shallow in terms of its analysis. (He's the first Taoiseach since Albert Reynolds not to finish third level.)
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
Harris links housing lack to immigration in visit to Cork
Mr Harris was speaking to The Echo on Friday in Macroom
www.echolive.ie
December 2, 2025 at 12:06 AM
We do really need to remember that much of what Simon Harris has to say about the state of the nation really is awfully shallow in terms of its analysis. (He's the first Taoiseach since Albert Reynolds not to finish third level.)
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
www.echolive.ie/corknews/ari...
A significant High Court ruling clarifies that corporate entities can indeed pursue a claim under the Equal Status Act if they are discriminated against due to their association with a natural person with a protected characteristic.
Russian-born billionaire’s firm can pursue racial discrimination claim, High Court rules
Russian-born billionaire’s firm can pursue racial discrimination claim, High Court rules
Complaint dismissed by WRC in 2023 on grounds that it had no standing under legislation
www.irishtimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
A significant High Court ruling clarifies that corporate entities can indeed pursue a claim under the Equal Status Act if they are discriminated against due to their association with a natural person with a protected characteristic.
Some of them are also utterly blinding, and I think quite dangerous on dark roads, because the way they cycle between dark and light backgrounds can be dazzling.
Some councillors are squeamish about the continued rise of illuminated and digital advertising signs in city. "Digital screens are impacting on our environment,” says independent Councillor Mannix Flynn. “It’s another erosion of the public domain.”
Councillors squeamish at continued rise of illuminated and digital advertising signs in city
"Digital screens are impacting on our environment,” says independent Councillor Mannix Flynn. “It’s another erosion of the public domain.”
www.dublininquirer.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Some of them are also utterly blinding, and I think quite dangerous on dark roads, because the way they cycle between dark and light backgrounds can be dazzling.
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
And there was a huge push within the review to do the numbers properly this time.
But changing them required a fall guy unless they were to acknowledge that a political decision had been made that was causing very bad long term consequences.
So he attacked the CSO, which can't defend itself.
But changing them required a fall guy unless they were to acknowledge that a political decision had been made that was causing very bad long term consequences.
So he attacked the CSO, which can't defend itself.
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
And there was a huge push within the review to do the numbers properly this time.
But changing them required a fall guy unless they were to acknowledge that a political decision had been made that was causing very bad long term consequences.
So he attacked the CSO, which can't defend itself.
But changing them required a fall guy unless they were to acknowledge that a political decision had been made that was causing very bad long term consequences.
So he attacked the CSO, which can't defend itself.
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
Leo started critiquing the CSO to deflect from the political decisions that they had made regarding what they had asked the ESRI to do.
This became a problem for Leo with the review of the NDP which the FFers wanted.
They couldn't just keep using the 2016 projections that were demonstrably wrong
This became a problem for Leo with the review of the NDP which the FFers wanted.
They couldn't just keep using the 2016 projections that were demonstrably wrong
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Leo started critiquing the CSO to deflect from the political decisions that they had made regarding what they had asked the ESRI to do.
This became a problem for Leo with the review of the NDP which the FFers wanted.
They couldn't just keep using the 2016 projections that were demonstrably wrong
This became a problem for Leo with the review of the NDP which the FFers wanted.
They couldn't just keep using the 2016 projections that were demonstrably wrong
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
As bankers say regarding when the shit hits the fan "By then, I'll be gone, you'll be gone"
And when we look about us, the decision makers from that period are gone.
And when we look about us, the decision makers from that period are gone.
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
As bankers say regarding when the shit hits the fan "By then, I'll be gone, you'll be gone"
And when we look about us, the decision makers from that period are gone.
And when we look about us, the decision makers from that period are gone.
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
Lower short term population growth expectations allowed investment in housing and infrastructure to be deferred so that money could go towards electorally popular things like raising tax band thresholds
The majority of NDP spending was set for 2026-2030, when FG thought they wouldn't be in power
The majority of NDP spending was set for 2026-2030, when FG thought they wouldn't be in power
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Lower short term population growth expectations allowed investment in housing and infrastructure to be deferred so that money could go towards electorally popular things like raising tax band thresholds
The majority of NDP spending was set for 2026-2030, when FG thought they wouldn't be in power
The majority of NDP spending was set for 2026-2030, when FG thought they wouldn't be in power
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
They got the ESRI to do modeling on population projections for the NPF, and then tailored them to be extremely conservative. By 2018 we were already beating our the high growth scenario projections (as even with that, Robert Watt had his thumb on the scale reducing the possible range of growth)
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
They got the ESRI to do modeling on population projections for the NPF, and then tailored them to be extremely conservative. By 2018 we were already beating our the high growth scenario projections (as even with that, Robert Watt had his thumb on the scale reducing the possible range of growth)
Reposted by Stephen Bourke
I think the issue was more that with the post-bust population crash, and much higher emmigration they walked into the National Planning Framework in 2016 believing that life beyond 2020 would be closer to 2010-15 than 2005.
That was in line with economic expectations, but divorced from reality
That was in line with economic expectations, but divorced from reality
November 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I think the issue was more that with the post-bust population crash, and much higher emmigration they walked into the National Planning Framework in 2016 believing that life beyond 2020 would be closer to 2010-15 than 2005.
That was in line with economic expectations, but divorced from reality
That was in line with economic expectations, but divorced from reality