Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE PARISH PRIEST of Portlaoise is set to do defy a “ban” placed on him from visiting a a direct provision centre in Co Laois tomorrow.
The Sunday Times reports this morning that Monsignor John Byrne received a phonecall from the owner of the Montague hotel direct provision centre telling him not to go ahead with a planned visit.
Byrne has been invited to attend the centre by Equality Minister Aodháin Ó Ríordáin who is visiting the centre along with local Senator John Whelan tomorrow.
It’s reported that Byrne was told not to visit the centre because staff were upset at comments he made comparing the direct provision system to an open prison.
But speaking on RTÉ’s The Week in Politics this afternoon, Ó Ríordáin said that Byrne will be joining him on the visit, adding it would be a “brave member of staff” who stops him.
“He will (be attending) and he’ll be getting in because he’s going as my guest,” said the junior minister. “I’m very impressed with Monsignor John Byrne’s comments about direct provision and I think he’s spoken as a man of compassion. He has spoken about the entirety of the system, not just this direct provision centre.”
Myself and Senator John Whelan are going to the centre tomorrow, he’s going as my guest and it’ll be a very brave member of staff who stands in his way because he’s there with me as Minister for State in the Department of Justice.
Ó Ríordáin and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald have established a working group that will report to the government and recommend changes to the the direct provision accommodation system.
The system, which places curfews on asylum seekers, doesn’t allow them the right to work has been criticised by human rights organisations.
Last week, the High Court ruled that the direct provision system did not breach the human rights of two asylum seekers in Galway
Ó Ríordáin has previously visited a number of different centres and has made a commitment to reform of the system.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
jaysus, can people not give it a rest for even a couple of days? Is that all there is to life -shopping and consuming? Very sad.
My other half said he was slipping down to the local to see if there is a sale on !
Should be called “Chinese Day”!!
Yeah they re-sell them in China for 50% more… Mainland Chinese people will buy anything with a label.
I just saw a man wearing Ugg boots. He was about 50. Is this what we have come too?
In skinny jeans, a beard and clutching a latte frappe crappe shatte too no doubt…
The orientals love the peace sign.
I suppose it beats the nazi salute?
Are they not implying they got two crappy handbags for the price of one?
Handbags which most likely were made in the orient.
Made in China, shipped 1/2 way around the world, retailed at 200% markup to Chinese tourists who then fly them back to the point of origin.
That dude with the 4 handbags is straight to a Chinese factory ready to make replicas
Why does he wani so many? Must be off to Dealz with the change…
theyre probably already made by now albeit in s*** quality. live in your ear., take the eye out of yer head. mind those things.
Sad sad people
There ain’t a bargain in these places you couldn’t get from the comfort of your own home by shopping online if you put a little time into it. I can understand people of a certain vintage running for the deals, but not the younger generation.
online is beating them. the cost of transport alone in to retail is more than the shipping. theyre trying to bring you from online now into retail and follow you through push notifications! haha. not work. people hate them more than the qr codes, they turn off locations for such crap. who wants an app for every retail store? and you really aint going to pay for the transport in there. Bring on the drones.
Pathetic creatures
” and for the record Grafton St is busy but damp” It doesn’t look busy @daraghbroph
And look over there! There’s 20 people outside brown thomas 20 minutes before the doors open.
Keep playing up the economy Journal
A yes festive cheer… A high stool comes to mind.
Festive chair
A big stool after all the Roses more like
Losers. Should stay at home.
No amount of discounts would induce me to go anywhere near the city centre, what with chuggers, LUAS, mayhem, spaced out druggies, marauding youths etc. .Got everything I need from Merrion down to Dun Laoghaire at a much more relaxed pace.
Not many Irish people there
If they live here they must be Irish !
Chinese just can’t stop buying shite…..thy can’t save….
PATHETIC
A free country is one in which people can do (legally) what they want. Unfortunately, we are not free yet – as so many seem to make a life out of criticising the activities beliefs of others. Whether its shopping, religion or politics – we appear to be incapable of accepting an alternative view on things.
Having an opinion or offending someone is not a crime, it’s victimless really. Being judgemental is part of the national psyche of every country. Now, see you later, I have a Stephen’s day swinger party to attend in Silversrpings and I hate to be late as I don’t like seconds.
The difference is Cod – I don’t care, am not interested and just wish you well, in whatever pursuits/activities you desire. Whether it be dating a priest or jumping off wardrobes – but some insist on making their disagreement with these legal uses of time known to us all. When the PMs of France were having extramarital affairs – the voters couldn’t see what the fuss was about! Here….
I’d have to agree with that. The French have it right.
Agreed
Not suggesting having an affair is right but no one else’s business except the people directly involved
Ger Comings, posing as the voice of compassion and reason!! This IS Waterford whispers
A lot of people in this generation having got such a stinging in the recession might never recover the Celtic tiger consumerism and save more.
Hi Daragh, please could you explain the “(s)” after the apostrophe s in Stephens Day?
Because if that S wasn`t in brackets it would be a typo?
I was wondering if it was an Irish thing where we infer it’s a plural Stephens. So you have the grammatical conundrum of apostrophe s denoting the possessive “day belonging to Stephen” followed by another s to denote plural Stephens. Or something like that?
There are no sales really.. nothing much to talk about. All I’ve seen is rubbish
Handbags at dawn !
have your say