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Will Enda finally do a TV debate?

Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening in Irish politics right now…

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Everybody’s talking about 

Enda Kenny did a wide-ranging interview with Newstalk yesterday morning and there should be another one in the offing on RTÉ’s This Week at the weekend. He might even go and speak to Ryan Tubridy sometime soon. So, it appears Kenny is slowly shaking off his previous reluctance to do set-piece broadcast interviews.

Cabinet Meeting. Pictured An Taoiseach Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland Sam Boal / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

But broadcast interviews are one thing, the big question is whether Kenny is prepared to do a live TV debate. Micheál Martin is certainly looking for one but the Taoiseach has been notoriously reluctant to engage in such debates since taking office in 2011.

It’s with good reason. In 2007 Bertie Ahern was widely perceived to have comfortably beaten him in an RTÉ election debate and the Fianna Fáil leader went on to be re-elected. This explains why the Fine Gael leader pushed for the 2011 TV debates to be a five-way affair with all party leaders, instead of just two (although the political landscape was somewhat different).

As the next election draws closer, Kenny will come under more and more pressure to debates the likes of Martin and Gerry Adams on live TV.

The agenda

  • 9.30am: The banking inquiry meets in private session this morning.
  • 9.30am: The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Jobs Minister Richard Bruton are launching the Action Plan for Jobs for 2015 in Leopardstown. 
  • 10am: The Public Accounts Committee scrutinises the accounts of the Department of Arts and the National Library. 
  • 12pm: After all that the Tánaiste is back in the Dáil for Leaders’ Question. 
  • 2pm: The Oireachtas Transport Committee holds a special meeting on the proposed Aer Lingus sale.
  • 2.30pm: The European Commission talks about its work programme for this year with MEPs Lynn Boylan and Mairead McGuinness due to speak to TDs and Senators. 
  • A full Dáil, Seanad and Committee schedule is here 

Inside Leinster House 

There was much excitement surrounding the joint appearance of the leaders of Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil on the plinth yesterday after their Dáil walkout.

A future coalition perhaps? The start of a beautiful friendship?

Micheál Martin insisted: “I think it reflects the supremacy of parliament and the belief that everybody in the opposition have in terms of the need to have some respect for the Dáil, some respect for parliament…I think that’s all you’re seeing today, nothing else and nothing more than that.”

If you say so, Micheál.

What the others are saying 

  • Michelle Mulherin wants a ‘Skype facility’ within Leinster House to avoid future controversies over expensive phone calls, the Irish Independent reports.
  • Several papers report on Labour TD Anne Ferris’s decision to abstain on a Dáil vote on the mother and baby homes inquiry over the exclusion of some women from the investigation. She will not face sanction from the party. 
  • The Irish Times reports on the growing opposition in the coalition to the sale of Aer Lingus with many Labour and Fine Gael TDs speaking out against it at last night’s parliamentary party meetings. 

In case you missed it

Video TheJournal.ie / YouTube

On the tweet machine 

The Socialists are sticking to their guns on Michael D:

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55 Comments
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    Mute windbag
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:45 AM

    Two of my friends work for two different companies in the city centre and they have been told to work from home till January. Not only that but come January there companies have said more than likely they will be in office 2 days a week and home 3 forever…. They are delighted…

    247
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    Mute ed w
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    Jun 8th 2020, 12:24 PM

    @windbag: were been told September. but as my broadband coverage of any kind is terrible I cant wait to go back and work properly although a couple of days a week might work.

    38
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    Mute Forest Hump
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    Jun 8th 2020, 5:03 PM

    @ed w: makes sense, this should’ve been put in place years ago. Better for the environment, better for workers and there will be almost no impact to most businesses. Cafes/restaurants may lose out though

    24
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    Mute Disabled Junkie
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    Jun 8th 2020, 12:22 PM

    If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s remote working is practical and should become part of the “new normal” where possible. Hopefully the days of having to commute to the office just to be seen are behind us.

    136
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    Mute Rochelle
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:34 AM

    This is what the “open up for business” crowd don’t seem to understand, most customers aren’t interested and want to avoid unessential visits and shopping.

    131
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    Mute Sven Gilmore
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:20 AM

    The money just isn’t there folks!!!

    71
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    Mute Cynical
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:29 AM
    52
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    Mute Sam Greene
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    Jun 8th 2020, 1:34 PM

    @Cynical: oh shuttup

    36
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    Mute Dave Nomates
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    Jun 8th 2020, 4:42 PM

    @Cynical:
    AGAIN, TAKEN FROM A FACE MASK BOX.

    THIS PRODUCT IS AN EAR LOOP MASK.
    IT IS NOT A RESPIRATOR AND WILL NOT PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST COVID-19 (CORONA VIRUS) OR OTHER VIRUSES OR CONTAMINANTS.

    6
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    Mute Cynical
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    Jun 8th 2020, 4:50 PM

    @Sam Greene: Bless you, its a cornerstone for all the other countries that are currently re-opening and could allow us to reduce the 2 meter distance.

    Also expressly recommended by the World Health Organisation:
    ‘The World Health Organization has said that people in Ireland should get into the habit of wearing face coverings, even if it’s not mandatory to do so.’
    https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0606/1145825-coronavirus-facemasks-who/

    I’ll just wait here while you find a link for a Facebook group that links mask wearing to developing autism.

    7
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    Mute Cynical
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    Jun 8th 2020, 4:57 PM

    @Dave Nomates: Stop shouting! You do realise that is a legal disclaimer to protect from anyone that does contract the disease from claiming from them? Masks are not perfect, but they are much better than no protection.

    Depending on the type of mask used, they are between 77% and 96% effective at stopping transmission.
    https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext
    https://www.livescience.com/face-masks-eye-protection-covid-19-prevention.html

    5
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    Mute Isabel Oliveira
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    Jun 8th 2020, 12:01 PM

    No widespread usage of masks in buses is ridiculous. Absolutely reckless.

    75
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    Mute Eugene Tyson
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:38 AM

    So… buses were less busy as they returned to normal-ish operating hours.

    Basically, they were busier when there was fewer buses. Which means returning to normal is the right thing to do, with fewer people on buses because there are more buses, is a good thing right?

    Give it a week and it will be crazy again. Especially with more workers returning. Increased traffic will be huge as more people won’t want to get public transport, and take their cars instead.

    Once the schools and colleges are back it will be bedlam. Typically when schools and colleges are off the traffic is ok anyway.

    48
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    Mute Eileen O'Sullivan
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:51 AM

    @Eugene Tyson: that’s a logical analysis. really well argued.

    15
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    Mute Dave Nomates
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:21 AM

    Great to see the majority of right thinking people refuse to wear a stupid mask,
    Insert Idiotic reply below.

    123
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    Mute Robert
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:24 AM

    @Dave Nomates: have a nap Dave

    109
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    Mute Fabio Dillon
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:27 AM

    @Dave Nomates: masks greatly reduce the spread of droplets which is what spreads flu.

    If you disagree you disagree. Majority agree. Including any doctor or biologist you will speak to.

    141
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    Mute Eugene Tyson
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:39 AM

    @Dave Nomates: Wear the mask, it’s only a mask.

    50
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    Mute Eileen O'Sullivan
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @Eugene Tyson: Dave’s face covering of choice is no doubt a balaclava.

    42
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    Mute David Jordan
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:51 AM

    @Dave Nomates: Peer review research found that people who refuse to comply with social distancing guidelines e.g. wear masks, are more likely to be psychopathic and narcissistic:

    “Psychopathic traits linked to non-compliance with social distancing guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic”

    New research provides some initial evidence that certain antagonistic personality traits are associated with ignoring preventative measures meant to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

    The study has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication in the journal Social Psychology and Personality Science. It is currently available on the PsyArXiv preprint website.

    “One potential implication from this research is that there may be a minority of people with particular personality styles (on the narcissism and psychopathy spectrum) that have a disproportionate impact on the pandemic by failing to protect themselves and others.”

    https://www.psypost.org/2020/06/psychopathic-traits-linked-to-non-compliance-with-social-distancing-guidelines-amid-the-coronavirus-pandemic-56980

    46
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    Mute NotMyIreland
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:52 AM

    @Dave Nomates: So childish. “stupid mask”

    30
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    Mute Kate Flaherty
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    Jun 8th 2020, 11:54 AM

    @Dave Nomates: here’s an idiotic reply for you Braveheart, how comfortable would you be on public transport should the person beside you start to cough or sneeze and have the same idiotic attitude as yourself and choose not to wear a mask?, do you actually believe people are happy about having to wear a mask?, probably not but they do it out of respect and regard for others, so the next time you see someone wearing a mask just think they’re wearing it to protect not only themselves but you too…

    47
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    Mute Delboy79
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    Jun 8th 2020, 12:19 PM

    @David Jordan: bit OTT there David . Some people are just self conscious about attracting attention/looks by wearing a mask . It’s not the norm yet . I find myself unintentionally looking at people in Tesco who are wearing a mask .

    11
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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jun 8th 2020, 12:57 PM

    @Dave Nomates: Nothing can top your idiotic remark

    16
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    Mute SaveTheTrees
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    Jun 8th 2020, 1:18 PM

    Staggering the opening hours for retail was a great idea, props

    17
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    Mute conex
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    Jun 8th 2020, 12:42 PM

    Them numbers will quadruple…….on dole day !

    14
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    Mute Mislav Smok
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    Jun 8th 2020, 3:49 PM

    Aha you will see how many people will lose jobs now. But stay home fake virus

    8
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    Mute Evelyn Keely
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    Jun 8th 2020, 2:46 PM

    I beg to differ it is very busy frightenly so Luas is a hell of a lot busier I live in the city centre and can see a huge difference in footfall and transport I appriciate some are on their way to or from work but not all…just stay safe if coming into town…

    7
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