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THE EUROPEAN UNION’S executive body, the European Commission, has opened up an investigation into whether Microsoft has kept the antitrust commitments it made in 2009, and warned that penalties for non-compliance would be “severe.”
EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia told reporters Tuesday that the indications are that Microsoft, the company that makes the Windows operating system, has failed to provide customers with a screen from which they could choose different internet browsers other than its own Internet Explorer.
Choice screen
Almunia said it appeared that the “choice screen”, promised by Microsoft following an antitrust case in 2009, has not been provided since February 2011, meaning 28 million customers may not have seen it.
In a statement, Microsoft conceded it had “fallen short” of its responsibility, while acknowledging that it was required to provide the browser choice screen, or BCS.
“Due to a technical error, we missed delivering the BCS software to PCs that came with the service pack 1 update to Windows 7,” the statement said.
The company said that PCs running the original version of Windows 7, as well as Windows XP and Windows Vista, did have the screen.
‘We deeply regret’ error
“While we have taken immediate steps to remedy this problem, we deeply regret that this error occurred and we apologise for it,” Microsoft said.
Microsoft submitted a report to the Commission in December saying the browser choice screen was being provided as required. In its statement, the company said it believed at the time that was the case.
Almunia said this would be the first time that this type of legally binding agreement has not been complied with.
“Needless to say, we take compliance with our decision very seriously,” he said. “If the infringement is confirmed, there will be sanctions.”
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The organisers at Apollo house never claimed that it was a long term solution, or even a solution for those in Bnbs. It it a short term solution to take people off the streets for the winter. And an act of solidarity with the marginalised in society. And an up yours to the government. It is an outcry of rage from the people of Ireland, and also compassion.
And they have done an awful lot to make it safe and liveable in, with food and professional services on hand.
@samanthanimhurchu: superbly expresed. You could write a far superior article to the architect. You are sincere, not patronising.
Agree totally, spot on Samantha. Its a symbolic gesture to wake up our sleeping govt.
How is it an outcry of rage? If enough people were really angry, this crisis would have been dealt a long time ago.
The best thing about it is its shoving an issue in all our faces, which otherwise is too easy to ignore. I hope it has a long term impact, but I’m sceptical.
@MK76: and what is your superior and more effective solution?
Mk, The majority are extremely angry about the mountain of illegitimate banking debt which has been loaded on to our backs but it hasn’t changed anything. This is because our political system is designed to give an illusion of democracy while preventing any real democracy breaking out. When real change occurs it comes from the streets as demonstrated in the mass campaign against the water charges ( banker tax ). The homeless crisis is de facto FF and FG policy and it will not be resolved until a sufficient number of people understand this.
@MK76: we all know your a supporter of a corrupt government this is as much your fault as its your party’s your the one that keeps voting these people in mk76 you hold some responsibility for this crisis as your a government supporter.
Ata boy Bobby. Blame everything on “da gov’t”. Makes it easier for you to ignore your own role in the scandal.
Smart stuff as always.
@MK76: if it is not the agovernment which is responsible for failing to address the homeless crisis emergency who iexactly s responsible for that failure?
It gives people a warm place to sleep over Christmas. It takes people out of Hostels that are from a horror show. It’s not patronising. It’s fantastic.
That article is patronising.
@Sean O’Brien: that is so well said and gets to the very essence of what Home Sweet Home is about.
I think that David O’Brien’s superficial and trite Article is patronising, condescending and trivialising.
This lad should keep his opinions to himself. It’s still alot better than cardboard box’s.
@Joe Mc: he is trying to raise his professional profile as an architect. It’s a self boosting measure.
@Sean O’Brien: exactly at least people are out of the elements and safe for a while anyway so who gives a s*h*i* t about his opinion I am sure the homeless don’t. ..the nerve of that man what
A condescending prat.
It may have been built and intended as an office block, but honestly what’s on offer to the homeless people that have been in a position to use Apollo House seems to have been nothing short of amazing, and it looks quite comfortable indeed, what they have here is an exceptionally nice, well intentioned little community. Bravo to Home Sweet Home!
It’s a better solution than anything our gov has managed to come up with.
It is well intentioned. And it sends a message that the public own all Nama buildings so the public should benefit.
Apollo House is making the best of a terrible situation. However, his opinion is just as valid as those of you hammering him with your opinions to the contrary. His viewpoint is different to yours, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be part of the discussion. In any case, at the very least he gave background and reasoned argument to his position, which is better than most of the keyboard warriors commenting on it.
@Canoe O’Hara: why did he need to load his article with emotive language and snide remarks?
@Canoe O’Hara: “However, his opinion is just as valid as those of you hammering him with your opinions to the contrary.”
Valid? Yes
Adding enough to the conversation to be worthy of it’s own article?
Hmmmmm
The man should try doing without his umbrella for a month.
David, I agree in principle to most of what you wrote in your article, those people who took over Apollo House are to be admired for raising awareness of this dreadful situation, I don’t find it patronising, if anything it shows what can be done quickly without the insincere platitudes of government officials and council officials. I hope over Christmas both parties will reflect on what their actual jobs are, and hopefully they will realise that the citizens of Ireland is their first priority not Europe.
The author makes some good points but doesn’t acknowledge that the homeless crisis is a symptom of the economic war that the capitalist class is waging against the majority working class. And the government is on the side of the billionaire class not the majority of people who vote for them. The working class needs to organise to defend ourselves or we will be crushed. Solidarity with all in Apollo house.
Hopefully all politicians will reflect on this over Christmas. ” The times they are a changing”? !
@Catherine Mc: they just want to see that there are votes and advancement in this for them.
@Catherine Mc: I’m afraid he totally misses the point of the protest – to the point that when the penny drops he’ll probably be embarrassed he wrote the article. Does he really think that putting in the homeless in Apollo House is being proposed as a solution? It’s a publicity stunt to raise awareness, and it’s working very well.
We need politicians who put the Irish first, everything comes down the list.but first we need honest politicians.
The elephant in the room is this. ireland’s debt clock 215 billion and rising our state is just to small to sustain this debt ff fg know this they are just hoping we will put up with the crap.demand restructuring or get out of the eu and back to the eec
Just leave them alone it’s better than the streets and there is no plan B
There’s the 220 beds that DCC made available in recent weeks. No asbestos there, wash facilities available too but I suppose it’s more fun turning the homeless into weaponised political props
I believe Home Sweet Home have installed wash facilities by now.
@Emeralds: Don’t burst Ogle and Eirigi’s bubble
Can you imagine what protest types would have said if government had put 40 people into a building with no showers and at best 3 weeks to spend there.
They would have found new levels of rage not seen since pension payments were increased in the budget
@Paul Meade: this is not about Ogle and Eirigi.
This is about direct action in response to persistence givernment failure and damaging housing policy.
@Paul Meade:
Best comment I have seen on this issue.
@Emeralds: Mats on floors is about as much as DCC has done. Would that be good enough for you?
@Dave Doyle: Go off and read the annual reports of McVerry Trust, Focus, Simon and Depaul
There has been an extra €100m annual spend pumped into this area since 2014. The rate of housing completions is up 30% on this time last year. In 2014 McVerry had 41 emergency beds in total 2 weeks ago they opened 70 to go on top of the 57 they had at the end of last year.
Mats on floors? That is the final safety valve for people who are mostly unable to follow the rules of a supported hostel where there are rules.
@Paul Meade: you ignore so many realities. You ignore those who can’t afford private rents,which are escalating, non tracker mortgages, those who can’t get on to the social housing list and the under supply of housing increasing the demand of an inadequate housing stock , creating greater and demand for subsidised housing which is unavailable.
@Brendan McGill: Thats good Brendan but I bet it wont be long before they get their first water bill.
Difference being that we pay taxes for the people who represent us to spend on issues that matter. If there are thousands of homeless people in Ireland then the majority of the people of Ireland would like to see these people given a roof over their head. It’s as simple as that. The government approving a place like this and the people obtaining a place like this illegally are two different scenarios.
@Emeralds: Beds??? Dormitory style mats on floors. Would that be acceptable for you?
I don’t agree. Citizens are outraged with the homeless and also the health service crisis. Rightly so. Government after government seem to focus on balancing the books to suit the Suits in the EU… things were never this bad living in Ireland until the bureaucrats took over the EU asylum. Debt ridden. Banks failing. Hundreds on trollies. Corporation taxes seem to take precedence over Irish citizens right to live in a just and mannered society. I’m blooming fuming to be honest.
I remember Jean Kennedy Smith, in an interview just before she left Ireland as Ambassador was asked about her views on the Irish people and she said that we didn’t get outraged. She was partly right – we get outraged and do nothing about it. Just as the Easter rising gave way to the most conservative group of rebels ever (look at the state it ushered in) we can blame politicians all we like but until we vote for something different we have to accept part of the blame. Show me a politician who genuinely understands what ‘the common good’ means and I’ll gladly vote for them. But for such politicians to emerge we, the citizens, must point the way.
David O’Brien, can you do anything real and tangible other than trying to undermine an idealistic and constructive activist measure.
He makes very valid points.
Successive govt’s have shamefully abdicated their responsibility to society. Unforgivable.
And society, for the most part, doesn’t give a toss, as it doesn’t impact them. Thousands on the street for water charges, but I wonder would the public support their fellow, albeit struggling, human beings in the same way? Would the fu*k.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/march-against-homelessness-takes-place-in-dublin-737531.html
David, why the silly drama of a blacked out photo?
No one is arguing that Apollo House is a total and effective solution. Home Sweet Home and Apollo House is a call to action. It is a small contribution but it is a real contribution.
David if you want to do something real and tangible, please contribute to
https://www.gofundme.com/home-sweet-home-ireland
Home Sweet Home is not a patronising measure. That is just a jibe and adds nothing of any to the analysis.
Nobody is suggesting it’s the answer. Can somebody explain the meaning of activism to this architect
@Kevin Higgins: I think that we could try but I doubt that we could succeed. He would accuse us of being patronising.
I checked out this architect online. He is trying to raise his professional profile. He has springboarded off the Home Sweet Home Initiative.
Can I have a few hours to pen a story and have it published in tomorrow’s Journal????
@Frank Cauldhame: chuckling!
Will it be any good Frank, what’s the subject matter? If you’re willing to take requests Give us something positive or funny please? Haha
“Because that, sadly, is what Apollo House is: a temporary, inadequate and unacceptable solution. ”
Unacceptable to who? Architects like yourself David? Because I’m sure the residents find it quite acceptable compared to the winter they were facing if were not the the goodwill and selflessness of the people involved in Apollo house.
It’d be nice if thejournal could organise to interview a few of the homeless people that are availing of the service that Home Sweet Home has supplied them, I believe it would help dispell a lot of the arguments against it.
@Brendan McGill: only if the occupants don’t have to surrender their privacy and dignity.
@michael obviously, I meant with their full consent and participation
@Brendan McGill: actually, I should have realised that and it is an excellent idea.
This has been an example of how we can demand better from our government.
How we can come together and help others.
A place with four walls is better than a sleeping bag in the street at -2 degrees.
This is a short term fix and has the country, and the politicians, sitting up and paying attention.
This is not meant as a long term solution but it is the best the people of Ireland could do for people in need. Why write a negative piece on a noble gesture? Write about what can be done to help long term.. don’t write about the people who got up and helped the homeless!
@Eamonn Kenny: so well and so cogently expressed.
Well put, Eamonn.
Well it’s a lot better then just writing about it!
@Maria: it would do more tangible good to improve the facilities by contributing to
https://www.gofundme.com/home-sweet-home-ireland
Or donating expertise and services or supplies.
It’s a fantastic symbolic statement and hopefully it will be the catalyst that’s needed however there is absolutely no point in donating anything directly towards improving the facilities in Apollo House as they’ll all be ripped out in January when the owners take back possession.
@Tweed Cap: every day and night indoors in a crisis in Winter is good.
the choice between sleeping in a building unfit for an office, or a doorway… Hmmm, tough one!
Notice that the writer doesn’t offer a single idea that will meaningfully address the homeless humanitarian crisis or the complete lack of supply of affordable hones.
This is a national emergency. Immediate solutions are required.
Vacant buildings are an affront to decent human beings in these desperate circumstances.
@mursim: no constructive proposals just criticism of a valuable initiative which has re-ignited awareness and put a comfortable roof over the heads of 35 people.
According to David O’Brien, Architect, the occupation of Apollo House is “classist and undemocratic”. He throws in lots of other trite rhetoric.
He proposes no real solutions at all.
Anyone up for a game of spot the govt hack?
@Frank Cauldhame: I can see 3 so far.
Really nicely written – a surprisingly rare thing to find with journalism in this country. I agree it is patronising to throw people into a substandard office building and think ‘aren’t we great, we helped’ . This is a dangerous precedent to set as we already see in Sligo etc and does not help. I hope it at least highlights the issue more but I fully agree with this article. I hope all the people saying how great it is actually try see how patronising it is and how putting people into an office building for Christmas is not an amazingly generous thing for you to support and does not help, shame we didn’t try solve it during the other 11 months of the year.
@Kris Kendellen: thanks for your patronising comment. What is your occupation?
Why would that make the slightest difference to you or my opinion? Not meaning to be patronising at all, just my opinion. I included me by saying shame WE didn’t try solve this. So why not give your reason why this is great instead asking irrelevant questions.
@Kris Kendellen: I just wanted to see if you have a professional or occupational basis for your judgmental remarks.
@Kris Kendellen: this is a better and more tangible measure.
https://www.gofundme.com/home-sweet-home-ireland
In the short terms we have a desperate emergency.
In the longer terms we need a massive programme of publicly funded social housing borrowed at very cheap interest rates. We have a gross under supply problem . Macro level solutions are required.
@Kris Kendellen:
Spot on. unfortunately on the journal comments section there are a mix of socialist activists, sinn fein activist and some of their “useful idiots” posting. So these type of intelligent and considered articles get them a bit riled up.
@Sean Dillon: what precisely did you find intelligent and considered in the article. Which were the good points?
My comments are my opinion Michael. All comments can be seen as judgmental when they don’t agree with yours. But still waiting to hear an argument from u as to why this is a good thing, I Iike opposing opinions and am willing to listen.
@Micheal OLainn: WE should be funding established organisations like Peter mcVerry.
Yes, but throwing people in a substandard office block is not a solution to the problem and will give people a false sense of having done something. We need to actually solve this problem not put them away in an awful building every time we want to feel warm and fuzzy. It is a well intentioned but patronising stopgap
@Kris Kendellen: better dry and warmth to wet, cold and misery with a high risk of hypothermia as Storm Barbara approaches.
@Sean Dillon: I have contributed to Simon, St Vincent de Paul, Focus and Threshold as well as Home Sweet Home.
It is possible to contribute to Home Sweet Home on
@Sean Dillon:
Michael, firstly my comment above in reply to Kris, was a general comment and not aimed at you. I am just amazed over the last years how the journal.ie comments section has degenerated into People before Profit and Sinn Fein diatribe.
I am not sure why I need to explain what i feel is obvious to anyone reading the article, but David O’Brien has a very good handle on what caused the issue, and his point on housing being ” been commodified and traded as an asset” is very astute and something that others have not mentioned before.
@Micheal OLainn: (Ah now I have figured out the reply function)
Well done on your contributions, and those are well established well run charities that stay withing the boundaries of the law. I just don’t believe supporting singers occupying buildings is the correct way to go about solving the housing crisis, so we’ll agree to differ.
@Sean Dillon: I disagree. Exceptional times demand exceptional measures. The law is too slow to respond. Humanitarian considerations must take precedence.
We need to ensure basic minimum standards of secure and adequate homes.
Sean Dillon, I would like to point out to you that a) I’m not a socialist activist, b) I’m not a sinn fein activist, c) I’m not one of their “useful idiots”. Yes I am riled up because of government inactivity when they blatantly ignore the needs of citizens of this country, and not all people are homeless. I firmly believe that if each and everyone of us was treated in an equal manner we would not be facing the problems we have today. Quite frankly I find your comment insulting !
* or any political party.
@Catherine Mc:
My apologies. There are of course people with genuine concerns, and my comment was a little bit scattergun But from reading this website very the last year or so it is obvious that there is is also a very focused anti establishment agenda on the comments section around homelessness, watercharges and recently pylons.
@Sean Dillon: “over the last year or so”
Sean Dillon, thank you, the idea that I was in anyway like your description really sickened me. I couldn’t be more unlike it.
Do any commenters actually know the meaning of the word Patronising? If you’re not sure will you look it up before accusing someone of being patronising? It’s fast becoming the latest ‘insult’ word – a bit line the way ‘liberal’ is used in the US.
Only an architect would not be able to see that being indoors in the dry and warmth is superior to be outside in the cold and wet as Storm Barbara approaches.
I question the architect’s motivation.
His contribution is not worth his effort.
It wont be seen as patronising if dozens more buildings are occupied. It will be seen to galvsnise the issue and get the government moving on the issue. There is nothing more certain to get the politics of this situation sorted out than a mass movement. As for its unsuitability…..occupiers say its better than a Dickensian dormitory amd offers some much harked sfter privacy.
David O’Brien, your “Article” is well intentioned but deeply flawed and patronising.
I don’t agree that it’s patronising. It fails to make a distinction between the long term solution – which he addresses, and the immediate emergency, which Apollo house addresses. Hopefully in time the long term solution will make the emergency solution redundant, but I’m not optimistic.
Here we go. Give them all a 3 bed semi with a back garden. I can guarnantee Mr O’ Brown has never lived beside rehoused homeless people. I have and it ain’t pretty. A house to some is not the answer. To some it is. A lot of homeless take no responsibility for where they are. They just want other people to sort out their mess. My sympathy ran out when I had to move because of the behaviour they inflicted on me. I have no qualms . Leave them in Apollo House. But when they are eventually thrown out. Go in and see the mess they’ve left behind. But , we won’t see that, will we ? No Mr Glen ( I’ll pretend to cry on telly ) Hansard. We won’t.
@Rourkey52.: bit of a whinge and moan there Rourkey.
Unfortunately true. The reason most take Apollo house and don’t take one of the 200 extra beds recently opened is because the free hostels are monitored for alcohol and drugs. It’s easier here with no cctv and searches.
First of all Dan, if the government cut the vat on new houses that would help.
Secondly Dan, that 20% of social housing is a 20% tax on buyers of the housesm
Thirdly Dan, it’s not the remit of the private sector to house social welfare recipiants. The government should do this.
Fourthly Dan, the people sleeping in Apollo house don’t give a crap about your standards as the fitness or unfitness of the building. They just want a roof over their heads.
Who’s Dan?
Please never feel compelled to write in future, unless you actually learn how to do so.
Would all the do gooders on this article and indeed in apollo house not take the so called homeless into their own homes for a few weeks overs Christmas? Damm right ye won’t stick them anywhere but my place. Hypocrites one an all.
@Anthony Whelan: many of us have already done so. Many of those who have recently lost their homesxare staying with family and friends.
It is a presumption, a false presumption, to accuse all those involved of being hypocrites.
I have been moved by how good people have actually been in sharing their homes with those in difficulty.
I agree with everything he says except for the actual headline – if they were moving in permanently it would be unfit for purpose, but the homeless can’t wait for Dáil committees, working groups, studies and the rest of the pen-pushing nonsense. Christmas Day is 3 days away, in case the council haven’t noticed: either get the homeless indoors NOW, or negotiate a postponement of Christmas with Samta. The latter is highly unlikely.
@Brendan Moriarty: the remarks in the article are refekctive if the headline or caption.
earlier in the journal relating to Apollo House one home less woman with a child, stated that she was in a local authority house but was evicted, she then went to live with her mother but she said it was too crowded and left then became homeless, question is why did she get kicked out of the council/corpo house! either she was anti social or living with her partner or didn’t pay the rent which would be not that be expensive, and if things where so bad why didn’t she stay with her mother especially with a child! was it the reason was to declare herself homeless to jump the Q, i am for the helping the genuine people and families but not the chancers, it seems strange we have housed 600 refugees and from next jan we are taking in 90 per month and there doesn’t seem to be a problem with housing,
@Stephen Finn: that is not in any way representative of the real nature of the crisis.
@Micheal OLainn: its a fact read the section when they where down at the four courts!! yes there are couples and singles trying to skip the housing list. earlier this year a mother who had a house in wicklow but wanted to move back near her mother so she slept in her car and the press did a story on it she wanted to skip the list and move house, if you don’t believe it that’s your problem but there are scamers trying to beat the system i also notice you never hear of their partner in all this as i said genuine couples who work should be helped.
@Stephen Finn: you falsely generalise from the particular but the reality is that the housing list is hugely over subscribed, private rents are inflating to way beyond affordable and many families, not just individuals, are losing their homes with no safety net of social housing in which the housing list has more than 100,000 of an arrears list.
7,000 homeless on this coming Christmas Day, of whom more than 2,000 are children.
We can’t keep ignoring reality. Confront the facts.
@Micheal OLainn: i don’t generalise its a fact if you don’t want to believe that’s your business as i said there are chancers out there and what if you want to give a alcholic or a junkie a house/flat and within months the property is destroyed well fool you, when it should have been given to families who are genuine, read the papers and listen to some programmes, the councils in cork and dublin gave people homes. they refused. they where to small too big garden not big enough to far from school even though it was just up the road or the one in cork beside the sea they didn’t like the sea because the would get sea sick!! or not near the mother, I see them every day and they dont want to be helped. go down around the custom house quays and by the way i am separated and renting and just about managing!!
@Stephen Finn: but you draw general prejudices from a small minority of unrepresentative and exaggerated cases.
This is not about you. You have a home.
David O’Brien is good at criticising an initiative but he does nothing.
Some do and contribute. Others just criticise.
Michael O Lainn, in fairness the writer may have made a contribution financial or otherwise, if he hasn’t me may still do so.
Cheers, Michael
Less of the “WE” I didn’t vote FF FG LAB, if you did you are part of the problem and should be ashamed you are nothing short of a Kant
@BERTIE: as a recovered Labour Party support who bailed out when Gilmore became leader, I have to admit that a major part of the blame lies with my former party.
Yis are all a load of idiots… giving out cause he is an architect . Without architects we’d have a homelessness rate of 100%. Yis are morans.
@Emma O’Neill: architects have nothing of value to contribute unless they can devise new methods and new technologies of cheap, durable, quick to construct and quality Home accommodation.
@Emma O’Neill: this architect wrote a lame article laden with condescending insults and has been rightly called out on it.
@Emma O’Neill: “Yis are morans”
Oh boy…….
He should stick to architecture. It may be a flawed enterprise but it’s honest and effective. As for being patronising, I think he should consult with the people staying there before he takes such a position.
@Shea Fitzgerald: I can’t argue with the reasonableness and balance of your generous comment.
Did you all read the article or just skim through it? He details exactly where the problem has arisen. Successive governments and councils have failed to use the legislation given to them to ensure that 20% of new developments are social housing. Councils took the money instead and spent it elsewhere. I believe that Apollo house is an emergency response that has a short term part to play. The long term solution is for us to elect representatives who will ensure that social housing is built in quantities that will solve the problem into the future. We can point the finger elsewhere – but we elected this crowd and now we are paying the price.
I read it through. You and I seem to be on the same page regarding the Apollo House protest/accommodation. It is a temporary emergency response, not a long term solution as the author seems to think (!?).
What was the objective and motivivation which “compelled” this architect to write this article? What did he intend to achieve? What good does he think that his article will do? How will the article contribution to the solution of the housing emergency?
Longterm solution: Constitutional amendment to separate Family Homes from general property definition as in Germany.
@Neuville-Kepler62F: excellent and constructive idea in the long term but the Government will not allow such a worthy proposal be put to the Citizens’ Assembly.
@Micheal OLainn: Citizens’ Assembly submission – nice idea … done. EU Petitions Committee submission – waiting for a few more signatures on Change.org. Balance of power after the next election likely to be in the hands of a “Real Citizens’ Assembly”.
@Neuville-Kepler62F: respect and well done. I’m following up in support.
You may think it’s patronising to put homeless people in a place unfortunately for offices. You may also think it’s an insult to humanity to accept what others won’t accept. But then your not the one lying in a doorway nor are you begging on the street for food, nor are you the one freezing to death on the streets. I think it patronising that you would compare living on the street to getting a safe shelter food and warmth. Unbelievable cheek to write such garbage
You shouldn’t have bothered David.
Stop if you’re sleeping in a puddle of water in the pissing rain while hoards are running past you in Christmas jumpers high on life I’d imagine a temporary bed in Apollo house is pretty damn appealing….
have your say