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Dr Katherine Zappone during her time as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Leah Farrell

Katherine Zappone says she will not accept UN envoy role after days of mounting political pressure

Today’s reports of a 50-person event led to increased pressure over Zappone’s appointment as a UN envoy.

LAST UPDATE | 4 Aug 2021

FORMER MINISTER KATHERINE Zappone has declined the position of UN special envoy for freedom of opinion and expression, after coming under increasing political pressure about the appointment process.

Opposition and Government TDs have raised concerns in the week since Zappone was selected for the role of UN special envoy about the appointment process, with concerns raised about cronyism and an unfair process.

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney have apologised to the Taoiseach for not informing him of Zappone’s selection before it was announced at Cabinet last week; Taoiseach Micheál Martin then said in response: “We move on.”

Zappone served as Children and Youth Affairs Minister in the Fine Gael-led government formed in 2016 under Taoiseach Enda Kenny. Fine Gael TD and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney offered Zappone the role without opening it up for applications; Coveney defended this as being a “perfectly normal” way to appoint special envoys.

Today, the Irish Independent reported that six days before her appointment, Zappone held a gathering of 50 people at the Merrion Hotel, which is located across the road from Government Buildings, which the Tánaiste Leo Varadkar attended.

This evening Varadkar released a statement to say that he was present for 45 minutes, and that the guidelines will be updated so that people have clarity around what is allowed.

Some opposition TDs had raised questions whether the gathering was within Covid guidelines, but the hotel has insisted that everything was above board and Zappone herself said in a statement earlier that she had been assured by the hotel that public health guidelines were being followed.

The publication of the story increased the focus on Zappone’s appointment as UN special envoy, and she released a statement hours later saying that she would decline the role.

In a statement released this afternoon, Zappone said that it was clear that criticism of the appointment process “has impacted the legitimacy of the role itself”.

It is my conviction that a Special Envoy role can only be of real value to Ireland and to the global community if the appointment is acceptable to all parties.

“For this reason, I have decided not to accept this appointment, and I have communicated my decision to the Minister for Foreign Affairs,” she said.

A statement from Minister Simon Coveney responding to Zappone’s announcement said: “I understand her decision and thank her for being willing to work on Ireland’s human rights priorities.

“For my part, I accept that mistakes were made in how this appointment was brought to government and lessons will be learnt from that.”

The Merrion gathering

Merrion Hotel 002 The Merrion Hotel in Dublin Sam Boal Sam Boal

Earlier today, Zappone had said she was “assured” by the Merrion Hotel that the event she recently organised was in compliance with Covid-19 restrictions after it emerged she had hosted 50 people, including the Tánaiste, at the five-star hotel. 

“Please contact the Merrion Hotel for their statement regarding compliance with government Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines for my private event,” Zappone said in a statement to RTÉ News this morning. 

Zappone added that “Prior to organising the event I inquired, and was assured by the Merrion Hotel, that the event would be in compliance with Government Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines.”

The Tánaiste released a statement this evening, after Zappone declined the role, to say that he had also checked with the hotel before attending the event.

“I confirmed in advance directly with [Zappone], and with the hotel management on arrival, that the event was compliant with Covid regulations. I was present for about 45 minutes, spoke to Dr Zappone briefly and listened to her speech before returning to work. The event took place entirely outdoors.

“I always strive to adhere to Covid restrictions and as a public representative I try to be extra careful in that regard.

What were the Government rules at the time?

The Tánaiste, Zappone, the Merrion Hotel, and the Attorney General have all insisted that the event held on 21 July was compliant with Covid-19 rules at the time.

The Tánaiste said this evening: “Government regulations permit organised outdoor gatherings and events of up to 200 people. There were about 50 people present. The definition in the regulations includes social events as well as recreational, exercise, cultural, entertainment or community events.

“I am confident these regulations were not breached. This matter has been checked with the Attorney General.”

This evening, the Government Press Office said that the Attorney General had advised that “regulations provide for organised outdoor events and gatherings up to 200 people, including social, recreational, exercise, cultural, entertainment or community events”.

The statement then listed the regulations in question.

The Tánaiste said:

As the Government statement has already said, further updates will be made to the guidelines to ensure that people have clarity about how future organised outdoor events may operate.

Newly elected Dublin Bay South TD Ivana Bacik also confirmed to the Irish Independent that she was in attendance at the Merrion Hotel event for 15-20 minutes.

The Merrion Hotel has said in a statement that it was in compliance with all guidelines in affect at the time.

The hotel said: “At all times since the start of the pandemic, The Merrion Hotel has adhered to Government public health measures including the relevant guidelines that were in place at the time of the event on July 21st.

“Regulations in place at that time, as published on Gov.ie, allowed for outdoor events of up to 200 people.

In relation to hotel guidelines published by Fáilte Ireland, there have been significant changes to these since the event on 21st July – the version of the Guidelines that were in place at that time made no reference to outdoor organised events.

The current Fáilte Ireland guidelines state that organised events at hotels and guesthouses are not permitted – however, up to 200 people have been allowed attend outdoor events since early July. 

Criticism from opposition and Government TDs

Since news of the appointment was revealed last week the issue has caused considerable controversy, with former Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan saying the issue should be discussed by an Oireachtas committee.

Social Democrat TD Gary Gannon last week wrote to Flanagan, who chairs the Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee, to request that the committee examine the appointment of Zappone.

This morning, Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said the role was “a made-up position” and that the event held by Zappone was “at best questionable” from a public health point of view. 

He said there needs to be transparency around the event. 

There needs to be accountability, the Tánaiste needs to be up front in terms of the event he was at, who else was at it, in what context did he attend and what influence did that have in relation to [Zappone's] subsequent appointment. 

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast today, Fine Gael TD for Cork North Central Colm Burke, said he’s “not sure” where there would have been a breach of guidelines with such an event.

“My understanding is that it was an outdoor event and Leo Varadkar checked with the hotel [that the event was in line with Government Covid-19 guidelines].” 

The Journal has sought confirmation from the Department on whether the role will still be filled.

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222 Comments
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    Mute Tarraing Mo Liathróidí
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    May 5th 2021, 2:29 PM

    So now they realise that people will travel north for cheap booze if they put up the prices here, who would have ever guessed that lads..

    499
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    Mute Mill Miller
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    May 5th 2021, 2:43 PM

    @Tarraing Mo Liathróidí: I won’t travel ,, just the money I give to charity ,, that will be cut ,, ..what a government ,,,

    86
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    Mute Nameo Maximus
    Favourite Nameo Maximus
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    May 5th 2021, 2:47 PM

    @Mill Miller: It’ll likely be the more expensive healthy stuff getting the chop for me, bottle of vino vs salad is just a no brainer!

    61
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    Mute John Fairclough
    Favourite John Fairclough
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    May 5th 2021, 2:43 PM

    They have made owning a home so expensive, no one can afford it. Now they want to do the same with alcohol.

    317
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    Mute Martin Galvin
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    May 5th 2021, 7:46 PM

    @John Fairclough: Yeah, we’ll soon have to rent a bottle of Jameson’s for a few swigs …..

    30
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    Mute JillyBean
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    May 5th 2021, 2:31 PM

    And the Ni executive will laugh back at them

    358
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    Mute ed w
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    May 5th 2021, 2:54 PM

    @JillyBean: I thought ni executive already had a plan to bring this in

    13
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    Mute Nigel o'Neill
    Favourite Nigel o'Neill
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    May 5th 2021, 2:55 PM

    @JillyBean: hopefully and they should

    22
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    Mute mar
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    May 5th 2021, 2:47 PM

    Varadkar said the consequences of this measure “should result in around 200 fewer alcohol-related deaths, and 6,000 fewer hospital admissions per year”. ‘

    Absolute m0r0ns. I’m sure the booze curtains that supermarkets had to install have already saved thousands of lives as well. ffs

    261
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    Mute Mark
    Favourite Mark
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    May 5th 2021, 2:36 PM

    Newry will be booming again, car loads of gargle coming back

    258
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    Mute The Risen
    Favourite The Risen
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    May 5th 2021, 3:00 PM

    Another tax on the poor, as usual. I wouldn’t imagine too many of Leos and Paschals buddys spend less than 7 quid on a bottle of wine. All this measure will do is leave less disposable income in the pockets of families where there is alcohol dependency.

    252
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    Mute Iblis
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    May 5th 2021, 2:35 PM

    The equivalent of the US telling Canada how to price things. I hope you are sent packing. G085h1t35

    289
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    Mute Adam Murphy
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    May 5th 2021, 3:31 PM

    Stephen Donnelly doesn’t think people will travel to NI to buy cheap vodka, because they’d be spending more on petrol than the €7 they’d save on the Vodka
    Obviously the concept of buying more than one thing at a time is alien to him…

    206
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    Mute Honeybee
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    May 5th 2021, 2:31 PM

    Lets hope the northern executive ignore them.

    284
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    Mute Nigel o'Neill
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    May 5th 2021, 2:55 PM

    Lol.. Let’s put pressure on another jurisdiction to change its laws to match and suit us… Couldn’t make it up

    180
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    Mute Peadár Ó'Cearnacháin
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    May 5th 2021, 3:23 PM

    This is a new tax on mere mortals that want to stay at home and not go to a pub when they reopen and enjoy a beer or glass of wine in their own homes. Irish ministers giving a knee up to the publicians….. This is nothing to do with health….its all about lost revenue.

    169
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    Mute Rab C Nesbitt
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    May 5th 2021, 2:49 PM

    The penny just dropped with Egghead that the horse has bolted…….over the border.
    Talk about a cart before the horse legislation. Incompetence of the highest order

    175
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    Mute John Mc Donagh
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    May 5th 2021, 2:36 PM

    Goobshiites, not content with spoiling the fun in their own patch, they want to spoil it
    in somebody else’s as well

    248
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    Mute SprintFitz
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    May 5th 2021, 3:07 PM

    That whole business of the government, and not the market setting the prices of things doesn’t seem legal to me.

    108
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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    May 5th 2021, 4:33 PM

    @SprintFitz: It’s called communism. I remember it from the 1980s in Eastern Europe. It didn’t work well there either.

    60
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    Mute On the right side
    Favourite On the right side
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    May 5th 2021, 8:03 PM

    @Earth Traveller:

    Socialism: You have 2 cows, give 1 cow to your neighbour

    Communism: You have 2 cows, give both cows to the government and they might give you some milk

    Fascism: You have 2 cows, give all the milk to the government and the government sells it

    Capitalism: You have 2 cows, sell 1 cow and buy a bull

    Anarchism: You have 2 cows, keep both cows, shoot the government and steal a cow.

    18
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    Mute Mark
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    May 5th 2021, 2:35 PM

    Newry will be booming again, car loads of gargle

    112
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    Mute Tony Humphreys
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    May 5th 2021, 3:00 PM

    All those fireworks warehouses on the border will now stock booze too!

    104
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    May 5th 2021, 3:26 PM

    Sure what could possibly go wrong?

    41
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    Mute paul mccoy
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    May 5th 2021, 3:16 PM

    They have some neck asking the northern executive to do the same . If I were them I’d tell them in no uncertain terms to Fock off.

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    Mute Geoff Bateman
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    May 5th 2021, 3:43 PM

    Nah, just another tax to get more money in for the massive amount they have borrowed already

    65
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    Mute Earth Traveller
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    May 5th 2021, 4:35 PM

    @Geoff Bateman: It’s not tax. The extra money goes into the pockets of those who sell alcohol. Why are we not hearing how this will destroy rural Ireland from the usual sources?

    26
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    Mute Lynne
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    May 5th 2021, 4:27 PM

    The thing is, even now, before this tax hike is introduced, there are better deals to be had on alcohol by travelling to NI.
    It’ll get worse when this is introduced and once people get used to the journey, it’ll be commonplace to go.

    55
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    Mute Cookie
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    May 5th 2021, 4:11 PM

    There’s little good about the DUP but hopefully they will make a big noise about refusing to cooperate on this.

    53
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    Mute Cookie
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    May 5th 2021, 4:59 PM

    Is alcohol to be banned in Dail Eireann?

    55
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    Mute IP.Man
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    May 5th 2021, 3:14 PM

    Why ministers are not put more pressure on their money pockets to prevent more tax money from flooding into it. They acting like priests, restriction prohibitions, taking away individuality…

    54
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    Mute Patrick Daly
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    May 5th 2021, 5:00 PM

    Turning into a nanny state. And by the way anyone know the address of the place selling pints for €1.93?

    51
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    Mute Brian Haines
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    May 5th 2021, 3:39 PM

    ULSTER SAYS NO !

    66
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    Mute Life in no motion
    Favourite Life in no motion
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    May 5th 2021, 6:05 PM

    I don’t remember €22.09 bottles being sold anywhere!

    Ireland is the 2nd dearest in the EU. How does that equate to having “cheap” alcohol? Why is this not a tax so the money is put into the exchequer? What will happen once the gap between cheap and premium brands is narrowed and the inevitable price increase happens?

    Do people honestly think an alcoholic will skip his fix because it costs more? Other things will be dropped to accommodate

    Why do I deserve a price increase because I want 4 cans on a Friday night? Leo said he’d look after those who get up early. I guess anyone who drinks won’t be getting up early after a few cans so….

    This has AAI (tax payer funded lobby group) and VFI/LVA allllllll over it

    To put the icing on the cake, alcohol consumption is DOWN 6.5% on last year

    Fupping baxtards

    48
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    Mute Jonathan
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    May 5th 2021, 4:06 PM

    We’re a joke

    61
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    Mute Seamus
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    May 5th 2021, 3:17 PM

    So they don’t want to tax it. Then how is the price going up from 13 to 20 for a nagan of vodka? Is the offy owners make 7 extra quid.?

    41
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    Mute Divad Nayr
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    May 5th 2021, 3:09 PM

    I hope they tell him to f off

    69
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    Mute Liam O Connor
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    May 5th 2021, 4:53 PM

    Another co##upt act by a co##upt government being dictated to by Sir Tony!

    44
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    Mute Peter Connolly
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    May 5th 2021, 5:21 PM

    Not happy interfering with our market they are trying to dictate the north’s as well

    37
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    Mute The Firestarter
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    May 5th 2021, 6:01 PM

    The funny thing is that they try to pretend that it’s because they are so concerned about our drinking habits, when in reality it’s because the sale of alcohol is way down, and they need to recoup their losses somehow.

    33
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    Mute Davey Ohanlon
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    May 5th 2021, 5:39 PM

    “What we will be doing is putting pressure on the Northern Ireland Executive and on the parties in Northern Ireland to follow suit”

    And how exactly are they going to put them under “pressure?

    25
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    Mute Barry Lynch
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    May 5th 2021, 5:14 PM

    Ulster says NO

    21
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    Mute Seanboy
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    May 5th 2021, 6:19 PM

    This is the reward for the vintners association. Obey the lock down rules and we’ll force the plebs back into the pubs you could see this coming a mile away

    21
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    Mute Ciaran Maher
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    May 5th 2021, 8:39 PM

    If the government is really so concerned about alcohol abuse in this country, then they should remove the dail bar and lead by example.
    No point in pontificating about alcohol when they have a bar in their workplace.

    19
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    Mute Alan Wilson
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    May 5th 2021, 5:04 PM

    The DUP listening to southern politicians

    17
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    Mute Christy Mc Carthy
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    May 5th 2021, 5:15 PM

    I will be brewing my own as soon as the equipment is back online as it’s sold out everywhere

    16
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    Mute Dave
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    May 5th 2021, 5:17 PM

    @Christy Mc Carthy: 100% I have some equipment to get myself started but looking to go to all grain soon enough, i will buy form Amazon… Happy Brewing !

    18
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    Mute Dean Cinnsealach
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    May 5th 2021, 5:16 PM

    Ulster says NO

    11
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    Mute Stephen Campbell
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    May 6th 2021, 12:02 AM

    sugar tax, VRT, NOX tax on vehicles, VAT on tax, high excise on home heating oil, insurance on levies, high insurance polices because of the inflated value due to tax, loaded premiums for not having health insurance your entire life, terrible access to public health service, high salary taxation etc etc etc and now 58% increase on a can of beer…

    “relieve pressure on the health service” by expecting everyone to be a cabbage… if you have any money left over from all the above, good luck have any for hobbies or interests you can enjoy to feel alive.. depressing..

    11
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    Mute Noel Tate
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    May 5th 2021, 7:57 PM

    This is a handy calculator for working out the cost after MUP comes in…

    Example: A bottle of Miller will cost 1.23 min and so a case of 24 will cost over 29. Big difference for the €18-€20 you can pick them up for now.

    http://www.irishwinereviews.ie/minimum-unit-pricing-calculator

    8
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    Mute Nigel Barlow
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    May 6th 2021, 12:37 AM

    @Noel Tate: good news. After putting in some data my fave double ipa from McGargles could be cheaper! It won’t be though I bet.

    2
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    Mute Alan Wilson
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    May 5th 2021, 5:04 PM

    The DUP listening to southern politicians

    8
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    Mute Anthony Clark
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    May 6th 2021, 12:28 AM

    so.. from Tesco…
    Nikita Imperial Vodka 70Cl = €12.99
    Absolut Swedish Vodka 70Cl = €20

    Will Tesco bump both up 8 euros – because who would buy the cheap stuff if they are priced the same new price of €20.71?

    By the way – should be Metric Vodka not Imperial as sold in “cl” lol.

    4
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    Mute Paul Cunningham
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    May 6th 2021, 6:44 AM

    Implementing an unpopular measure that benefits noone? “Hey, lets make sure that the North is zero craic as well!” Yeah not going to go down well Lads, Remember when they put pressure on us to do something and we rioted?!

    4
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