Tess, old and sick, recognised my voice

This week's Independent News & Media Irish regional newspapers' column

Michael Commane

Over the years I have written many times in this column about Tess my Labrador. Indeed, in some ways I used this column as a quasi diary about her.

Regularly on a Saturday we would head off on a 20 kilometre walk. She would love it and seem never to tire.

Every weekday, winter and summer we were out walking in a nearby park before 6.30am. And then in the evening she’d be anxiously waiting for her evening walk.

I remember on one occasion going out to the shed one morning to take her for her walk and she was lying there unable to stand up and certainly she did not want to go for any walk. What had happened was that friends of mine had kept her for the weekend as 

I was away and unbeknownst to them she had managed to eat a large quantity of a chocolate cake. Chocolate and dogs don’t mix.

I managed to get Tess to the vet and fortunately she made a full recovery. She spent a few days with the vet and there were moments when I was very worried about her. 

But Tess was growing old and because I was out at work all day she was on her own. My friends who minded her anytime I was away felt I was being cruel leaving her all day on her own. Eventually they convinced me that she would be far happier and better looked after if she stayed with them. They live less than two kilometres from me. 

It has to be four years since she moved to her new residence. They are a married couple and the woman of the house had just retired so Tess had company all day. 

It was a moment of mixed feelings for me but I knew she would have the best of care.

And so she has. Last week she had a health scare so naturally I went down to see her. Yes, she is feeble. 

For a Labrador she is a great age. I think she could well be 14 or 15. When I knocked at the door Nora told me she was sleeping at the Aga. Because of Covid-19 I didn’t go into the house. And guess what, who appears from behind the door. Very slow on her feet, she had been through a few tough days, but in spite of old age and her illness, Tess had recognised my voice and the moment she saw me she sidled up to me, tail wagging. Tess came over and sat right down at me feet. I had come from work and was dressed accordingly. Tess was shedding her coat, it meant my trousers were covered in her hair. So what, I was ecstatic to see her and to know she had survived another narrow escape.

When I was growing up we always had a dog at home. Of course I remember their names. I cried my eyes  out when they died. In the last 20 years I have had two dogs. It really is amazing the bond that’s built up between a dog and a human.

I often heard my father say that if a human is kind to an animal, it’s most likely they’ll be kind to humans too. There’s much wisdom in that.

Marilyn Munroe’s quote is clever, it says a lot about both dogs and humans: ‘Dogs never bite me. Just humans.’ It’s something Tess never thought of doing.

Just before filing this column I checked in on Tess and she’s doing fine.

Is it time for Michael D Higgins to address the nation?

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier took the unusual step to address the German people about Covid.

Could we not follow suit and maybe our President should address the people on the issue.

https://www.dw.com/en/german-president-makes-rare-national-plea-amid-covid-pandemic/a-57088869?maca=en-EMail-sharing

A sign of our Christian faith

One often hears people, especially priests, bemoan the state of faith in the country.

Are we less Christian than we were, say, 20, 30, 40 years ago?

Surely, it is close to impossible to answer that question.

On Palm Sunday in the hospital where I work a large quantity of blessed palm was left in the oratory.

By Good Friday it was all gone.

A blessed and happy Easter to all readers of this blog.

Listening on Good Friday to priests talking

The day after Good Friday.

With no churches open to the public in the State, Good Friday was an ideal occasion to surf church webcams.

Whether or not a good idea, difficult to say. Plenty of reasons to lose one's faith and some moments of inspiration.

I heard a priest talk about misappropriating words. What might that mean? It might be he was trying to sound profound. Maybe profundity and silliness are much closer than we realise.

Below are two links. In each a Catholic priest is talking.

One priest is intemperate, the other priest seems to speak wise words.

Some quotes from each of the men:

"Eternity is a very long time."

"Dialogue is not the answer."

"If he wins I blame the bishops."

"Sacrilege, it just makes me sick."

"Experience is the best school but the fees are high."

"You are mature when you know you are not."

One of the priests quoted from Fr Leo Trese, born in 1902 and a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit.

"The only epitaph a priest should want on his headstone is that he was kind."

If you watch the two links you will quickly know which priest is saying what.

One thing is certain priests are an eclectic bunch.

https://youtu.be/Yu3N-FmCTWs

https://youtu.be/FP1mrE7lGwI

One billion people get a taste of Kerry Group

Over one billion people enjoy food and beverages using Kerry's tastes and nutritions solutions.

The Kerry Group employs over 26,000 people in 149 manufacturing locations across 31 countries. Its 26,000 employees are made up of 121 nationalities. Over 1,000 of Kerry's employees are R&D scientists.

Kerry Group revenue in 2020 was €7.0 billion with a trading profit of €797 million.

Over the last three years Kerry Group has supported Concern Worldwide fighting malnutrition in Niger.

Kerry is committed to converting its  electricity usage to renewable sources by 2025.

And it all began in Kerry. Kerry Group HQ is in Princes's Street, Tralee.

Archbishop Farrell sets up task force to examine diocese

Below is the sermon preached by Archbishop Dermot Farrell at the Chrism Mass, celebrated today, Holy Thursday in the Pro Cathedral.

I extend a warm welcome all those priests and lay faithful who are participating by webcam with us in the celebration of our Chrism Mass. “The spirit of the Lord is given us … to bring good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken, to proclaim liberty to captives … and comfort to all who mourn” (Isa 61:1–2).  

In this tumultuous year, these words of the prophet Isaiah, resonate not just with the charism of priesthood, but even more deeply with our people in this very difficult time—so filled with worry and threat, living—maybe trying to survive—in the shadow of death.  This circumstance—with its weariness and lack of liberty, but also with the generosity, courage, and hope shown by so many—should not prevent us from being in communion with one another through God’s Word and Spirit.  We may be at home, but we are not alone. Although we are physically separated from each other, we are one in Christ, as we join together in celebration of the deepest mysteries of our faith … and indeed of the precious life God gives us.

 

On Tuesday evening the country learned of the Government’s strategy regarding the return to public worship. I think we all understand the worrying context in which the decision was made.  It is clearly a matter of concern that the reported level of Covid-19 infection has stayed well above what had been expected, while the pace of vaccination has been much slower than promised.

 

I welcome the announcement of the increase in the number of family members who can attend the funeral Mass of their loved one, although it is not clear why this measure has been delayed for one month.

 

However, I will continue to emphasise to Government the importance of the earliest possible return to the public worship, and that the easing of restrictions must not be subordinated to powerful commercial interests, even those considered “non-essential.”  

There will be further direct engagement with Government to ensure that specific positive consideration is given to public worship by the end of April.  The significant care with which any re-opening of churches for public worship will be approached by Church authorities is well attested. 

Furthermore, the vulnerability of many of those attending Mass is not lost upon those of us in ministry. My call for easing of restrictions on public worship is based on a fair process for the reopening of society as conditions permit. 

 

Jesus began his public ministry by making his own the mission of the prophet Isaiah: “The spirit of the Lord has been given to me … to bring the good news to the poor, to bind up hearts that are broken; to proclaim liberty to captives, freedom to those in prison, to comfort all who mourn” (Isa 61:1–2).  This passage speaks plainly to us.  We too are called and sent by the Lord to share this same mission. We know this. It is not always before our eyes, but we know it.

 

We are sent out to heal and to comfort, to set free and to reconcile, to raise up and make glad, and to be a proclaimer of the Gospel, a minister of reconciliation and of liberation, in the world that is sometimes cynical, which in many respects is undergoing rapid and continual evolution.

 

When Jesus spoke, people who considered themselves authentically religious, forcefully rejected him.  The same can happen when we are concerned by, and critique certain aspects of how life unfolds in our society and culture.  And life is threatened in so many dimensions—from its most fragile and intimate, to its most global: we remember that the very survival of our planet is under increasing threat.  

To become effective ministers in the hands of the Lord for the sake of all, we must summon up the courage to confront our fear and speak the word of God to the culture as Jesus did in his day.  Without the “hand-in-hand sacraments” of the Word and the Eucharist to nourish us and challenge us, what has the Church to offer our contemporaries?

 

Let us not forget that the Church throughout its 2,000-year history has always had to cope with new conditions and new challenges.  Responding effectively to this rapidly changing culture is a new challenge for the Church in Dublin.   While there are indeed many challenges facing us right now, we should not be despondent or lose hope as we pastorally respond to a much more culturally diverse society.  However, only an effective exercise of synodality—and by this I mean a mode of being Church where people and clergy exercise collaborative leadership and co-responsibility by journeying together and gathering in assembly, listening to each other and to the Spirit—within the Church can help us read the signs of the times today and interpret them in the light of the gospel which is an essential task for the Church in a diocese at any particular time (See Gaudium et spes, 4).  

 

All of us who care about the life the gospel offers are called to real engagement with people in our parishes, with their problems and struggles, with their contradictions and their values, with the opportunities and difficulties.  Like Jesus, we simply cannot be detached from our people.   

Our years ministering will be years of suffering for and with other people. Like Jesus, we will love others only if we walk with them in the valley of darkness—the dark valley of sickness, and the dark valley of moral dilemmas. “The evils of our world—and those of the Church—must not be excuses for diminishing our commitment and our fervour.  Let us look upon them as challenges which can help us to grow.  … Our faith is challenged to discern how wine can come from water and how wheat can grow in the midst of weeds” (Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium, 84). 

 

There may be no roadmap for our engagement with parish communities, but as priests, deacons, religious and laity it is necessary to have the courage of witness, to choose the uphill path of the new pastoral mind-set and not to take the downhill path of the sound pastoral strategies of the past. To turn to Pope Francis, “people who have not yet received the Gospel message do not live only in non-Western continents; they live everywhere, particularly in vast urban concentrations that call for a specific pastoral outreach. In big cities, we need other ‘maps’, other paradigms, which can help us reposition our ways of thinking and our attitudes…” (Christmas Greetings to the Roman Curia, 21st December, 2019).  

 

Sometimes as clergy we overlook the fact that the laity too are called to share in the mission and ministry of the church.  The ordained ministry does not exhaust or monopolise this ministry, for it is the Church as a whole that is ‘ministerial’ and all its members share in that responsibility.  Parish by parish we need to encourage the active incorporation of all the baptised in the life and responsibilities of the Church. “Making a synodal Church a reality is an indispensable precondition for a new missionary energy that will involve the entire People of God” (The International Theological Commission, “Synodality in the Life and Mission of the Church”, 9).  

Every member of the Church, starting with the young, will participate in the synodal practice that henceforth will be part of the life of the Church.  Clergy must try to walk together with women and men with ever greater enthusiasm and without thinking that we already have the best answer or all the answers.  We must try to draw on many people and listen to many voices.  Such an approach requires both humility and courage, to recognise that one cannot do everything on one’s own.

 

The Church in Dublin faces challenges which require immediate action, not least to prepare a recovery from the severe impact of the pandemic. We are called to undertake a journey of regeneration confident that, “the future does have a name, and its name is Hope...the virtue of a heart that doesn’t lock itself into darkness, that doesn’t dwell on the past, does not simply get by in the present, but is able to see a tomorrow” (Pope Francis, TED Conference, 26 April 2017). 

 

To advance analysis and encourage dialogue and engagement, I established a Task Force on a Church for the Dublin of Tomorrow, under the title Building Hope.  Composed of clergy, religious and laypeople, the Task Force will prepare an assessment of the needs of the people of the Archdiocese of Dublin as we emerge from the Covid-19 crisis. In the light of that analysis, I am asking the Task Force to prepare an approach to a pastoral strategy that supports parish communities of faith to undertake a radical renewal, looking to the future with creativity. 

 

I want the Task Force to stimulate reflection and creative thinking across the whole community, in parishes and in organisations committed to the well-being of the people, to guide a process of dialogue which will continue as we develop and implement our plans for the future.

 

To assist the Task Force, I am also establishing an expert panel in the areas of the economic, social and pastoral situation in Dublin, and the trends which will shape our situation over the next 25 years.   Their advice will help us to consider the views and priorities of the many organisations delivering services to the people of Dublin. 

 

I have asked the Task Force to complete its work by the end of the Summer. There is an urgency, and this cannot be an endless process. It will give us all a basis for moving forward together with hope, confident that the Spirit is with those who respond to the call to follow the One who is the Lord of tomorrow as well as today.

 

As we renew the priestly promises of our ordination, we pray that we will realise that we are chosen, anointed and sent to minister to all the people in our pastoral care.  We are not alone, however, as “the Risen Jesus accompanies us on our way and enables us to recognize him, as the disciples of Emmaus did, ‘in the breaking of the bread’ (Luke 24:35).  May he find us watchful, ready to recognize his face and run to our brothers and sisters with the good news: ‘We have seen the Lord!’” (John 20:25) (Saint Pope John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte, par 59). 

 

The Beacon is not alone in favouring queue-skipping

Fintan O'Toole had interesting piece in 'The Irish Times' yesterday.

He uses the Michael Cullen/ Beacon/ St Gerard's vaccine queue-skipping scandal to point out the inequality of the Irish health system.

He writes: "As of the end of 2020, there were 2.31 million people with inpatient health insurance plans in the State. That's 46 per cent of the population. 

"Let's not fool ourselves: we stump up this hard-earned cash because we want faster access to health care than the other 54 per cent gets."

He courageously admits that he has private insurance. "Bluntly, I pay to skip the queue."

He goes on to say that our health system is organised hypocrisy.

The Beacon Hospital advertises its services to "patients who would otherwise be subjected to a lengthy waiting time on public lists."

The CEO at the Beacon, Michael Cullen is clearly accustomed to a philosophy of queue-skipping.

Zooming in on the state of Irish media

This week's Independent News & Media Irish regional newspapers' column.

Michael Commane

I hear many people saying these days that they are zoomed out of it and I have to agree, an overdose of zooming  is not good for you. But like everything in life, it has its positive side.

 

On Friday, March 19 The Future of Media Commission ran a webinar. I’d seen mention of it in a newspaper and signed in. The Commission was set up by Government last year to examine the future of the media in Ireland.

In a world of instant so-called free news, it’s vital that we protect Irish media outlets that tell the truth.

Social media and the Trumps of this world have given Terry Pratchett’s line, ‘A lie can run round the world before the truth has got its boots on’ a frightening reality. We see something on our phones or tablets and our instant reaction is to believe it.

Vincent Crowley, who is chairman of Newsbrands Ireland, formerly known as National Newspapers of Ireland, told the meeting that Google and Facebook made €403 million in advertising in Ireland last year, whereas indigenous media outlets made €23 million.

Crowley, who is a former CEO of Independent News & Media, questioned if it was a good idea that two large US behemoths should be able to take out of the country such a large sum of money.

Crowley also was critical of the nine per cent VAT the Government charges on newspapers. He said in most EU States there is no VAT on newspapers.

 

Blindboy Boatclub, aka David Chambers, one of the two Rubberbandits argued very strongly that public funding has to be invested in the Arts. He said that public service broadcasting cannot exclusively focus on popularity or profit.

He believes there has to be a place for failure within the world of Arts and to allow for such a possibility there has to be significant public funding.

It was my first time to hear the term publisher-broadcaster. It simply means a television or radio station buys in all its programmes from an independent agency. That’s how UK Channel 4 works.

It was argued by Susan Kirby of Screen Producers Ireland that in the long-term that’s what RTE should become, with the exception of news, current affairs programmes and some light entertainment. 

Of course I’m biased but I think it’s fair to say that our media, print, radio and television do a decent job.

We’re fortunate to have a free press. The big worry these days is how do we protect ourselves against the world of vile and fake social media.

It’s important that we can trust our news sources. 

There’s always the worry that media tycoons can influence their editors. The crass version of that is propaganda. It’s vital that media outlets are messengers when disseminating news. Of course they also express opinions, but opinions too need to be well-informed and sourced.

 

Might it be that that social media and the proliferation of news and gossip is showing us how gullible we really are?

It’s good that there is a discussion taking place about media in Ireland.

And trust me, everything I wrote here is true.

Then again, you might ask what is truth. I’m zooming out now, bye.

Why people might turn to atheism

A quote from the late Michael Paul Gallagher SJ:

"One of the causes of atheism is a belief that God is almighty." 

Breda O'Brien makes inaccurate comments in her column

Breda O'Brien in her column in The Irish Times yesterday referred to the Irish Government as being post-Christian and that it has been insensitive to the churches when it comes to Easter.

That is not accurate.

O'Brien also talks about how well the churches are sanitised. That is not the universal picture, hence it is misleading.

There is no anti-church Government conspiracy and to say anything different is part of the fake-news conspiracy agenda.

The Government takes its advice from Nphet. When it comes to public health information and it's between the bishops and Nphet, the choice has to be Nphet.

Breda O'Brien asks Government "to show some faith in religious communities". Government has every reason to be less enthusiastic than Ms O'Brien suggests. The facts tell a different story.

Is Ms O'Brien aware of the  virulency of the third covid wave that is marching across central Europe at present?

Is she aware or concerned of the age profile of people who attend churches in Ireland?

There were 624 new cases of Covid in the State yesterday.

Over 17,000 new cases in Germany today, five thousand more than this day last year.

Please, Ms O'Brien refrain from using unwise words.

A perfection we believe we will share

The 'Thinking Anew' column in The Irish Times today.

Michael Commane 

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion, the first day of Holy Week. It’s a week of reminders and sorrows, all part of the lead up to the crucifixion, Easter Sunday and resurrection. In many ways it mirrors the story of our lives.

There are all the formal and religious aspects to the week. Christian ministers of religion speak the appropriate words, the liturgical celebrations all  take place. People of faith act accordingly. Those accustomed to the ritual of the week and then the outburst of celebration on Easter Sunday are somewhat miffed with how these coming days have lost their Christian meaning, replaced by profane celebrations or a deluge of commercial opportunism.

It’s interesting how many have changed the name of Holy Saturday to Easter Saturday. No doubt Easter Saturday complements the world of branding in a way that Holy Saturday never could. 

Whether or not we believe in the Christian mystery, no one can deny the suffering, pain and loss that Holy Week expresses is based on the story of our lives.

Maybe in the past we concentrated too much on pain and suffering. Maybe today we place too much emphasis on how we are in control of the human race, as if we had managed to eliminate all pain and suffering from the human condition. Sometimes  we can give the impression that we are on course to banish all pain and suffering.

Could there be anything further from the truth?

I have often referred in this column to my job as a hospital chaplain. It’s been a life-changing journey, where I have seen first-hand how fragile we are. In an instant we can be changed from powerful, healthy and indomitable to a state of utter weakness, where we are completely dependent on the help of others.

This month is the 10th anniversary of the beginning of the ruinous war in Syria. In the last weeks media outlets have reminded us of  the unspeakable crimes that have taken place in Syria since March 15, 2011 and the false dawn of the Arab Spring. One of those reports tells the story of a young boy with a prosthetic leg. When just a baby in his mother’s arms his mother was killed by rocket fire, his father was also killed and the little boy lost his leg. He now lives with his grandmother in horrendous conditions.

While such terror is taking place far away from us, it is happening in our time to our sisters and brothers. And that’s just one instance in a world that is dotted with unspeakable horror.

The terror that is meted out to the people of Syria is echoed tomorrow in St Mark’s account of the passion (Mark 14: 1 - 15: 47) when Jesus cries out: “My God, My God, why have you deserted me”. It is also the prayer that is often on our lips in times of suffering and anguish.

This prayer was mentioned by blind marathon runner Dr Sinead Kane on the Tommy Tiernan show last Saturday.

Earlier this month a refuse collector who tells me he is not a believer asked me why was God allowing Covid-19 to happen. Of course God did not cause Covid, it was caused by the recklessness of human behaviour. But I did try to explain my personal experience of seeing how fragile the human condition actually is.

When it comes to saying anything about suffering and pain it is so easy to be trite and clichéd about it. Only when we personally experience it, can we have any idea what it means. Indeed, with all significant moments in our lives, it’s our personal account that always gives it its most authoritative meaning.

Like many others have done, I have learned first-hand there is an inescapable mystery to our lives. And I believe that the suffering in this valley of tears, is finally overcome by resurrection in harmony and communion with God. At least, that’s my hope and belief.

Of course that does not mean that we can ever relax or allow any form of wrongdoing or injustice to happen in our world, but to think we can create a utopia on earth is facile nonsense.

It’s important too, that we guard ourselves against all forms of pious clichés and meaningless regulations, against preferring the shadow to the substance of our faith. We realise that Holy Week is an expression of the dilemma of the pain and anguish that is part of the human condition and our journey through life. But there is more to it than that. It ends triumphantly in resurrection.

Easter Sunday offers us the hope that perfection is found in the risen Lord, a perfection that we too, believe we will  share.

Covid Tracker app figures a day late

138,382 people checked in on the Covid Tracker app yesterday.

Why are the figures of new Covid cases quoted on the app those of the previous day?

The figures of the day are available as they are given on the evening news programmes.

Angela Merkel makes an historic apology in the Reichstag

Yesterday was a remarkable and historical day in the Reichstag, German Parliament.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel apologised and asked the German people to forgive her. The previous day the German government ordered a strict lockdown during Holy Week. Yesterday the restrictions were lifted and Merkel took personal responsibility for the government decision.

It is seldom a leader makes such a profound apology. Has it ever happened in Germany before? And certainly it is the first time for a post-war German Chancellor to apologise in such a manner in the Reichstag.

After the 8pm Tagesschau (Evening News) she gave an interview to ARD correspondent Oliver Köhr, explaining the current Covid situation and again, she apologised for her mistake.

Her main concern now is to deal with the third Covid surge.

It was a symbolic moment in a symbolic building for a German Chancellor to ask forgiveness. It surely must have been a moment in which the Reichstag was exorcised of  the evil of Adolf Hitler and the German people who followed all his evil and badness.

Yesterday showed the world how Germany has come of age. It showed in the starkest of terms the difference between Adolf Hitler and Angela Merkel.

And her apology did more. It may have been that final farewell to the GDR parliament that sat in Der Palast der Republic, a place full of lies and dishonesty. Symbolic too that the apology came from a woman who spent her childhood in Templin. And it's also worth noting that the Palast der Republik is about to be reborn in the form of the former Berlin Palace, now to be called the Humboldt Forum. It is due to open its doors this year.

The day Oscar Romero was murdered

On this day, March 24, 1980 El Salvadorian Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated while celebrating Mass in San Salvador.

Two birlliant young Irish Nigerian artists

This week's Independent News & Media Irish regional newspapers' column

Michael Commane

I’m a fan of The Tommy Tiernan Show on RTE One on Saturday evenings. I make it a must to watch it every week and every week I pick up at least one gem.

On Saturday, March 13 it was a quiet enough show until two young Irish Nigerian women walked on to the stage, sat down and within seconds I found myself glued to the television.

Longford’s Felicia Olusanya aka FeliSpeaks and Tullamore’s Tolü Makay sat down to be interviewed by Tommy.

The two women are friends since their teens. Tolü Makay sings and FeliSpeaks is a poet. While I gather they are well known in the country, to my shame I had never heard of them before. 

They attribute TikTok as one of the social platforms that is making black Irish identity really popular.

Tolü Makay, accompanied by the RTE Concert Orchestra sang on New Year’s Eve the famous Saw Doctors’ N17. I’ve been listening to her singing it many times since the Tommy Tiernan Show. It really is haunting. She is spectacularly brilliant and I’m finding myself trying to sing those words as she did: ‘And as we turned left at Claregalway/I could feel a lump in my throat ……’ It’s simply magic to hear this young Nigerian woman sing that song. 

And as Tolü Makay says while they are Nigerian born, Ireland has formed a lot of their personality.

And they are so funny too. Makay says they are the first of their own and have no problem at all switching from the Nigerian to the Irish accent.

FeliSpeaks read her poem ‘For Our Mothers’ on the show.

Her poem is on the English Leaving Certificate curriculum 2021 - 2023. It’s about Nigerian culture and how women share their secrets behind closed doors about womanhood and what is expected of women. It’s powerful and listening to it, all I can say is that I can imagine there is a universal tone to it. 

She was so self-deprecating explaining how it is on the Leaving Cert when she told Tommy that: ‘Yeats is right under her name’. 

They are so funny. I found myself roaring laughing watching and listening to them. And there was something else that resonated with me. 

I read about them saying how important a person’s name is in the Nigerian culture. I always think a person’s name is intimate and important and when people respect our names you get an idea they are respectful people. Some weeks ago I was on a zoom meeting with Dermot Farrell, the new Archbishop of Dublin. Whatever way he called me by my name I felt he was taking me seriously.

How fortunate Ireland is that these two women landed with their families on our shores.

I strongly recommend you make it your business to listen to them singing and reciting their poetry. You can find it all on YouTube.

And guess what, I think there were times during the show when Tommy was so mesmerised by the two women that he was stuck for words and that certainly was a first for me to see.

Thank you, Tolü Makay and FeliSpeaks. You are brilliant. And you made me laugh too.

US media giants make gigantic profits in Ireland

Last year Google and Facebook earned €403 million on advertising in Ireland, while indigenous Irish media made €23 million.

While most EU States have zero rate VAT on newspapers, Ireland is one of the highest at nine per cent.

There is an urgent need for a change to defamation law in Ireland. Current rules and regulations are costing Irish media outlets large sums of money, including heavy legal costs.

The flowering signs hinting at the arrival of Summer Time

On Orwell Road, Dublin 14 at 16.50 yesterday.

Just one more week before the arrival of Summer Time, which begins at 02.00 on Sunday, March 28.

Ireland, UK and Portugal will move at that time to GMT plus one while the rest of Europe will change to GMT plus two.

UTC or Coordinated Universal Time is the successor of Greenwich Mean Time and was introduced in 1960.

RTE Radio to discontinue broadcasting on DAB

RTE is currently advertising that from March 31 it is ceasing transmission of its radio services on Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)

DAB is the least utilised platform in Ireland and RTE is the only Irish broadcaster who transmits on DAB.

DAB was only available in Dublin, Cork and Limerick.

RTE made the announcement in 2019 that it was ceasing DAB transmission.

DAB accounts for 0.5 per cent of listenership. 77 per cent listen to RTE on FM.

Less than five per cent of adults in Ireland listen to radio via a mobile device, two per cent listen on a PC, approximately 1.5per cent  listen on a smart speaker, 0.6 per cent listen on a TV. 

It would seem the death of DAB is due to internet roll out. Also, some years ago car manufactures decided not to install radios equipped with DAB functionality.

It is unfortunate that RTE did not announce its decision at an earlier date. DAB reception is excellent and ideal for people who do not have WiFi.

DAB radios were not cheap.

For details on how to continue to listen to RTÉ digital radio services visit www.rte.ie/keeplistening 

Report shows how women are afraid on our streets

In research commissioned last year by Transport Infrastructure Ireland The Travelling in a Woman's Shoes report shows that more than half the women surveyed said they would not use public transport after dark. 

One third said there had been times when they decided not to go out because of feeling insecure about travelling on their own.

They also expressed a fear of walking to and from rail stations and bus stops and told of their strategies to make themselves invisible

The women interviewed also said that they would visit a shop or cafe while waiting  for transport.

Ninety-five percent of women across the State and 79 per cent of women living in Dublin considered having a car as essential.

Michael D, Davy Fitz and the funny voices of Ireland

A day late but this is good fun. And just one woman to be seen. Wonder why?

UCD advertises on a far-right US talk station

Patriot Radio is based in Phoenix Arizona. It broadcasts 24 hours a day. 

Among its hosts are Mark Levin, Sebastian Gorka and Charlie Kirk.

It is non-stop nasty far-right  commentary. Its hosts constantly insult and jeer those who are of a different political persuasion than they.

It is relentless in its insulting and derogatory attacks on its opponents. For Patriot Radio, Trump is the saviour of the USA and Biden is the evil one.

In recent weeks a number of Irish companies have been advertising on the station and last week UCD ran an advert on one of its programmes.

Is it not inappropriate for an Irish university to be associated with such a station?

It's doubtful any aspect of anything on Patriot Radio could be compatible with anything to do with St Patrick.

A holy and blessed St Patrick's Day to all readers of this blog.

Insurance companies must reduce their premiums

This week's Independent News & Media Irish regional newspapers' column.

Michael Commane

My father was born in 1909 and drove a car from the age of 15 until he was 90.

As long as I knew him, and that was 55 years, I can remember every year when his insurance renewal would arrive in the post that he was in horror at the cost.

My father was the mildest and quietest of men. In all his years driving he had only once made an insurance claim on his policy and that was the result of a small accident I had while driving his car. 

It means the insurance company made a good profit on my father over a long life.

 

I’m not aware of my parents ever making an insurance claim on their home or property. I can imagine my family are no exceptions to the majority of upright citizens who have never abused their insurance contracts.

These days I’m noticing some of the additions that are added to travel insurance policies on age grounds. It seems there is an element of ageism about such decisions.

Any excuse and your insurance increases.

For the last 12 months there has been significant less traffic on our roads, fewer accidents too. Have insurance companies made a proportional reduction to  people’s car insurance premiums?

With one ear I have been following the decision to adopt new guidelines to reduce general damages awards for some personal injuries.

From what I gather a majority of the 166 members of the Judicial Council have passed the recommendations of the Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee. Of the 146 judges who voted on Saturday, March 6, 83 voted in favour and 63 said no.

How transparent was the work done by the Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee? 

At first glance the plan to reduce insurance claims sounds a good idea. The insurance companies have been pushing for it for a number of years. They argue it will mean that insurance premiums will be reduced for the general public.

But when Moyagh Murdock, chief executive of Insurance Ireland was interviewed by Claire Byrne on her radio progamme Ms Murdock was ambivalent as to when the reduced insurance premiums will filter down to the general public.

There will always be people who try to abuse the system but instead of making draconian cuts across the board would it not be a better idea for the relevant parties to weed out the crooks and abusers.

Why should the honest decent person have to pay for those who abuse the system?

When the new regulations come into operation some awards may be cut by half. Under the present system a justified award of €100,000 could well be reduced to €50,000.

It is understandable that judges hand down judgements but surely it’s the job of Government and not judges to set out policy.

Mr Justice Bernard Barton on his final day as a High Court judge last Tuesday commented how insurance companies that campaigned for an end to juries hearing personal injury cases never passed on the savings to their customers.

He was also somewhat sceptical if the new guidelines will reduce insurance costs.

Pope Francis' Iraq visit was jawdropping on multiple levels

This is an interesting piece on John Allen talking about Pope Francis' visit to Iraq and then goes on to talk about his eight-year pappy.

Click on the text below to listen:

Analysis of Pope's Iraq trip, 8 years under Pope Francis: Last Week in the Church with John Allen Jr

Greens and SPD remain in power in two German states

The German elections in the two states of Baden Würtemberg and Rhineland Palatinate will see the two current state premiers remain in power.

It was the worst results ever for the CDU in both states. In Baden Würtemberg the SPD registered an all-time low vote.

The two premiers, Malu Dreyer in Rehineland Palatinate and Winfried Kretshcmann in Baden Würtemberg  are relatively high profile charismatic people, who increased their vote.

In both elections the far-right AfD experienced significant losses.

Pandemic times in Ireland and Germany

There is great controversy in Ireland at present about the rollout of the Covid vaccination and the rules and regulations surrounding the pandemic.

A similar conversation and controversy is happening in Germany. But in Germany MPs in the governing CDU party have been accused of taking €850,000 in kickbacks on PPE procurement last year.

German President Frank Walter Steinmeier referred to the fraud scandal as  'shameful' and being a 'poison for democracy.

The President of the Bundestag, Wolfgang Schäuble said it 'was simply obscene and not compatible with a parliamentary mandate'.

Anyone listening to German conversations on the pandemic would notice the similarities between what is happening in Ireland and Germany. 

The Markus Lanz ZDF programme is similar to Prime Time and the similarities between both programmes is striking. All the same issues are aired.

Indeed, Ireland right now seems to be in a lead position. At least so far, there has been no signs of any extensive fraud.

Munich, Dresden and Stuttgart were among the cities where there were anti-Covid regulation marches yesterday. The Dresden demonstration was the largest and the most violent.

The daily death rate in Brazil is currently running at 2,000.

The Irish bishops should not have asked us to lobby our TDs to relax Covid rules and regulations.

Figures are surging in Italy, increasing in Germany and our figures are beginning to show an upward trend.

Today there are elections in the two German states of Baden-Würtemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, where the CDU are expected to lose votes. 

Unfortunately, it might well be an opportunity for the far-right AfD to take advantage of the CDU's weakness. But most likely the Greens and the SPD will retain their power and may even gain votes.

Ten buses a day between Tralee and Dingle

 Nothing unusual about a new bus timetable.

But the new Tralee Dingle timetable is most unusual.

Up to recently there were four/five buses Monday to Saturday between Tralee and Dingle and five between Dingle and Tralee. Each service had an extra bus during the summer season.

There is a new timetable in operation.

It means there are now 10 buses a day between Tralee and Dingle and nine buses between Dingle and Tralee.

The timetable it drawn up by Transport for Ireland (TFI).

A number of the buses travel with two or three passengers and some with none.

His Litany to the Holy Spirit

When (God knows) I'm tossed about,

Either with despair or doubt,

Yet before the glass be out,

Sweet Spirit comforts me!

                                    Robert Herrick (1591 - 1674)

Bishops should first keep their own house in order

The Irish bishops issued a statement on Tuesday asking Government that the easing of restrictions from Level 5 should include the restoration of public worship.

They have also requested that the number of mourners attending funerals be increased with immediate effect.

The bishops encourage Catholics to make their views on these issues known to their local TDs and local representatives.

The letter would indeed be fine if the bishops kept their own house in order. The Irish bishops are well aware of priests who have behaved with the utmost contempt during Level 5 Lockdown.

What about priests who have allowed people to attend Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

What about priests who have left the State?

What about priests who have roamed the land?

What about priests who refuse to be vaccinated?

It might well be wise for bishops and religious superiors right now to keep their heads down and say nothing.  Time to be contrite for the behaviour of some of their fellow priests.

They may do all the talking provided they reprimand those priests who have flouted the regulations with startling arrogance and sacerdotal entitlement.

In the meantime, it's best the bishops stay quiet and the let Government get on with the job.

Below is the bishops' statement.

Bishops’ statement on the Covid-19 restrictions in Republic of Ireland

 

Statement released on the second day of the Spring General Meeting of the Irish Bishops’ Conference

 

 

On 19 February the four Catholic Archbishops had a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin to continue the dialogue about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the lives of people in our Church. At that meeting the Archbishops affirmed the Church’s commitment to the protection of life, health and the promotion of the Common Good.  During their Spring Conference, bishops reflected on that meeting and released the following statement:

 

“We strongly believe that people’s freedom to worship publicly should be restored as soon as the current Level 5 restrictions begin to be eased.  It is particularly painful for Christians to be deprived, for the second year running, of the public expression of our faith during the most sacred time of Holy Week and Easter.  This is especially true given that it has been clearly demonstrated that church buildings are among the safest places for people to gather.  We also re-emphasise that the ongoing severe restrictions on attendance at Funeral Masses (currently limited to ten) are causing untold grief to many families.

 

“Throughout this time of pandemic the approach of the Church has been firmly grounded in the protection of health and life and in the promotion of the Common Good.  We recognise that strong restrictions are necessary in times of grave threat to public health.  However, such restrictions on personal freedom should be proportionate and for the shortest time possible.  Consideration must also be given to people’s mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing. For people of faith, gathering for worship is fundamental to their identity and to their spiritual lives.

 

Despite assurances from the Taoiseach last month that the concerns expressed by the Archbishops would be given serious consideration, we note with disappointment that none of the issues raised has been responded to.  We therefore make an urgent appeal that the following matters be addressed:

 

-          That the easing of restrictions from Level 5 should include the restoration of public worship, albeit in a safe and limited way.  For people of faith not to be free to worship until regulations return to Level 2, whilst many other restrictions are eased, is seen as particularly distressing and unjust.

 

-          That the number of mourners permitted at funeral services be increased, with immediate effect, noting that in Northern Ireland this number has not been reduced below 25.  The current restriction places immense burdens on grieving families, compounding the pain of their loss.

 

We strongly believe that allowing these measures would contribute greatly to giving a sense of hope and consolation to many in our Church - in line with the central message of Easter.  These measures would be a substantial support to the wellbeing of individuals and parish communities, and ultimately serve the Common Good of all. 

 

We encourage Catholics to make their views on these issues known to their own TDs and local representatives.

 

We wish to remain responsive to public health messaging. For this reason we are recommending the postponement of the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation ceremonies for the time being.   

 

We continue to keep in prayer all who are suffering in this time of Covid, and all who contribute so much to their care.

Events that happened on March 10

March 10 is remembered for a number of reasons.

On March 10, 1876 Alexander Bell made the first successful telephone call.

On March 10, 1957 Osama Bin Lden was born.

On March 10, 1970 Captain Ernst Medina was charged by the US military with the crimes at My Lai in Vietnam.

On March 10, 2005 Dave Allen died.

On March 10, 2019 an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crashed, killing all on board. This was the second Max to crash and led to the grounding of all Max 737s . The plane is now back in the sky having been retooled.

On March 10, 2020 the World Health Organization officially announced Covid - 19 as a pandemic.