A glance at the week that was
Rural rumble
It was all about the animals this week, beginning with the passing of the Government’s legislation to ban stag hunting, despite rumbles from dissenters. Though Fianna Fáil backbencher Mattie McGrath lost the party whip when he
voted against the Wildlife (Amendment) Bill, the stags were the winners of the day with a 73 to 69 vote in their favour. All this before they moved on to dog breeding, debated in the Dáil yesterday before a vote next week. After which, the Fianna Fáil backbencher Mary O’Rourke is hoping, the animals will be off the agenda for a while and the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, will end what she called “his ramblings in rural Ireland”.
Ryan's replacement
There's more news from Montrose with the announcement that John Murray, presenter of Morning Irelandand The Business,is to take over Ryan Tubridy's RTÉ Radio 1 slot from August, as Tubridy heads off to present 2FM's flagship morning show, left vacant by the death of Gerry Ryan. According to the station, the John Murray Show will focus on lifestyle and entertainment.
“The challenges don’t come much bigger than this, but it’s a challenge I take on with relish,” says Murray.
We now know
- Jack was the most popular name for baby boys born in Ireland last year, for the third year running, with Sophie coming up number one for girls, climbing from sixth place in 2008.
- One in 10 calls to the Samaritans in Ireland is now recession-related.
- Bumblebees working in the far north clock in 16-hour days, new research has revealed. Irish bumblebees, however, are more likely to head for cover at the first sign of rain.
"There's no long grass; it was all cut a couple of weeks ago" -Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny on his new front bench
€71mThe cost estimated by Irish airlines of meeting claims arising from flight cancellations caused by the Icelandic volcanic eruptions.
444,900
The number of people signing on the Live Register, the highest level recorded in 20 years.
2.7%The rise in gross domestic product compared with the last quarter of 2009.