It will be interesting to see if any new government keeps up with the mandatory screen tax that was being proposed by the last government

#gript


https://youtu.be/7Uxghn6z9SQ

HEATHER ALBERRO writes that we should be wary of blaming 'overpopulation' for the climate crisis

#gript


https://gript.ie/why-we-should-be-wary-of-blaming-overpopulation-for-the-climate-crisis/

Ireland has politicians who want to avoid Government at all costs and voters who seem to hate everybody to roughly a similar extent. The one thing we love is the electoral system, but what if it's actually the system itself that's to blame?

#gript


https://gript.ie/ireland-the-country-nobody-wants-to-run/

"Professor Donal O’Shea is a consultant endocrinologist at St Vincent’s and St Columcille’s Hospitals in Dublin, and, as such, has seen an explosion in the number of people, young people in particular, who are presenting with gender dysphoria."

TIM JACKSON writes that the advice of medical experts is being ignored in the rush to please trans activists

#gript

https://gript.ie/advice-medical-experts-ignored-rush-please-trans-activists/

"Fuinseóg, the ash tree (Fraxinus excelsior), the commonest hedgerow tree in Ireland, now threatened by the ash dieback disease (Hymenoscyphus fraxineus), brought into Ireland on imported ash plants for forestry.

This tree is of great importance in Irish tradition as the tree from which hurleys (or camáns) are made for the game of hurling. They are also of enormous ecological importance as the keystone species of Ireland's lime rich woodlands.

It is a sad fact that EU freedom of trade rules allow the free movement of plants around the continent of Europe without due regard to the considerable phytosanitary risks and the risks of introducing invasive plant species to new areas. That is not good enough!

In some parts of Europe 80% of this species has been wiped out."

Photo and commentary: Peter Carvill

#gript

POLL: Would you like another general election?

YES or NO. VOTE in our online Poll

https://gript.ie/poll-would-you-like-another-general-election/

Ireland has politicians who want to avoid Government at all costs and voters who seem to hate everybody to roughly a similar extent. The one thing we love is the electoral system, but what if it's actually the system itself that's to blame?

#gript

https://gript.ie/ireland-the-country-nobody-wants-to-run/

ON THIS DAY: 17th February 1846: Daniel O'Connell speaks in the House of Commons re poverty and starvation in Ireland.

The level of poverty in Ireland was evidenced by further comments from O’Connell:

"The last Population Returns of 1841 showed that, out of the whole rural population of Ireland, 46 per cent lived in a single room; the entire human family and the pigs occupied the same apartment together. The next fact was, that of the civil population — that is, of the inhabitants of towns — 36 per cent lived in a single room, and that two or three families sometimes occupied the same room."

#gript

“Destitution in Ireland. Failure of the potato crop”, illustration was published in The Pictorial Times on 22 August 1846. Image courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

TIM JACKSON writes that ending the cult of celebrity would be the kindest solution for everyone

#gript

https://gript.ie/ending-cult-celebrity-kindest-solution/

"A couple of weeks ago we discussed different strategies that European countries are taking to increase their birth rates and thus their natural population growth."

MARCUS ROBERTS discusses the Finnish parental leave expansion.

#gript

https://gript.ie/the-finnish-parental-leave-expansion/

A study analyzing the behaviour of over 5,000 adults has found a significant link exists between the number of sexual partners a person has had and their chances of developing cancer.

#gript

https://gript.ie/10-more-sexual-partners-significantly-increase-risk-cancer-study/

The UK media is relentlessly calling for the head of Boris Johnson's adviser Andrew Sabisky. Here, British journalist
Ben Sixsmith writes that "dull minded journalists are trying to ruin this young man's career"

#gript


https://gript.ie/andrew-sabitsky-victim-of-media/

ON THIS DAY: 18 FEBRUARY 1366: Statute of Killkenny was passed

The Statute of Kilkenny were a set of laws made by the English Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lionel of Antwerp. They were passed at a meeting of the Irish parliament held at Kilkenny. It was to ensure that the English colonisers here did not adopt Irish customs and that the Irish must adopt English ones. After the Bruce invasion, the government was weak and the Irish started to reclaim their lands.

Edward III was concerned that the English living here were too familiar with Irish ways and people and the new laws were an attempt to keep English control and the colonisers on side. They favoured those who were called "New English" and gave them positions of power, creating even more animosity between both groups. These laws were serious, to break one was seen as treason and could be punished by death.

It was against the law for the English in Ireland to:

- Marry an Irish person
- Adopt an Irish child
- Use an Irish name
- Wear Irish clothes
- Spea

ANN FARMER writes on the war of words: hate crime, censorship and policing free speech

#gript


https://gript.ie/war-of-words-hate-crime-censorship-and-policing-free-speech/

"Euthanasia and assisted suicide in prison is always a controversial issue, even when they are legal. Informed consent is difficult to verify; the prisoners are evading their debt to society. The cost of maintaining inmates may decrease but voters may be horrified by utilitarian policies.

Nonetheless, Switzerland has decided to allow prisoners to request assisted suicide. The details have yet to be worked out."

MICHEAL COOK writes

#gript

https://gript.ie/switzerland-to-allow-prisoners-to-request-assisted-suicide/

"A bunch of weirdos digging up a 300-year old lawn with all the finesse and enthusiasm of a three year old building a sandcastle doesn’t make the public stop and reflect thoughtfully on the perils of taking the natural world for granted"

#gript


https://gript.ie/extinction-rebellion-lawn/

The hypocrisy of posting #BeKind and then wishing Piers Morgan and Rónán Mullen dead

#gript

https://gript.ie/the-hypocrisy-of-posting-bekind-and-then-wishing-piers-morgan-and-ronan-mullen-dead/

TIM JACKSON writes: Just ‘Kill It’ – Democrat candidates’ most extreme abortion comments in focus

#gript

https://gript.ie/democrat-contenders-most-extreme-abortion-comments/

Dubai was host to the world’s first ever human flight with vertical takeoff, a feat sponsored by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, the Crown Prince of the city.

#gript

https://gript.ie/watch-future-travel-first-ever-jetpack-flight-vertical-takeoff/

Cork hurlers to wear black to remember Tomás Mac Curtain and Terence Mac Swiney

#gript

https://gript.ie/cork-hurlers-to-wear-black-to-remember-mac-curtain-and-mac-swiney/

ON THIS DAY: 18TH FEBRUARY 1982: Investigation into Kincora Boys Home announced

James Prior, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced that a full public inquiry would take place into the matters surrounding the Kincora Scandal. The Kincora Boys’ Home was a boys’ home in Belfast, that was the scene of serious organised child sexual abuse, causing a scandal and attempted cover-up in 1980, with credible allegations of state collusion.

Allegations were made that the RUC had been informed of the abuse at the home for years previously, but had not moved to prevent it. It was further alleged in a published book that the leader of loyalist paramilitary group was hired by MI5 to provide intelligence and information on other loyalist groups. Private Eye magazine alleged thatt high ranking members of the British military and Civil Services were involved in the abuse.

This inquiry collapsed when 3 of its members resigned because they felt that the RUC had failed to carry out an effective investigation./User