The Floating Voter: Is the HSE's Paul Reid Losing the Frontline Battles Being Fought Against Covid?
A second wave of Covid-19 cases in nursing homes cannot be ruled out if the rate of community transmission remains high, HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid has warned.
Speaking to Independent.ie’s Floating Voter podcast, Mr Reid said the first phase of the pandemic showed nursing homes in areas of high community transmission were the worst hit.
In the exclusive interview, he also speaks bluntly about the coronavirus crisis and how the HSE has learned from the challenges they faced.
He frankly admits the Ireland’s Call initiative did not work and said one of the biggest pressures he faces is from politicians seeking absolute clarity on the ever-evolving pandemic.
He also reveals how he was nominated to run in a General Election in the 1980s but “bottled it” at the last minute.
After last week’s budget hopes given by Minister for Finance, Paschal Donhoe, this week’s national lockdown and interview with Reid offers a much more sobering outlook on the future between now and Christmas and into 2021.
The Floating Voter Budget 2021 Series is in association with EY Ireland.
October 23, 2020
ClbvBOCtvm0
Timelapse: Dublin's M50 as Ireland enters first day of Level 5 restrictions
Timelapses compare the M50 today with traffic during April and June.
October 22, 2020
Blm0lqMTkgw
Real Health: Life Lessons with Francis Brennan
This week’s show is part of a series called ‘Life Lessons’ with some of Ireland’s most respected and most famous personalities and Karl’s guest, Francis Brennan, is certainly no stranger to Irish television screens having shot to fame on the RTE series At Your Service and of course Francis Brennan’s Grand Tour.
Francis is also co-owner of the Park Hotel in Kenmare and author of best-selling books on home management and travel and his latest is his Homekeeper’s Diary for 2021.
Francis has an infectious, perennially good-natured outlook on life and in the midst of Covid and cancellations to his hotel (he just got €100,000 worth of cancellations before he spoke) Karl wanted to find out how he kept his positivity going and what the secret to his success in life is.
Francis also spoke to him about the importance of faith and religion throughout his life and why you must always believe that things are going to work out in the end.
“I don't know anything about drive, I just do what I do and today is the very same,” he tells Karl. “I don't ever think like - I'm not good at planning out, I never sit down and say 'I'll own this and I'll own that' other than I knew I wanted to be in the hotel business and everything else just falls into place.”
“There's a man above of course with whom I believe in very much, the God above, and he looks after me. I mean I just land on me feet every time and I think 'oh my God, he's great' and I'm lucky to have a faith as well as everything else so I'm just one of those lucky people.”
Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts from.
For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/
The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.
October 22, 2020
pdEUlPZf2xc
Hope fading in the search for missing Fungie
Hope is fading in the search for missing Fungie, a celebrity dolphin that transformed the economic life of a harbour town on the west coast of Ireland over four decades.
Boats and a team of divers have been searching for Fungie after he disappeared off the coast of Co Kerry more than a week ago.
October 22, 2020
INthQwph1sI
The Throw In: Who's tipping Tipp? It's the Throw-In's All Ireland Hurling Championship preview
The inter-county hurlers at last get back out onto the field of battle this weekend as the delayed and truncated All Ireland Championship for 2020 finally gets underway.
It’s a return to the old ways of course with just straight knock-out ties deciding the match winners and on this Hurling Championship preview, Will Slattery and Michael Verney give the run down on the likely winners and losers.
Unusually, All Ireland champions, Tipperary, are not the favourites, and are instead behind Limerick in the odds but, Michael Verney believes that with Mike Casey now ruled out action for Limerick, that the pendulum has swung back in Tipperary’s favour.
“In the Irish Independent magazine last Saturday nobody tipped Tipp to win the All Ireland which is unbelievable in itself, including myself, now my opinion might have changed a small bit when I saw Mike Casey is out and they have basically two of their full back players, Mike Casey and Richie English, both out, whereas Tipperary I think have a clean bill of health coming into this year's Championship.”
It could be Tipperary’s title in the craziest of years says Verney.
For more from the Throw-In, visit the show page at: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-throw-in/
The Throw-In’s All Ireland Championship series is in association with Bord Gáis Energy.
October 21, 2020
pgnO7ugjiAY
Serious flooding in Cork city after high tide and heavy rainfall
Cork city is seriously flooded this morning after high tide and a night of heavy rainfall. A status yellow rainfall warning remains in place until 3pm.
October 20, 2020
t13mWHVvTOE
The Throw In: While the nation holds its breath, the GAA at least is back
The inter-county GAA season is back and while it may be changed circumstances, some things still stay the same.
A thumping Mayo win over Galway has the fans reaching for superlatives and whispers of glory, while there was another Dublin win over Meath in Leinster, this time with two record-breaking appearances by Stephen Cluxton and Dean Rock.
With great games and performances across the country, the Throw-In’s Will Slattery and Michael Verney, joined by Conor McKeon and former Mayo star David Brady, all agreed that the return of the GAA season at inter county level has meant so much to fans.
They discussed all the opening League football action including what is shaping up to be a promising Division 2 final weekend with six teams in contention for promotion.
Plus there was a look at the Division 2 Hurling League final win for Antrim over Kerry.
For more from the Throw-In podcast go to the show page at: www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-throw-in/
And don’t forget to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
The Throw-In is in association with Allianz.ie.
October 19, 2020
0jdQEn1hO8s
Gardai declare Jo Jo Dullard disappearance a murder investigation
Supt. Martin Walker and Garda Det. Supt. Des McTiernan brief media at the Town Hall in Newbridge during a press briefing where the investigation into Jo Jo Dullard's disappearance is now classified as a murder investigation.
October 19, 2020
g__0PsOsPKo
Level 4 of the 'Plan for Living with COVID-19' explained
A look through the restrictions for Level 4.
October 17, 2020
_sM6EzKUf7I
Level Five of the 'Plan for Living with COVID-19' explained
Level Five of the Plan for Living with COVID-19 Explained.
October 16, 2020
Qc1wkLQGHN4
The Monk: The life and crimes of a Godfather
Paul Williams takes a look at the life and crimes of Ireland's most enigmatic crime boss.
October 16, 2020
7ANfRNdM6G8
The Throw-In: Why everything is on the line with the resumption of the Football Leagues
Finally, the inter-county GAA gets set to resume with the resumption of the final two rounds of the Allianz Football Leagues which means the Throw-In is also back and for this week’s show Will Slattery and Michael Verney look ahead to what GAA fans can expect.
Known unknowns is probably the best way to sum it all up in this Covid-affected season and being able to adapt to changing circumstances will be the new norm believes Michael Verney.
“You have to be so versatile,” he says. “You have to be willing to just flick a switch almost when a decision is made but hopefully things will go smoothly enough over the next couple of months because we all need it really.”
“We all need something every Saturday and Sunday, something to be following, something to be watching, something to be digesting over the weekend and then reviewing on the Monday and you need that conversation starter.”
There’ll be plenty of conversation starters come next Monday that’s for sure and none more so than west of the Shannon with Galway looking to demote Mayo to Division 2 and with the involvement of Jim McGuinness to the Galway training giving it a bit more spice.
“We're not getting like a slow burner like we might normally get in the League,” says Verney. “This is going in and it's high stakes stuff. We don't know what teams have been doing for the last God knows how long but everything will be on the line."
"There's so many interesting things and I suppose the unpredictability of it all you just don't know what level teams are at, you don't know how much they're going to have done, you don't know how cohesive they're going to be. But most teams will be in the same boat because they'll have the similar levels of preparation done but it's very, very interesting.”
For more from the Throw-In podcast go to the show page at:
www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-throw-in/
And don’t forget to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
The Throw-In is in association with Allianz.ie.
October 15, 2020
ykc20Tuz960
The Floating Voter: Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe on Budget 2021
It is a year like no other and with it has come a budget like no other. After years of austerity and a struggle to balance the books, the new Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green government has gone on a spending spree that would make Charlie McCreevy blush.
There was millions and billions for businesses, housing, health, social welfare and the arts. But you can’t please all of the people either and the working man and woman might feel somewhat short-changed despite the bonanza.
On this week’s Floating Voter podcast, to analyse the good, the bad and the absent from Budget 2021, Kevin Doyle and Philip Ryan were joined by the man with all the money, Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe as well as EY's Head of Tax, Kevin McLoughlin.
Admitting that we will be paying for this for a long time, the Minister said that the ‘consequences will reverberate for years to come’ but also added that income tax cuts are still on his agenda for future budgets.
“I believe it is so important that if people earn more through hard work, working extra hours of overtime that they do have the opportunity to try to keep more of what they earn,” he told the Floating Voter.
Meanwhile, EY’s Kevin McLoughlin said that it was a significant budget and that ultimately the recovery must be focused on getting people back working.
“If you do look into the future,” he said. “There will be questions ultimately as to how we bridge the gap from a public finances perspective and there’s an open question in that respect as to what role tax will play.”
The Floating Voter Budget 2021 Series is in association with EY Ireland.
October 15, 2020
28cbgLZcM4E
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe on The Floating Voter Podcast
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe on Independent.ie's The Floating Voter Podcast
October 14, 2020
z6iAJPT1b9I
Real Health: Healthy Living with Fitness Expert & Former Olympian Derval O'Rourke
This week’s Real Health is focusing on healthy eating and healthy living with one of Ireland’s leading fitness experts, Derval O’Rourke.
Derval is a three-time Irish Olympian and former World Indoor Champion and after retiring from athletics she has become a best-selling author and also developed her own digital platform on health, nutrition and self-care at Derval.ie.
Empowering people to live well, in body and mind, is what she aims to do and she explains to Karl how she has done it for herself, why Sunday night planning is so important to her and how she has dealt with criticism along the way.
“Whatever my opinion is on myself, what I'm doing, that's the number one opinion I need to tune into,” she tells Karl. “And sometimes my own voice in my head, like everybody, isn't as positive as it should be and I have to check myself and say 'right Derval you need to back yourself a bit here'. So, the nice stuff is lovely but also you have to care more about what you think yourself than what everybody else thinks.”
Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts from.
For more episodes, tips and advice from the show just go to:
www.independent.ie/podcasts/the-re…health-podcast/
The Real Health podcast is in association with Laya Healthcare.
October 14, 2020
z7jY1CMAm3k
Gardaí appealing for witnesses after shooting in Clondalkin
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following a shooting incident in Clondalkin on Tuesday 13th October, 2020.
October 14, 2020
bK9m2hs6Z3s
Members of the arts and hospitality sector react to Budget 2021
There was optimism and disappointment as the owner of The Cobblestone Pub, The General Manager of The Kinglsey Hotel and Theatre Maker & owner of Chattyboo Productions reacted to Budget 2021.
October 13, 2020
Hy-Uwi8Vubg
Interview with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe after he delivered Budget 2021
Interview with finance minster Paschal Donohoe after he delivered Budget 2021
October 13, 2020
Zd29Xy9L2HQ
Margaret Donnelly: A farmer's guide to Budget 2021
Farming Independent Editor Margaret Donnelly gives a farmer's overview of Budget 2021.
October 13, 2020
44ZQJs8TDQ4
Sinead Ryan: Winners and losers of Budget 2021
Sinead Ryan takes us through some key areas of Budget 2021.
October 13, 2020
nIaAwLVszxs
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/122435410_2155397457938397_8059885789217316478_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=4l3KTmQOyZsAX95o1QN&_nc_tp=18&oh=0fa23b31b635d2fbf6221a9902c15ddb&oe=5FBC639C
'Our son keeps saying he misses Daddy'. The heartbroken partner of former Tyrone goalkeeper Jonny Curran, who died at the weekend, said his loved ones have learned he was suffering from artery disease. Clodagh Daly (28) said she had been "broken into pieces" by the loss of Jonny, with whom she has two boys, Neasan (8) and Darsai (4) (pictured). Click the link in our bio to read more #jonnycurran #tyrone #irishnews
830
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/122132214_1249445162104511_8013646777613152246_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=111&_nc_ohc=m76ssuOzTm8AX9212gK&_nc_tp=18&oh=3e7d48524372180563e49b634fd275ef&oe=5FBC87BA
Wonderwall: Business is blooming for this Irish man who has designed floral walls for celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Paris Hilton and Kevin Hart. Mark Byrne took the leap to start his own business, The Flowerwall Company, and design flower walls for weddings and corporate events. Mark cites his all-time favourite gig as creating "two stunning flower walls" for Michael Costello's New York Fashion Week showcase. "Being able to be present at the event and witness our creations stun and wow the guests was an absolute highlight," he told 'that's' magazine. To read more, click on the link in bio. #flowerwall #flowersofinstagram #irishabroad
114
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/122085651_2645000895810006_5934795865637678897_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=vJ-00zE8zWAAX_00UAf&_nc_tp=18&oh=181229deea06f85cfb81b50f0b411c0d&oe=5FBD6A0E
Singer Daniel O'Donnell is waiving his fee for a virtual concert next month so his crew can make a "decent bit of money". The music industry has been one of the worst affected by the pandemic and the Donegal star is calling on fans to show their support for the €20-a-ticket event as he is hosting the concert for his bandmates who have been unable to earn since last March. "I'm hoping that a lot of people will sign up for the show because the whole purpose - I'm not doing this for any reason, other than to make money for the band and crew," he said.
Click the link in our bio to read more. Photo: Mark Condren
#DanielODonnell #virtualconcert
179
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/122103400_454942182139711_2691313837036202617_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=wLuijBXB6O4AX_gcbdM&_nc_tp=18&oh=54ebe41664c10b43e51767fc780e69d7&oe=5FBD5293
‘I’m 66 now but I don’t feel it. I won’t allow myself to be inhibited’. Recently retired presenter Mary Kennedy discusses ageism, trending on Twitter and keeping busy in lockdown in today's Irish Independent. Click the link in our bio to read more. #marykennedy #irishnews #interview
254
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/121694361_465287571112805_2993817239717245723_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=105&_nc_ohc=YIASphjUcmAAX8baUwE&_nc_tp=18&oh=72bebc0fda93548b8f9f3174d7481e7e&oe=5FBCCDA0
Almost exactly one year ago, Deirdre Kelleher Dowling (pictured), PhD, lecturer at UCD in nursing, wife and mother of two teenage girls, wrote about her diagnosis, first with breast cancer after a routine mammogram in 2014, and then in 2017 with metastatic breast cancer that had spread to her lungs. She described her devastation at the news, but also her determination to live positively — “I feel when you hit rock bottom, the only way is up” — and conviction that “it’s not all doom and gloom”. Deirdre passed away before she could complete her part in a new breast cancer awareness campaign. Her husband Des explains what taking part meant to Deirdre and why he feels compelled to take her place in today's Irish Independent. Click the link in our bio to read more. #breastcancer #breastcancerawareness #cancerawareness
766
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/121644975_764648474091675_2358350819378921909_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=BO4Ez-aQrU0AX_f9kEZ&_nc_tp=18&oh=aef77a9980bc467e689a6d93e83083be&oe=5FBD792B
'Being curvy means you get used to avoiding situations where you feel uncomfortable. I know the shops that won't stock my clothing size as soon as I go into them; I can spot and avoid the teens who will make a comment about my size, and I can pick out that group of men in suits who will dare one of their mates to chat me up. Over time, you learn to put on your emotional armour and get on with things.' People often judge Angharad Williams (pictured) by her size instead of her ability. But, she says, just because she's curvy doesn't mean she's not also fit, healthy and happy.
Photo: Frank McGrath. Click the link in our bio to read more.
#runningmotivation #fitspiration #marathontraining
275
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/121832380_341116647145461_6821739859702183754_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=109&_nc_ohc=_v8oNGOMF00AX-ec-VO&_nc_tp=18&oh=f9cf699304e8a5ce1115c6249db0f65e&oe=5FBE0C8D
"I am here in the US with my wife Joanna and our daughters Lucy and Erin. The coronavirus has caused so much hurt and suffering around the world but we are lucky. We have our health and we have each other." The pandemic has provided just one of the many dramatic twists to this election year in the US, writes RTÉ’s Washington Correspondent Brian O'Donovan (pictured with his wife and daughters).
To read more click on the link in our bio.
#BrianODonovan #Coronavirus #donaldtrump
549
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/121069476_679508852686181_1520915931314606382_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=105&_nc_ohc=ybKXsvI5ZNQAX96FJL9&_nc_tp=18&oh=4053b1d1b4594822c788ff1e8b626f90&oe=5FBBFF4E
Sinéad Burke (@thesineadburke) has had a remarkable decade. She began writing a style blog in her twenties and now works with some of the world’s most powerful luxury brands, advocating for inclusivity and diversity. In today's @independent.weekend, she talks about the years of work behind her phenomenal rise, and why she’s bringing her fight to a whole new audience. Photo: Eilish McCormick
Click the link in our bio to read more #sineadburke #fashion #weekend #style
909
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/121486935_443060123340392_7751789861573931939_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=FDgFVoEWUJIAX8XmeEp&_nc_tp=18&oh=b3ebb28d848f7c194ed59e37eb70a339&oe=5FBC10DB
'It's all about looking on the bright side'. One of the oldest people in Ireland has written a public letter of hope, on her 107th birthday, urging people to take care of each other during the current pandemic. Nancy Stewart has lived through two world wars, the War of Independence and the 1918 flu pandemic and has been cocooning since March at her home in Clonard, Co Meath where she has lived for the last 83 years. Click the link in our bio to read Nancy's words of wisdom #goodnews #birthday #irishnews
1597
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/121511332_832323990641208_996024452470054643_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=100&_nc_ohc=qTO8XpBI0DcAX_XwZDc&_nc_tp=18&oh=ed624ea50a23ab3a8a9ab18f3c0c84ee&oe=5FBC841E
Fears over the safety of Fungie have been eased after the beloved Kerry dolphin was spotted by a fisherman on Thursday. Paul Hand told RTÉ he was “one thousand percent certain” Fungie followed his boat yesterday just hours after Dingle's most famous resident had been reported missing. Click the link in our bio for the full story. File photo by Sean Manion. #fungie #dolphin #dingle #kerry
1122
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/121496638_1486669134849498_4019102677038026957_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=106&_nc_ohc=ySn-AEQ17xcAX8O4D41&_nc_tp=18&oh=37a1677502645e8216b82b0f237c6e5c&oe=5FBF4447
Part-time Irish jeweller Aisling O’Brien is a hit with the royals and with plenty of others after Kate Middleton wore a necklace and matching earrings the Galway woman designed, as seen above. Aisling has been talking to Mary McCarthy about being inundated with orders since the Duchess of Cambridge first wore her jewellery. To read more on this, click on the link in bio. #KateMiddleton #jewellery #irishdesign
254
https://scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/121294546_1455266794662792_1217616121623086982_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-frt3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=100&_nc_ohc=BSf-RhS8thwAX_b46Yp&_nc_tp=18&oh=0b4f1ba62cbf72f552803f274b346a88&oe=5FBF9F40
'My vegan diet ruined my health' - Flic Everett (pictured) could not understand why she felt so unwell, until a dietitian made a surprising nutritional revelation - veganism was affecting her health. Click the link in our bio to read the fully piece. Photo: Stuart Nicol Photography #vegan #veganism #lifestyle
116