Brendan
@brenkinse.bsky.social
Trade unionist, Leftist. He/They ADHD PBP 🇵🇸
I suddenly feel so very tired just knowing this kind of nonsense is going on again.
This "winter lights" culture war bullshit non-controversy is 100% a media creation btw.
Nobody would give a rat's ass if the Indo, NewsTalk et al hadn't decided to turn a tweet from Ireland's most disingenuous politician into a national story out of... boredom? Laziness?
Nobody would give a rat's ass if the Indo, NewsTalk et al hadn't decided to turn a tweet from Ireland's most disingenuous politician into a national story out of... boredom? Laziness?
November 25, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I suddenly feel so very tired just knowing this kind of nonsense is going on again.
For a non-EEA migrant to claim Jobseekers they have to have legal residency, worked here for years, and paid into the system. To then punish them for accessing something they've paid for is disgusting. Then there is the worrying use if the excessively broad, British phrase "welfare benefits."
New: major overhaul of immigration laws to see citizenship denied to those who got welfare, or are in debt. Family reunification only for close family, tighter rules around self sufficiency. Changes to revoke residency for those who commit serious crimes
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
www.thetimes.com/world/irelan...
No Irish citizenship for refugees on welfare benefits
Ministers to crack down on migration after UK review of asylum-seeking rules
www.thetimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:39 AM
For a non-EEA migrant to claim Jobseekers they have to have legal residency, worked here for years, and paid into the system. To then punish them for accessing something they've paid for is disgusting. Then there is the worrying use if the excessively broad, British phrase "welfare benefits."
Reposted by Brendan
![Social media screenshot:
Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand
In a normal world, this should be an immense scandal in Europe.
Le Monde has a long article describing the hellish life of Nicolas Guillou, a French judge at the ICC in The Hague, due to U.S. sanctions punishing him for authorizing arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Gallant for war crimes in Gaza.
Guillou's daily existence has been transformed into a Kafkaesque nightmare. He cannot: open or maintain accounts with Google, Amazon, Apple, or any US company; make hotel reservations (Expedia canceled his booking in France hours after he made it); conduct online commerce, since he can't know if the packaging is American; use any major credit card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex are all American); access normal banking services, even with non-American banks, as banks worldwide close sanctioned accounts; conduct virtually any financial transaction.
He describes it as being "economically banned across most of the planet," including in his own country, France, and where he works, the Netherlands.
That's the real shocking aspect of this: the Americans are:
- punishing a European citizen
- for doing his job in Europe
- applying laws Europe officially supports
- at an institution based in Europe
- that Europe helped create and fund
and Europe is not only doing essentially nothing to protect him, they're actively enforcing America's sanctions against their own citizen - European banks closing his accounts, European companies refusing him service, European institutions standing by while Washington destroys a European judge's life on European soil.
Again, in a normal world, European leaders and citizens should be absolutely outraged about this. But we've so normalized the hollowing out of European sovereignty that the sight of a European citizen being economically executed on European soil for upholding European law is treated, at best, as an unfortunate technical complication in transatlantic
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Reposted by Brendan
I was cynical about her candidacy, but President Connolly has already made us great at football again and gotten rid of Paschal Donohoe. Credit where credit is due.
November 18, 2025 at 10:01 AM
I was cynical about her candidacy, but President Connolly has already made us great at football again and gotten rid of Paschal Donohoe. Credit where credit is due.
I always knew ruining just one country wasn't a big enough dream for him.
NEW: Paschal Donohoe is resigning as MInister for Finance, and as a TD, in order to take up a role with the World Bank in Washington. Announcement expected after this morning's Cabinet meeting. @virginmedianews.bsky.social
November 18, 2025 at 10:23 AM
I always knew ruining just one country wasn't a big enough dream for him.
With Martin and Harris this kind of rhetoric is opportunistic (which doesn't excuse it), but with O'Callaghan it comes across as an honest principled racism. A vile, contemptible man to his core.
Justice and Migration Minister Jim O'Callaghan said he's committed to ensuring Ireland is 'not viewed more favourably than the UK by those seeking to claim asylum'.
His statement comes following proposed reforms to the UK's asylum practices
jrnl.ie/6877693
His statement comes following proposed reforms to the UK's asylum practices
jrnl.ie/6877693
O'Callaghan 'committed' to ensuring Ireland not viewed 'more favourably' than the UK by asylum seekers
A new International Protection Bill to reform Ireland’s asylum system will be published later this year.
jrnl.ie
November 17, 2025 at 9:38 PM
With Martin and Harris this kind of rhetoric is opportunistic (which doesn't excuse it), but with O'Callaghan it comes across as an honest principled racism. A vile, contemptible man to his core.
British Labour really are doing everything they can to make 'Fish Hook Theory' become 'Fish Hook Law.'
November 17, 2025 at 9:26 PM
British Labour really are doing everything they can to make 'Fish Hook Theory' become 'Fish Hook Law.'
Reposted by Brendan
This rancid trash understands the significance of Labour's anti-refugee policies.
November 16, 2025 at 10:43 AM
This rancid trash understands the significance of Labour's anti-refugee policies.
I'm old enough to remember Simon Harris saying far worse about Marylou in the local elections after her far less pointed statements about immigration.
Tánaiste Simon Harris has said Labour TD Conor Sheehan calling him a populist is an attempt from the left to “caricature” him and “shut me down”. jrnl.ie/6875778
Simon Harris says the left are ‘trying to caricature me’ on migration
Labour TD Conor Sheehan said he believes the Tánaiste is ‘quite populist’.
jrnl.ie
November 16, 2025 at 9:12 AM
I'm old enough to remember Simon Harris saying far worse about Marylou in the local elections after her far less pointed statements about immigration.
Reposted by Brendan
Lookit...I'm just sayin...just doesn't feel like a coincidence is all.
#COYBIG #Ireland #Leftie #Speirgorm #VoteLeft
#COYBIG #Ireland #Leftie #Speirgorm #VoteLeft
November 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Lookit...I'm just sayin...just doesn't feel like a coincidence is all.
#COYBIG #Ireland #Leftie #Speirgorm #VoteLeft
#COYBIG #Ireland #Leftie #Speirgorm #VoteLeft
Reposted by Brendan
Make no mistake, this excavation wouldn’t be happening if Catherine Corless hadn’t stuck her neck out and defied people telling her to leave it alone.
But the scale of this is unimaginable. It’s not just M&B homes, it’s laundries, it’s industrial schools, it’s giant psych hospitals.
But the scale of this is unimaginable. It’s not just M&B homes, it’s laundries, it’s industrial schools, it’s giant psych hospitals.
November 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Make no mistake, this excavation wouldn’t be happening if Catherine Corless hadn’t stuck her neck out and defied people telling her to leave it alone.
But the scale of this is unimaginable. It’s not just M&B homes, it’s laundries, it’s industrial schools, it’s giant psych hospitals.
But the scale of this is unimaginable. It’s not just M&B homes, it’s laundries, it’s industrial schools, it’s giant psych hospitals.
Reposted by Brendan
“He claimed that he learned from a comment by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and from RTÉ News that 80pc of asylum seekers were economic migrants”
Lies told by politicians have real consequences
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
Lies told by politicians have real consequences
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
First person in Ireland jailed for identifying asylum seekers appeals sentence
The first person in Ireland to be jailed for illegally identifying asylum seekers has appealed his conviction and sentence.
www.independent.ie
November 7, 2025 at 1:16 PM
“He claimed that he learned from a comment by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and from RTÉ News that 80pc of asylum seekers were economic migrants”
Lies told by politicians have real consequences
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
Lies told by politicians have real consequences
www.independent.ie/irish-news/c...
Reposted by Brendan
Funny watching Paul Murphy and John Clendennen on RTÉ the other day. Clendennen keeps saying "we need a debate about migration" to which Murphy says "okay lets have a debate", and then Clendennen just keeps saying "we need to have a debate". Its very clear what Fine Gael are trying to do here!
November 7, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Funny watching Paul Murphy and John Clendennen on RTÉ the other day. Clendennen keeps saying "we need a debate about migration" to which Murphy says "okay lets have a debate", and then Clendennen just keeps saying "we need to have a debate". Its very clear what Fine Gael are trying to do here!
Getting picked up from the all ages gig as a teenager. "No Ma, I didn't even see anyone drinking."
November 7, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Getting picked up from the all ages gig as a teenager. "No Ma, I didn't even see anyone drinking."
If anyone knows of any studies into why western STEM tries to reinvent phrenology every 5-6 months I would really like to read it.
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
Should facial analysis help determine whom companies hire?
A new paper suggests a photo can tell a recruiter much about an applicant’s personality
econ.st
November 7, 2025 at 12:54 PM
If anyone knows of any studies into why western STEM tries to reinvent phrenology every 5-6 months I would really like to read it.
Disappointing but not particularly unsurprising from Rockstar. Solidarity to the workers.
"Rockstar, Rockstar, you're disgusting, we charge you with union busting," the protesters declared.
'All you had to do was follow the damn law, Rockstar!': Workers are protesting outside Take-Two after GTA 6 dev's alleged 'brazen' union-busting
"They can get used to seeing us on their doorstep."
www.pcgamer.com
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Disappointing but not particularly unsurprising from Rockstar. Solidarity to the workers.
Reposted by Brendan
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 7, 2025 at 1:33 AM
"World's first potential trillionaire has killed 600,000 people, including 400,000 children" is the only headline that anyone should ever read about Elon Musk
I just realised, this is why they all behave like petulant man-babies anytime they're confronted on their failures. It's pure Ivan Yates, the best defence is a good offence but in the manner of an entitled jackass. The man has destroyed political discourse in the country.
Matt Cooper appeared to be taken aback on his Today FM show yesterday evening when Fianna Fáil TD Niall Collins revealed that he too received media training from Ivan Yates.
Cooper asked the question after Collins made a rather punchy remark on The Last Word.
jrnl.ie/6864881
Cooper asked the question after Collins made a rather punchy remark on The Last Word.
jrnl.ie/6864881
Matt Cooper learns on-air that TD Niall Collins also received media training from Ivan Yates
Cooper asked if Collins was coached by Yates after a rather punchy line he delivered live on-air.
jrnl.ie
November 5, 2025 at 8:43 AM
I just realised, this is why they all behave like petulant man-babies anytime they're confronted on their failures. It's pure Ivan Yates, the best defence is a good offence but in the manner of an entitled jackass. The man has destroyed political discourse in the country.
In the local elections government parties hammered SF on immigration because they thought (correctly) that Sf voters would be turned off by xenophobia. What does going this hard against immigration say for what they think of their own voters?
An 'open and honest debate about migration policy' must be allowed, including a discussion around the 'push and pull factors'', said Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers jrnl.ie/6864311
Harris defends migration comments as opposition parties criticise 'lack of leadership' on issue
Tánaiste says he ‘absolutely’ stands by his comments.
jrnl.ie
November 4, 2025 at 4:56 PM
In the local elections government parties hammered SF on immigration because they thought (correctly) that Sf voters would be turned off by xenophobia. What does going this hard against immigration say for what they think of their own voters?
Reposted by Brendan
What I notice with the maddest cheerleaders for Ireland taking its place among the heavily armed countries of the world is that they never mention being able to stop stuff like this.
November 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
What I notice with the maddest cheerleaders for Ireland taking its place among the heavily armed countries of the world is that they never mention being able to stop stuff like this.
So criticism of EU environmental policy is sensible politics, but criticism of the growing hold of the military-industrial complex on EU leadership is anti-EU treason? www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
Micheál Martin says house building in Ireland is hampered by 'gold-plating' of EU rules
Taoiseach says 'going beyond what is required' is slowing down delivery of housing and other big projects in Ireland
www.irishexaminer.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:02 AM
So criticism of EU environmental policy is sensible politics, but criticism of the growing hold of the military-industrial complex on EU leadership is anti-EU treason? www.irishexaminer.com/news/politic...
Reposted by Brendan
Only the Greens can stop Reform. Vote Labour, get Farage. Etc.
Westminster Voting Intention:
RFM: 32% (=)
GRN: 17% (+2)
CON: 16% (-1)
LAB: 16% (=)
LDM: 12% (=)
SNP: 2% (=)
Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 29 Oct.
Changes w/ 22 Oct.
RFM: 32% (=)
GRN: 17% (+2)
CON: 16% (-1)
LAB: 16% (=)
LDM: 12% (=)
SNP: 2% (=)
Via @findoutnow.bsky.social, 29 Oct.
Changes w/ 22 Oct.
October 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Only the Greens can stop Reform. Vote Labour, get Farage. Etc.
Reposted by Brendan
Connolly’s landslide buries political myths about Ireland’s presidential process - how the establishment's attempts to explain #Aras25 are fatally flawed from the outset, and who really matters in the aftermath.
philipoconnor.com/connollys-la...
philipoconnor.com/connollys-la...
October 26, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Connolly’s landslide buries political myths about Ireland’s presidential process - how the establishment's attempts to explain #Aras25 are fatally flawed from the outset, and who really matters in the aftermath.
philipoconnor.com/connollys-la...
philipoconnor.com/connollys-la...
It's amazing they still have so much energy after a long day of calling Norma Foley and Hildegarde Naughton's offices to complain about failures in protecting children...
Tensions rising yet again tonight in Citywest as the baying mob continue for a second night. Any 'parent' bringing their children to this is an absolute disgrace.
October 22, 2025 at 8:11 PM
It's amazing they still have so much energy after a long day of calling Norma Foley and Hildegarde Naughton's offices to complain about failures in protecting children...