Rob
@robosullivan.bsky.social
Science Communicator. Lefty. Irish.
Hobbies: Wild food, gardening, playing music. Star Trek nerd.
I won't follow back if you're not using alt text on images.
I can't share every fundraiser I'm tagged in but I'll do my best to share what I can
Hobbies: Wild food, gardening, playing music. Star Trek nerd.
I won't follow back if you're not using alt text on images.
I can't share every fundraiser I'm tagged in but I'll do my best to share what I can
Pinned
Rob
@robosullivan.bsky.social
· Dec 2
Bluesky buds outside of Ireland. I realise I'm posting more frequently about Irish politics to the point of potential annoyance. If you want to see less of it I'd recommend muting the terms FFG and #FFG as a start. That'll cover like 90% of my rants. Apologies but we've got some work to do here.
Reposted by Rob
We Didn’t Start the Fire (But it’s all the ways the EU has ruined environmental protection in the last three years) with @greenpeace.eu #ad
February 10, 2026 at 3:05 PM
We Didn’t Start the Fire (But it’s all the ways the EU has ruined environmental protection in the last three years) with @greenpeace.eu #ad
Reposted by Rob
Are the mortgages on the properties rising at a level commensurate with the increase in rents? If not there's no justification for the increase.
They are profiteering on an emergency. When people tried to do the same with hand sanitizer during the pandemic we quite rightly clamped down on it.
They are profiteering on an emergency. When people tried to do the same with hand sanitizer during the pandemic we quite rightly clamped down on it.
February 10, 2026 at 11:49 PM
Are the mortgages on the properties rising at a level commensurate with the increase in rents? If not there's no justification for the increase.
They are profiteering on an emergency. When people tried to do the same with hand sanitizer during the pandemic we quite rightly clamped down on it.
They are profiteering on an emergency. When people tried to do the same with hand sanitizer during the pandemic we quite rightly clamped down on it.
I'm proposing that. 100%.
Landlords are providing a critical service on behalf of the state. It is not an ordinary commodity and shouldn't be treated as such. If the landlord isn't losing money on the property then a capping rental income to protect service users is entirely appropriate.
Landlords are providing a critical service on behalf of the state. It is not an ordinary commodity and shouldn't be treated as such. If the landlord isn't losing money on the property then a capping rental income to protect service users is entirely appropriate.
🗣️ “Are you proposing that landlords never be allowed to increase their rents?” — Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe
🗣️ “Not while you continue to fail to meet your housing targets,” — Labour TD Duncan Smith
#TonightVMTV #HousingCrisis #NewRentRules
🗣️ “Not while you continue to fail to meet your housing targets,” — Labour TD Duncan Smith
#TonightVMTV #HousingCrisis #NewRentRules
February 10, 2026 at 11:44 PM
I'm proposing that. 100%.
Landlords are providing a critical service on behalf of the state. It is not an ordinary commodity and shouldn't be treated as such. If the landlord isn't losing money on the property then a capping rental income to protect service users is entirely appropriate.
Landlords are providing a critical service on behalf of the state. It is not an ordinary commodity and shouldn't be treated as such. If the landlord isn't losing money on the property then a capping rental income to protect service users is entirely appropriate.
Reposted by Rob
🗣️ “There is no confidence, there is no surety for renters as to when prices will come down, and for how long they may be at an elevated level,” journalist Aisling Moloney
#TonightVMTV #HousingCrisis
#TonightVMTV #HousingCrisis
February 10, 2026 at 10:47 PM
🗣️ “There is no confidence, there is no surety for renters as to when prices will come down, and for how long they may be at an elevated level,” journalist Aisling Moloney
#TonightVMTV #HousingCrisis
#TonightVMTV #HousingCrisis
Reposted by Rob
🗣️ “Surely nobody should be in a condition described like that?” — guest presenter @newschambers.bsky.social
🗣️ “They shouldn’t,” — Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe
🗣️ “Sorry, that’s actually a description of the Knockalisheen Centre,” — @newschambers.bsky.social
#TonightVMTV #SeamusCulleton #ICE
🗣️ “They shouldn’t,” — Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe
🗣️ “Sorry, that’s actually a description of the Knockalisheen Centre,” — @newschambers.bsky.social
#TonightVMTV #SeamusCulleton #ICE
February 10, 2026 at 10:38 PM
🗣️ “Surely nobody should be in a condition described like that?” — guest presenter @newschambers.bsky.social
🗣️ “They shouldn’t,” — Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe
🗣️ “Sorry, that’s actually a description of the Knockalisheen Centre,” — @newschambers.bsky.social
#TonightVMTV #SeamusCulleton #ICE
🗣️ “They shouldn’t,” — Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe
🗣️ “Sorry, that’s actually a description of the Knockalisheen Centre,” — @newschambers.bsky.social
#TonightVMTV #SeamusCulleton #ICE
Reposted by Rob
my mega hot take is that Irish people who profiteer from landlordism, especially those doing it in our current housing crisis, are historically illiterate, irredeemable, soulless, sociopathic weirdos
February 10, 2026 at 10:33 PM
my mega hot take is that Irish people who profiteer from landlordism, especially those doing it in our current housing crisis, are historically illiterate, irredeemable, soulless, sociopathic weirdos
Had a sick day today. Luna was annoyed that I stole her armchair so I had go prop her head up while she slept on Katie's shoulders instead.
February 10, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Had a sick day today. Luna was annoyed that I stole her armchair so I had go prop her head up while she slept on Katie's shoulders instead.
Reposted by Rob
Seems to be the same story everywhere. We need locals to live here to provide the workforce but no one seems to be joining the dots to keep them here.
February 10, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Seems to be the same story everywhere. We need locals to live here to provide the workforce but no one seems to be joining the dots to keep them here.
Reposted by Rob
The lifetime work I'm most proud of. A decade went into those stories/columns, involving FOIs, tip-offs & concerned, informed individuals/groups helping me better understand the issues. The day the ECJ overturned the EU Data Retention Directive in the DRI judgement was the greatest of my career
Half a billion people— the whole of the EU’s citizenry— owe their right not to be casually surveilled en masse by their governments to Karlin’s reporting on Data Retention.
We literally cited it to the court in the DRI data retention case.
We literally cited it to the court in the DRI data retention case.
The end of an era and certainly, surely, the single most insightful run on a rapidly changing field.
Karlin Lillington’s last column in today’s Irish Times.
Karlin Lillington’s last column in today’s Irish Times.
December 5, 2024 at 2:58 PM
The lifetime work I'm most proud of. A decade went into those stories/columns, involving FOIs, tip-offs & concerned, informed individuals/groups helping me better understand the issues. The day the ECJ overturned the EU Data Retention Directive in the DRI judgement was the greatest of my career
Honestly, I think this is what it's going to take. It won't be TV debates that change voting patterns, but kitchen table conversations might do it. Let your loved ones know that the way they're voting is hurting you.
Tell your granny and granda to stop voting for FFFG #SpeirGorm
Irish Examiner: Government climbdown on proposals to regulate short-term lets
February 10, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Honestly, I think this is what it's going to take. It won't be TV debates that change voting patterns, but kitchen table conversations might do it. Let your loved ones know that the way they're voting is hurting you.
Am I the only person that hates every UFO/aliens episode of the X Files but loves the monster of the week episodes?
Feels like Star Trek's success being determined exclusively by the episodes where they get stuck in the holodeck.
Feels like Star Trek's success being determined exclusively by the episodes where they get stuck in the holodeck.
February 10, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Am I the only person that hates every UFO/aliens episode of the X Files but loves the monster of the week episodes?
Feels like Star Trek's success being determined exclusively by the episodes where they get stuck in the holodeck.
Feels like Star Trek's success being determined exclusively by the episodes where they get stuck in the holodeck.
Reposted by Rob
I was just about to mention Kilkee. Businesses are crying out for staff but there's no accommodation for them and locals can't get long term accommodation. Meanwhile, as you pointed out, we're looking at houses lying empty all winter.
February 10, 2026 at 9:54 PM
I was just about to mention Kilkee. Businesses are crying out for staff but there's no accommodation for them and locals can't get long term accommodation. Meanwhile, as you pointed out, we're looking at houses lying empty all winter.
Reposted by Rob
they pissed off the WeRateDogs guy enough from him to break character to directly tell them off, that's genuinely impressive levels of being an asshole
February 10, 2026 at 8:22 PM
they pissed off the WeRateDogs guy enough from him to break character to directly tell them off, that's genuinely impressive levels of being an asshole
Reposted by Rob
The point of a pilot scheme is you test a policy with a small (say, 2,000 people) project as test, to evaluate whether the concept is worth widespread adoption.
Basic Income for Artists was a demonstrable success.
Doubling the size of your pilot scheme, is *not* widespread adoption.
Basic Income for Artists was a demonstrable success.
Doubling the size of your pilot scheme, is *not* widespread adoption.
Details of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme for later this year announced.
It will be available to 2000 new applicants with the existing 2000 elligible artists able to apply also.
nialler9.com/details-of-t...
It will be available to 2000 new applicants with the existing 2000 elligible artists able to apply also.
nialler9.com/details-of-t...
Details of the Basic Income for the Arts scheme 2026 announced | Nialler9
“The introduction of Basic Income for the Arts underscores the premise that Government investment in the arts yields myriad positive benefits to
nialler9.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:13 PM
The point of a pilot scheme is you test a policy with a small (say, 2,000 people) project as test, to evaluate whether the concept is worth widespread adoption.
Basic Income for Artists was a demonstrable success.
Doubling the size of your pilot scheme, is *not* widespread adoption.
Basic Income for Artists was a demonstrable success.
Doubling the size of your pilot scheme, is *not* widespread adoption.
Reposted by Rob
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/st... @uplift.ie
Stop a Canadian corporation harvesting huge forests of seaweed from the west coast
There should be a public consultation on this plan opening soon but lets gather signatures to demonstrate the fact that up and down the west coast, thousands of people don't want our seaweed rights gi...
my.uplift.ie
February 10, 2026 at 9:29 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/st... @uplift.ie
Reposted by Rob
About 20,000 entire family homes around the country are listed as short-term lets.
We badly need to mainstream the idea that Airbnb-ing a property is disgusting speculation that denies a home to a potential renter or buyer.
We badly need to mainstream the idea that Airbnb-ing a property is disgusting speculation that denies a home to a potential renter or buyer.
Government has rowed back on plans that would ensure short-term let planning permissions would be required in towns with populations over 10,000. jrnl.ie/6952490
Government rows back on short-term let regulations for towns with populations over 10,000
The government has decided the restrictions will only apply to towns with a population of over 20,000.
jrnl.ie
February 10, 2026 at 9:18 PM
About 20,000 entire family homes around the country are listed as short-term lets.
We badly need to mainstream the idea that Airbnb-ing a property is disgusting speculation that denies a home to a potential renter or buyer.
We badly need to mainstream the idea that Airbnb-ing a property is disgusting speculation that denies a home to a potential renter or buyer.
Reposted by Rob
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/st... @uplift.ie
Stop a Canadian corporation harvesting huge forests of seaweed from the west coast
There should be a public consultation on this plan opening soon but lets gather signatures to demonstrate the fact that up and down the west coast, thousands of people don't want our seaweed rights gi...
my.uplift.ie
February 10, 2026 at 9:10 PM
This cause is close to my heart - please sign: my.uplift.ie/petitions/st... @uplift.ie
Reposted by Rob
Tonight Show at 10pm.
ICE detentions of Irish citizens: what’s the Government going to do about it?
The Residential Tenancies Bill and the Short Term Let U-Turn.
Keir Starmer on the ropes.
Let’s go!
ICE detentions of Irish citizens: what’s the Government going to do about it?
The Residential Tenancies Bill and the Short Term Let U-Turn.
Keir Starmer on the ropes.
Let’s go!
February 10, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Tonight Show at 10pm.
ICE detentions of Irish citizens: what’s the Government going to do about it?
The Residential Tenancies Bill and the Short Term Let U-Turn.
Keir Starmer on the ropes.
Let’s go!
ICE detentions of Irish citizens: what’s the Government going to do about it?
The Residential Tenancies Bill and the Short Term Let U-Turn.
Keir Starmer on the ropes.
Let’s go!
Reposted by Rob
They're definitely the reason I'm renting a tiny room in a flat with no hot water.
I firmly believe that short-term lets, more than any other government failure, are the reason I don't own a home yet #spéirgorm
“The likes of the Healy-Raes might be very happy tonight about this, but this is going to be an absolute disaster for anyone hoping to find somewhere to rent, or indeed find somewhere to buy,”
www.thejournal.ie/short-term-l...
www.thejournal.ie/short-term-l...
February 10, 2026 at 8:36 PM
They're definitely the reason I'm renting a tiny room in a flat with no hot water.
Reposted by Rob
Same.
It was bad when I lived near Dublin, but infinitely worse since we moved to the northwest.
It was bad when I lived near Dublin, but infinitely worse since we moved to the northwest.
February 10, 2026 at 7:43 PM
Same.
It was bad when I lived near Dublin, but infinitely worse since we moved to the northwest.
It was bad when I lived near Dublin, but infinitely worse since we moved to the northwest.
I firmly believe that short-term lets, more than any other government failure, are the reason I don't own a home yet #spéirgorm
“The likes of the Healy-Raes might be very happy tonight about this, but this is going to be an absolute disaster for anyone hoping to find somewhere to rent, or indeed find somewhere to buy,”
www.thejournal.ie/short-term-l...
www.thejournal.ie/short-term-l...
Government rows back on short-term let regulations for towns with populations over 10,000
The government has decided the restrictions will only apply to towns with a population of over 20,000.
www.thejournal.ie
February 10, 2026 at 7:35 PM
I firmly believe that short-term lets, more than any other government failure, are the reason I don't own a home yet #spéirgorm
Every time I take towels out of the dryer I think " I guess the dryer wanted it more".
February 10, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Every time I take towels out of the dryer I think " I guess the dryer wanted it more".
Reposted by Rob
Reposted by Rob
Fine Gael just confirmed in Dublin City Council last night that they don’t accept that housing is a human right, so this tracks.
This confirmed by the Taoiseach in the Dáil just now – a significant backtrack by the Government in the midst of an acute housing shortage, now allowing more properties to stay in use for short-term lettings without needing to register/amend their property designation as 'commercial'
Irish Examiner: Government climbdown on proposals to regulate short-term lets
February 10, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Fine Gael just confirmed in Dublin City Council last night that they don’t accept that housing is a human right, so this tracks.
