Gavin Elliott
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sgelliott.net
Gavin Elliott
@sgelliott.net
Non-practising barrister based in Dublin, Ireland. Environmental, Housing and Climate Justice.

Born 335.42 ppm. He/Him.
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
Hi folks. I just published the first post on my new blog. It's about bike helmets and whether they should be compulsory (they should not - read to find out why!).

Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter!

blog.karlstanley.ie/should-bike-...
Should bike helmets be mandatory?
I was on TV a couple of weeks ago talking about Judge O'Donohoe's ill-advised comments on cyclists, where he described an entire class of ordinary people as a "nightmare". In the clip I can be seen ri...
blog.karlstanley.ie
February 12, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Israeli court blocks life-saving cancer care for boy, 5, due to his Gaza address
www.theguardian.com/world/2026/f...
Israeli court blocks life-saving cancer care for boy, 5, due to his Gaza address
Palestinian boy has been in the West Bank since 2022 but is still registered as a resident in the strip where ban applies
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 6:19 PM
There has been limited recent campaigning for a constitutional right to housing, but even so almost 7 in 10 people are in favour.

There is a clear appetite for the sort fundamental changes that an amendment would represent.

Tinkering around the edges has failes catastrophically.
New polling on Ireland's housing crisis:

- 81% want the government to build more social housing "even if there are local objections"

- 64% disagree government is making progress on housing

- 67% would vote for a constitutional right to housing

- 29% are personally affected by the housing crisis
Appetite for radical change grows as voters’ patience wears thin over housing crisis
Half of all voters say country’s problems are getting worse instead of better
www.irishtimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 11:50 AM
I've known Dan for a few years. His integrity and commitment to the constituency has deeply impressed me. Dublin Central couldn’t ask for a better candidate at the upcoming by election.
“We need leaders with values that won’t be compromised by public opinion or personal greed.

People who want to make real change, not to be in politics just to be a politician, but genuinely be there for the people”.

Help us get Cllr Daniel Ennis into the Dáil for Dublin Central this Spring.
February 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM
They almost certainly aren't unconstitutional, but let's put that beyond doubt by introducing a right to housing into the constitution.

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/hous...
Big builders say rental reforms are unconstitutional and warn Minister of legal action
Five of the country’s biggest developers seek urgent engagement on legislation in advance of March 1st introduction
www.irishtimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Bruce Springsteen, as ever on the side of the angels.

The Streets of Minneapolis

youtu.be/wWKSoxG1K7w?...
Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)
YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
Just waiting for #RTE #drivetime to segue from breathless vox pops with those affected by flooding to informed discussion of why these more extreme precipitation events seem to be getting more common...
January 27, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
January 27, 2026 at 11:45 AM
Thought provoking piece on the causes of our stumbling infrastructure by @ciarannevin.bsky.social in today's Sunday Times.
January 25, 2026 at 3:02 PM
It's long past time that the life support of taxpayer money was cut off and this 'industry' was allowed to fade away.

The Technological University of the Shannon should be ashamed of itself.

www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster...
Third-level course sponsored by Greyhound Racing Ireland branded as 'cynical'
Animal welfare campaigners accuse Greyhound Racing Ireland of deflecting scrutiny as TUS launches new accredited industry courses
www.irishexaminer.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
I doubt FIFA has any shame, but if European Countries refused to play their World Cup games in the US, it would certainly give them something to think about.
January 18, 2026 at 3:13 PM
May she rest in peace.

www.irishtimes.com/ireland/soci...
Woman living in tent found dead on Dublin’s Pearse Street
Charity describes deceased as ‘being as happy as she could’
www.irishtimes.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:45 PM
For context that's almost one and a fifth bike sheds wasted and nothing to show for it.
Didn't see this reported last week: SIPO has confirmed that Fianna Fáil's bill for the abortive presidential campaign of Jim Gavin is the hefty sum of €392,962.42.

That's the equivalent of €3.79 for each vote won by Gavin in October's election.
January 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
The Government is seeking to dramatically erode public right of access to justice via courts by imposing prohibitively expensive costs on those challenging unlawful planning or policy.

Please consider making a submission before 15 January.

Explainer, links & help:
www.antaisce.org/news/all-han...
All Hands on Deck Needed to Respond to the Latest Attack on Access to Justice
The Government is seeking to dramatically erode the public right of access to justice via the courts by imposing prohibitively expensive costs on eNGOs and members of civil society who seek to challen...
www.antaisce.org
January 9, 2026 at 5:16 PM
The simpering attempts by the Irish government to deflect blame from X now contrast poorly with, and seems to be at odds with, the official position of the European Commission.
"We are very well aware of the fact that X for Grok is now offering a spicy mode showing explicit sexual content.

This is not spicy. This is illegal. This is appalling. This is disgusting.

I can confirm we are very seriously looking into this matter."

— Spokesperson @thomasregnier.ec.europa.eu
January 9, 2026 at 2:29 PM
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
This headline should read:

"World's richest man decides to start charging for his CSAM factory"

He did NOT turn it off, he realised it is profitable
Now only paying subscribers can make violent non-consenual sexual imagery of women and children -
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI imagery
X to limit editing function to paying subscribers after platform threatened with fines and regulatory action
www.theguardian.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:02 AM
Partick O’Donovan is one of the least impressive ministers in a long time. The word lightweight could have been coined for him.
www.thejournal.ie/media-minist...
Media Minister has deleted his X account over its digital undressing scandal
X’s European headquarters is based in Dublin, but the platform has not been forthright on engaging with the Irish Government in relation to child safety.
www.thejournal.ie
January 9, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
What have we become?

bsky.app/profile/elio...
Just seen Grok putting the body of the victim of the ICE shooting in Minneapolis into a bikini. Digital corpse desecration now available to the public.
January 8, 2026 at 1:32 PM
There is no limit to the craven obsequiousness when it comes to the US tech firms.

www.thejournal.ie/patrick-odon...
X not responsible for child sexual abuse images, individual users are - Media Minister
The minister argued that technology is moving too fast for laws to keep pace.
www.thejournal.ie
January 8, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Reposted by Gavin Elliott
I know of a REALLY good way of reducing the number of cases taken against the Minister for Justice. It's called (and bear with me, here): "Making Better Decisions." It's crazy, but it just might work.
Talk about putting your thumb on the scales. "I have decided that I will make Regulations, the record purpose of which is to reduce the number of cases taken against me. No, not by making fewer mistakes, you idiot. By making suing me illegal."
January 6, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Happy New Year everyone.

youtu.be/H7fBFtif9H4?...
the Mountain Goats - This Year (Official Video)
YouTube video by the Mountain Goats
youtu.be
January 1, 2026 at 12:05 AM
The hallowed New Years tradition of receiving a congratulations email from every hotel, restaurant, bar, train station and cafe you have ever used free WiFi in.
December 31, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Deeply impressed with Zack Polanski. A little glimmer of hope in the distance.
Let's choose kindness in 2026.

youtu.be/lopMMkz0law
December 25, 2025 at 7:26 PM