March 15, 2018
By Dwight Adams
Last year, (click here) the Irish prime minister was welcomed by the U.S. president and vice president with open arms — and with open coverage by reporters — ahead of the annual St. Patrick's Day festivities.
But this year, Vice President Mike Pence's breakfast with new Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will be closed to the media — at the request of the vice president. In a departure from the recent past, reporters were told Friday's event to be attended by Pence and Varadkar will be private and the media won't be invited....
Of course, one never knows what will happen next in the Trump administration. It isn't like Trump restrains from his own personal business. I have to wonder what leverage Trump used to receive such a strong and swift reaction from the Prime Minister.
I don't know what Prime Minister Varadkar calls it in Ireland, but, in the USA when a President of the United States of America asks for a personal favor other than perhaps looking for a handkerchief, it is called corruption.
This level of corruption seems to span the entire Trump presidency. I don't think this administration can carry any event out with official fervor and honesty. Closed door meetings after the Prime Minister already shared the same space with Pence at a luncheon (I am assuming he was at the luncheon) and now Trump is demanding favors from the Prime Minister for his own business dealings. There is plenty of ground for ethical sanctions and impeachment, whichever the Ryan-McConnell Congress feels is not too taxing for them.
How much was in the envelope you tucked in your pocket, Leo?
Another pause in the handshake. This is getting to be iconic with Trump. No one wants to shake the man's hand. Maybe his hands are too small.
Where are the Shamrocks? We always get to see the Shamrocks every year. Trump doesn't like being upstaged by a plant?
March 15, 2018By Phillip Ryan
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes Ireland's Prime Minister (Taoiseach) Leo Varadkar in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2018. Reuters: Kevin Lamarque
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (click here) is under increasing pressure to explain the details of a call he made on behalf of Donald Trump to a local authority over a proposal to build a wind farm near the businessman's golf course in Doonbeg, Co Clare.
Speaking on Capitol Hill in Washington, Mr Varadkar recounted how Mr Trump personally called his office four years ago to ask for his assistance....
...He said there was “no doubt” the Taoiseach “exercised undue influence and undermined due process with his intervention”.
“It is a shocking error of judgment. Clare County Council now need to outline who the Minister contacted and whether there is a record of what was said,” he said....
...In a statement, Michael Clohessy, director of Clare Coastal Wind Power ltd - who submitted the proposal for the plan - said the company are "disappointed" at the statement made by the Taoiseach today.
"We are disappointed at the admission by a Taoiseach that he interfered in the planning process regarding the planning application for our proposed wind farm in west Clare," he said.
"We at all times acted with integrity and in good faith but it now appears that we were not on a level playing field. We will be reviewing this situation over the coming days"
A spokesman for the Taoiseach has sought to play down Mr Varadkar's intervention on behalf of President Trump....
The North Carolina Oyster had the same problem. Duke University conducted a survey of different types of oysters that could be used in the waterways of the state to return a viable livelihood for fisherman of oysters in the state. Duke found the only oyster that did well in the North Carolina waters without problems of disease, was the native oyster. Silt was the issue. The waterways weren't maintained and the silt was causing a severe drop in oyster populations.
...The Doonbeg River catchment (click here) already has many pressures, such as agricultural and forestry activities. The river is also subject to dredging and other impacts such as illegal bridge construction and fisheries “development” works. It is certainly feasible that a wind energy development in this catchment, and with associated mitigation, could actually improve conditions for Freshwater Pearl Mussels. Often you will find that particular wind farm sites are already a source of silt into a Freshwater Pearl Mussel catchment, and that the implementation of erosion and sediment control measures on the site could potentially contribute to the rehabilitation of a catchment for this species. Lands acquired or leased by wind farm developers present opportunities to implement measures to improve water quality in downstream areas....
In the case of the North Carolina oyster, Duke scientists recommended elevated oyster beds to allow for a healthy water environment for the NC oyster. As a consequence citizen began to hang oyster cages under their docks to increase the populations. And it works. As a matter of fact it worked so well in North Carolina other states, including Maryland, now use the technique. (click here)
I am not familiar with the Doonbeg River, but, I do know the UK has a first rate marine science division that monitors all sorts of marine wildlife including seals. I am fairly confident they would never turn away from collaborating with Irish scientists to improve the waterways and marine life, freshwater or otherwise. That is the kind of advice I would expect from the USA President to assist Ireland to clean up it's waterways and improve it's energy status at the same time.
The Trump Organization seems to ignore the vital role it can play in Ireland proving ecosystem vigilance with such projects. Golf courses use grass and sedges and all sorts of native plants to enhance the course. That is all good conservation. The woodlands affiliated with a golf course can also provide habitat.
I don't hate golf courses when they are appropriate, but, it hardly seems like a good business practice to leave the very river that is supposed to be so scenic plagued with pollution and endangered species if it all can be improved.
...In a statement, Michael Clohessy, director of Clare Coastal Wind Power ltd - who submitted the proposal for the plan - said the company are "disappointed" at the statement made by the Taoiseach today.
"We are disappointed at the admission by a Taoiseach that he interfered in the planning process regarding the planning application for our proposed wind farm in west Clare," he said.
"We at all times acted with integrity and in good faith but it now appears that we were not on a level playing field. We will be reviewing this situation over the coming days"
A spokesman for the Taoiseach has sought to play down Mr Varadkar's intervention on behalf of President Trump....
The North Carolina Oyster had the same problem. Duke University conducted a survey of different types of oysters that could be used in the waterways of the state to return a viable livelihood for fisherman of oysters in the state. Duke found the only oyster that did well in the North Carolina waters without problems of disease, was the native oyster. Silt was the issue. The waterways weren't maintained and the silt was causing a severe drop in oyster populations.
...The Doonbeg River catchment (click here) already has many pressures, such as agricultural and forestry activities. The river is also subject to dredging and other impacts such as illegal bridge construction and fisheries “development” works. It is certainly feasible that a wind energy development in this catchment, and with associated mitigation, could actually improve conditions for Freshwater Pearl Mussels. Often you will find that particular wind farm sites are already a source of silt into a Freshwater Pearl Mussel catchment, and that the implementation of erosion and sediment control measures on the site could potentially contribute to the rehabilitation of a catchment for this species. Lands acquired or leased by wind farm developers present opportunities to implement measures to improve water quality in downstream areas....
I am not familiar with the Doonbeg River, but, I do know the UK has a first rate marine science division that monitors all sorts of marine wildlife including seals. I am fairly confident they would never turn away from collaborating with Irish scientists to improve the waterways and marine life, freshwater or otherwise. That is the kind of advice I would expect from the USA President to assist Ireland to clean up it's waterways and improve it's energy status at the same time.
The Trump Organization seems to ignore the vital role it can play in Ireland proving ecosystem vigilance with such projects. Golf courses use grass and sedges and all sorts of native plants to enhance the course. That is all good conservation. The woodlands affiliated with a golf course can also provide habitat.
I don't hate golf courses when they are appropriate, but, it hardly seems like a good business practice to leave the very river that is supposed to be so scenic plagued with pollution and endangered species if it all can be improved.
