The Week on Twitter | Leo Varadkar, Bernie Sanders, & Fyre Festival
This week, the Citizens’ Assembly confirmed their recommendation on Ireland’s abortion laws, Leo Varadkar received some backlash for his ‘social welfare cheat’ campaign, and tickets for a Bernie Sanders talk sold out in 5 minutes. Ja Rule’s Fyre Festival also turned out to be a bit Lord of the Flies-y, to the delight of many.
#CitizensAssembly vote overwhelmingly in favour of liberalising Ireland’s abortion laws #repealthe8th
On Sunday afternoon, members of the Citizens’ Assembly voted to allow abortions to be had without any restricts before 12 weeks gestation. 64% of people at the assembly voted in favour of making abortion legal in the early stages of pregnancy, with a further recommendation being held that terminations should be allowed up to 22 weeks due to socio-economic circumstances.
The assembly had voted the previous day against keeping the 8th in the constitution.
Following the result, people took to Twitter to express their gratitude and relief that the citizens had voted in favour of safe and legal abortion, of protecting women, and for human rights. Amnesty International director Colm O’Gorman called the result a ““truly momentous leap for the human rights of women and girls in Ireland,” and said that it would be “unthinkable” for the government not to follow though on the recommendations.
Enda Kenny said yesterday that a special Oireachtas committee would be set up within the next two weeks.
Me in 2016:
"Ffs a citizen's assembly? Just wasting time"Me today:
"What a beautiful and spectacular group of people"— Amy Boo-ise (@Amylouioc) April 23, 2017
Fundamiddlest Ireland must be feeling mighty sore. Pro Choice is the majority view, the measured view on this island.
— Glenn Fitzpatrick (@glennthefitz) April 23, 2017
To paraphrase teenage lit, it's like Ireland is falling out of love with the church very slowly, and then all at once.
— Ellen Coyne (@ellenmcoyne) April 23, 2017
JUSTICE HAS A NAME
AND HER NAME IS
LAFFOY pic.twitter.com/95EwPrfFd2— ? amy o'connor ? (@amyohconnor) April 23, 2017
@rtenews When Marriage Equality passed by 62% it was called a Resounding result.
64% is considered a mixed result?
What?
— Caoimhín (KeyVeen) (@yascaoimhin) April 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/TochmarcEimear/status/856283781178822656
Dear, @SimonHarrisTD, the health minister who repeals the 8th will get a paragraph or two about them in school history books.
— Alan but in a romper (@alan_maguire) April 24, 2017
.@SimonHarrisTD Also, I promise to stop insinuating that you're a vampire if you follow the recommendations of the Citizen's Assembly
— Alan but in a romper (@alan_maguire) April 24, 2017
#LeoVaradkar launches social welfare cheat campaign, massively exaggerates some numbers
Late last week, Minister for social protection Leo Varadkar launched his social welfare cheat campaign, urging people to report other people who may be getting more welfare benefits than they’re entitled to. According to Varadkar, the state had saved about €500m already through anti-fraud schemes.
This week, Varadkar was accused exaggerating that number, a lot. Sinn Fein’s Eoin O’Broin stated that the actual number of millions saved due to anti-fraud measures was closer to €41m. “These numbers are a joke and a blatant attempt to gain exposure ahead of a leadership race rather than a genuine attempt to tackle fraud,” he said.
Varadkar’s campaign also generated a lot of scrutiny on social media this week, as users took to Twitter to criticise the government’s focus on citizens claiming benefits, instead of all those other people that owe considerable amounts of money to the state, like corrupt bankers, politicians, and the Sisters of Charity.
Someone also used Varadkar’s campaign to complain about the rising price of Freddo bars. It was good.
https://twitter.com/FrankieGaffney/status/857013724074446849
Earlier I called the @campaignforleo welfare cheats line on 01-6734545 & reported redacted's #Actavo, IMN & Esat welfare cheating.
— dublinmacker (@dublinmacker) April 24, 2017
Starbucks paid 2400 corp tax in 2014, but Varadkar puts bogus ads on buses warning of welfare 'cheats' to win a leadership election. https://t.co/m9QRrABpvr
— Conor O'Neill (@conoraon) April 27, 2017
Just heard @campaignforleo's patronising and stupid radio ad giving a hotline to shop welfare cheats. How much is this nonsense costing?
— Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) April 25, 2017
— Jiffy / ?? (@jiffington) April 26, 2017
#BernieSanders talk sells out in minutes #FeelTheBern
On Friday at 9am, tickets for a Bernie Sanders talk in the Bord Gais theatre went on sale. On Friday at 9.05am, tickets for the Bernie Sanders talk in the Bord Gais theatre had sold out. Lots of people were annoyed that the tickets sold out so quickly, because people like Bernie and enjoy listening to him speak and were maybe hopefully a bird would land in and sit near Bernie and make everyone happy again for just a moment or something, idk.
Sanders is giving his talk on June 4th as part of the Dalkey book festival. Tickets were only 15 quid and included a free copy of Bernie’s book which was sound enough like.
If you, like most people, didn’t manage to grab a ticket to see Bernie you can probably still get one on Seatwave for like €400.
Tried to get tickets to the Bernie Sanders talk this morning.
Tickets not on sale *Refresh* Tickets not on sale *Refresh* SOLD OUT. Sake!— Will Dunne (@TheWillDunne) April 28, 2017
The past two year's I've not been able to book tickets to anything that I've wanted to see. I failed to get Bernie Sanders tickets! Gutted.
— Melanie May (@_melaniemay) April 28, 2017
Somehow Bernie Sanders tickets were "unavailable" at 9.00am on Ticketmaster, yet @cian_roche got his hands on two. #dalkeybookfest pic.twitter.com/8UUhSbYoy0
— Daniel Kelly (@IsMiseDaniel) April 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/rubot/status/857885102612860929
#FyreFestival leaves attendees stranded, fighting for food, and eating slices of cheese from styrofoam boxes
Last year, Ja Rule started announcing details of Fyre Festival – his ““cultural moment created from a blend of music, art and food.” It was basically a music festival in the Bahamas except it cost about 4 grand minimum to attend and tickets sold out before any acts were even announced, somehow.
This week, Fyre Festival got off to a bad start. Or, it didn’t really start at all, as attendees were left on planes for hours, ‘luxury accommodation’ turned out to be a dodgy tent, belongings and passports were stolen, Blink 182 cancelled their performance, people were turned away due to overcrowding, slices of cheese were served in styrofoam boxes, and people took to Twitter to ask the US embassy to please come save them.
But hey, at least there was a ball pit.
As compensation for any ill will caused by #fyrefestival
Official Staff has announced all attendees will get an extra hour in the ballpit. pic.twitter.com/Us58auYPSB— Mom (@truongasm) April 28, 2017
The #fyrefestival Reddit reading like a real time Lord of the Flies. Jesus. pic.twitter.com/I9spntSKBg
— Jensen Karp (@JensenClan88) April 28, 2017
Just learned about #fyrefestival aka Ja Rule's Concentration Camp for instragram models and rich white kids
— Edi (@EdiAQC) April 28, 2017
With No Dressing #FyreFestival pic.twitter.com/ASX6NPslhA
— Kate Cunningham (@KateLCunningham) April 28, 2017
https://twitter.com/alliharvard/status/857774212307668993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailyedge.ie%2Ffyre-festival-3363154-Apr2017%2F
just saw Ja Rule eating melting ice cream in the cafeteria r n with Laura Dern? he looked sad #FyreFestival
— ANTHONY OLIVEIRA (@meakoopa) April 28, 2017