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HERA, A PROBE launched last year, took images yesterday of Mars and the planet’s most mysterious moon Deimos.
The European Space Agency (ESA) has sent Hera, on a mission to visit the first asteroid to have had its orbit altered by human action. According to the ESA, its flyby of Mars yesterday illustrated its “first use of its payload for scientific purposes beyond Earth and the Moon.” The Hera mission for planetary defence was launched 7 October 2024.
Hera was able to image the red planet’s moon Deimos from as close as 1,000km. The probe surveyed the less-seen side of the tidally locked moon.
Measuring 12.4km across, dust-covered Deimos might actually be a leftover of a giant impact on Mars or else a captured asteroid.
Hera came as close as 5,000km from Mars. The planet’s gravity shifted the spacecraft’s trajectory towards its final destination – asteroids Dimorphos and the larger Didymos asteroid it orbits around.
This gravitational manoeuvre shortened the journey to the asteroid by many months and saved a “substantial” amount of fuel.
By gathering close-up data about the Dimorphos asteroid, which was impacted by NASA’s DART spacecraft in 2022, Hera will help turn asteroid deflection into a well understood and potentially repeatable technique.
The twin asteroid destinations of Hera are many times smaller than the city-sized Deimos moon. Didymos is 780 m across and Dimorphos is just 151 m across.
ESA’s Hera mission scientist Michael Kueppers said, “These instruments have been tried out before, during Hera’s departure from Earth, but this is the first time that we have employed them on a small distant moon for which we still lack knowledge – demonstrating their excellent performance in the process!”
How about TDs that dress like they respect their position. RBB is a clown and would rather grab a headline over a dress code then go to dunnes and buy a tie.
Young people will be alienated? What utter codswallop.
Well said!
It just goes to show you what FG and FF think is important. Is it any wonder that Sean Fitzpatrick will never go to court. What they were is fine, Brian Lenihan, Lowry, Cowen, Ahern, Haughey and Liam Lawlor all wore suits and they did more damage to Ireland than a 10,000 boyd barrets could ever do. No fan of Boyd Barrett by the way but this is absolute crap. The likes of S,ean Barrett pushing this, says all you need to know. All the sheep have to fall in to line, cause that has worked so well before and in traditional FF/FG thinking, if you don’t you can either f888 off out of the country or out of Leinster hse, feck the people that voted for them. Their opinions do not matter, the Dáil is FG/FF’s cash cow not some jumped up micks newcomers. They should be ashamed of themselves.
I’d much rather see a code that impels TD’s to actually show up for debates, irrespective of the clothes they are wearing.
“If you can’t be smart, look smart!” #Dresscode
If the Dail Committee on Procedure & Privileges are serious about respecting the institutions of the state and Dail chamber then maybe they should shut down the state subsidised bar and ban drinking during work hours, TD’s should also be expected to attend Dail on a regular basis – TD’s can claim higher levels of remuneration for travel costs if they clock in for just 100 days by the end of the year (between €120 — €370 per day) otherwise 1% of their travel costs are deducted. (This1% deduction is a joke and insult to Irish taxpayer). I could keep going on, but it seem that the extremely serious issue of how TD’s and failed TD,s ie Senators dress – takes priority over all other problems we face in Ireland.
will there be a special ‘clothes’ allowance?
Very pertinent question Ando. Maybe this is just another devious way to squeeze more money out of us “for the lads” …….
After much serious deliberation & fine Dining the #Dail Committee on Procedure & Privileges have agreed a #dresscode. What a waste of time, i have to agree with Mick Wallace – “All the guys that screwed this country were in suits”.
WhAt a stupid comment. Would you go to. Job interview in a tracksuit based on the logic that people who screwed Ireland wore suits.
“All the guys that screwed this country were in suits” – So you’re suggesting that suit-wearing is to blame for the failure of the banking system worldwide? Personally I think #randomhashtags would be more to #blame than #suits.
They should dress like they actually respect the office, there’s better ways to stick it to the man.
Rusty manhood what a stupid name! If your gonna slag people off at least have the balls you use your real name.
When have FG and FF ever respected the office or the state???????
With the state of the country, I would think they would have better things to be discussing. We should be more interested in what’s coming out of their mouths and their actions rather than how they dress. No wonder We’re in a state when their priorities are dress codes.
Boyd, Ming and Braveheart make a mockery of the Irish institution that it the dail. If they are practicing ironic satire then perhaps I am not high brow enough to recognise it but what it stinks of is disrespect to the state and to their constituents. RBB is my TD and his manner, dress code and obtuse nitpicking over every little thing shames me.
Good to see a cyberwarrior defending the integrity “of the Irish institution that it the dail” by writing it with not one, but two typographical errors.
A capital D is formed by holding down the shift key. A síneadh fada can be made by setting the keyboard to Ireland and holding down the right-alt key, like so: Dáil.
Do you really not think the government should have something more worthwhile to do than update the dress code? Would time spent hounding some eccentric independent TDs not be better spent on say:
Banking regulations?
Human trafficking?
Gay marriage?
Abortion?
Healthcare reform?
Quango oversight?
etc. etc.
If this is the type of non-issue that the government choses to spend its time on is the “mockery” and “disrespect” really so surprising?
The constituents that elected Boyd or any of the others that you name knew full well what they wear before the election and I very much doubt said constituents would give a flying f*ck if he dressed in a suit or if he wore a t shirt. If you dislike the man fair enough but him wearing a suit won’t change that.
Well Rusty, Ming is my TD and I’m proud of the person who represents me! I – and the people of Roscommon South Leitrim who elected him top of the poll – don’t give a damn what he wears. Clothes don’t make the man. Don’t be so silly!
Employers set dress code. Electorate choose (employ) TD’s. In most cases the image and personalities. Not like the are going for a job interview…
I think it’s only right, how do you think it looks when the worlds media see’s clowns looking like Wallace and Barrett. I’m not a traditionalist but if were to be taken seriously abroad we should start by looking like we take things serious.
So you don’t take anyone serious who doesn’t wear a suit and tie? Does the wearing of these garments suddenly earn you respect?
So we have a Taoiseach who never worked a day in his life, our last Taoiseach wouldn’t have been out of place on pathway with a flagon of strongbow, our previous one well what can be said about him, do doubt many of the people complaining here, thought Bertie was a great man, no doubt many of the TD’s that are pushing for this, are just like him. Our last Minister for Finance was clueless, voted the worst finance minister in Europe 2 years running, called the Minister for Fairies and Unicorns on Wall St. because no one could believe a word out of his mouth, never mind his actions which would demand a criminal investigation in their own right. The last FG Govt. fraudulently assigned a Telco. contract and made us look like an African dictatorship when it came to Govt. and investment and the last FF/PD one has bankrupted the state again, by showing that every policy in Ireland was for sale, every minister could be bought, and you are worried about what Boyd Barrett or Wallace look like just in case some investor look in on Dáil TV by accident. I think that they would be more concerned about our 2 yr bonds hitting a ridiculous high of 16%.
From reading some of the above comments, there seems to be rationale being used that dressing well shows respect for the job and respect for the people. Charles Haughey dressed extremely well, but he didn’t have an ounce of respect for the people.
Obviously Richard Boyd Barrett dresses how he does because he has a chip on his shoulder. But in my opinion, it doesn’t show any disrespect for the office or the people. In fact, although I wouldn’t agree with most of what he says, he seems like someone who is passionate about what he believes in and is in the job for the right reasons (however, misguided he may be).
I would agree. I’d rather have a smart and productive deputy in office more worried about the quality of his service to the people than the quality of his clothing. I’ve worked with some of the most brilliant minds in the world and one of them wore the exact same casual clothes every single day. He had 5 sets o the same outfit as he didn’t want to waste time and effort thinking about getting dressed up.
Funny how people become selectively outraged. Anyone remember when Bertie Ahern used to wear an anorak into the Dáil? Why was nobody trying to make it look like class war when people were unhappy with his attire then?
Stuff & nonsense!
Suit-wearing, collar-wearing, uniform-wearing people are no more respectful than t-shirt wearing, casual shirt wearing people are disrespectful. Be-suited people are hardly proved to be more trustworthy e.g. Bertie Ahern, Michael Lowry, Michael Neary, Charlie Haughey, Fr Michael Cleary etc etc etc – and they’re just the Irish examples.
These TDs can show their roles and this country respect, by doing the job they’re elected to do, with the mandate each TD won from their electorate.
Ming, Mick, Richard and Gerry and any of the others who don’t appear to conform to an archaic dress code in an archaic system, have been elected by people who know how they dress – they should be judged on their efficacy and their achievements for their electorate.
If it’s a choice, then I choose substance over style.
Well said, Elaine
I disagree with Boyd Barrett on a huge list of things but he was elected by the voters of his constituency to represent them in the Dail. He has already passed the job interview, he didn’t wear a suit to it, and he was elected to the Dail.
Similarly, Ming and Mick W were not elected by people who didn’t know what they’re like or what they were likely to wear. For other TDs elected by other people with other values to insist that attendance in the Dail depends on wearing clothing that matches their preferences is bizarre in the extreme.
I might agree (or not) that wearing business attire is appropriately respectful to the chamber. That’s each TDs call and each TDs decision how they will respect the House. If the electorate feels that they’re not respectful then the electorate doesn’t have to elect them again……but it did this time.
This whole thing is pathetic! Who cares what they are wearing…. We should be concentrating on their actions to try and fix our BROKEN country.
They are not walking around in speedos and flip flops….
If we are going to go down this route then what about:
* Female TD’s – surely they should have a dress code too (otherwise its sexist/unbalanced)
* If clothes are up for debate, what about other aspects of appearance? Wallace’s hair and O’Reillys beard should go!
Sure why don’t we just go the whole hog – uniforms for everyone, no makeup, tattoos, piercings or hair below the collar line….
There are too many important issues around health, employment, education and banking to deal with to waste time on this TOTAL B.S.
Well said Kevin, sure just go the whole hog and bring in the De La Salle College secondary school rule book on how our adolescent politicians should be presented for classes!
How much time is actually being spent on this though? It’s just an issue because RBB and his mates are making one of it!!
Here here , respect for the job and respect for the people they represent !
The Gombeen man always wore a suit, he could afford one by fleecing his neighbours.
There is a list form here to Roscommon A&E of deputies who dragged “the office” through the gutter, they all wore suits and we paid for most of them. We all know what goes on so why pretend “respect” and “dignity” has anything to do it?
The Govt knows what coming down the line and they don’t want nice ordinary “men of de peeple” sitting across the chamber making them look like bigger heartless sleveens then they already are.
You all voted for CHANGE right?
Re dress code
Adolf Hitler would be accepted into the dail
Jesus would have been debarred
Says it all….
No-one wears a uniform into the Dáil :-P
If you think its not wearing a suit that’s lowering the tone of the Dáil, you clearly never watch any of it.
Blue shirts for everyone is it?
Proper order! It’s a place of business, live with it.
Can I also suggest no flat caps, no comb overs, no beer bellys, no facial hair, no dubes, no slouching, no snoozing.
That should pretty much exclude every one of them.
Respect for their electorate… yawn yawn yawn.
I’m pretty sure their electorate knew exactly how they dressed when they voted for them.
Maybe some people could think about respecting the electorate themselves and stop imparting their own opinions on to others who clearly don’t share them.
This is terrible. I was so proud of us electing people from outside of the establishment. It actually looked a little like a real democracy, a people’s parliament. The wearing of a Victorian lounge suit is no indicator of respect for our country or its institutions. Ray Burke and Liam Lawlor wore suits, that made them decent people I suppose?
As long as it is not pyjamas.
Bananas in pyjamas.
this is not a worthwhile issue when so much that is actually important is not being taken care of. mick Wallace and the others are a thorn in the side to the other politicians who like to look and feel important. they are doing what’s right by the people that voted them in, what they wear is not important. there is no reason why they should all look like clones they weren’t elected to be clones. at the end of the day its their actions rather than their attire that matter.
If a political leader managed to steer this country out of the mess jt is in and wore so called inappropriate clothing do u think one person would be commenting on his attire . actions speak louder than clothes , it’s a pity the tiger generation have nt copped on to this yet .
Do you reckon Boyd Barrett, Ming or Wallace are likely to steer us out of our economic woes?
Well Dvonne, at least Ming has done economics at Uni! He has clearly more education in that area than most TD’s who rely on the briefs from the department, without much clear individual understanding.
Dvonne. maybe they won’t but at least they would give it an honest try, unlike FG/FF who will willingly sacrifice this country to save their friends, and it wouldn’t be the first time they did it either.
I think it’s a terrible message from the Government. Especially to young people with the diminished prospects of the current economy. “Don’t dare to be different, conform or get out. Look the part, be full of crap, it’s what’s on the outside that counts”.
I would have thought they’d have bigger fish to fry. Shameful shameful times.
Just imagine if FG and FF were focusing on the painfully slow investigation in to Anglo instead of this, but then again we all know that many very prominent people in both parties got soft loans, interest free loans, and loans that are meant to be paid back from the bank. So better to focus on the clothing line, rather than the fact that both parties are full of gangsters.
Are you suggesting that FF and FG should interfere with the investigation? FF would love to do that!!!
FG and FF will do everything in their power to hinder and disrupt the investigation in to Anglo Irish, who could doubt that. They will succeed as well, both parties have form here over the last 30 years. I’m suggesting that they should give the court and investigation all the resources that it needs, and remove any legislative blocks that are in the way. It is neither of their interests for a full and open investigation in to Anglo. Neither party would survive it.
Always said, “If you can’t be smart, look smart!”
They aren’t doing either.
Im sorry but all these people knew what they were getting into when they ran for election, it is not a lot to ask that they dress apropriately for the postition they now hold. I have to wear a suit in my job and i knew that when i applied for it.
I didn’t ask my Dáil representatives to wear a suit. I really don’t give a fiddlers what they wear, so long as they get my country back up and running! Since when as the ability to do a good job based on what clothes one wears?? And what “committee” determines the appropriateness of apparel? If dress code in the Dáil is such of such major concern then we are surely done for, as superficiality has ousted common sense!
Poor Richard is mortified that he might have to look like an evil capitalist
Two little ponderables to add to this debate;
1. Charvais shirts
2. Michael O’ Leary
That is all….
Unfortunately there has always been a tendency in FG that was very uncomfortable with the regular person, and had a certain disdain for them. FF to their credit didn’t they didn’t care who was paying them. This is all about Paddy not knowing his place, it is the same shite that thy have been doing for 90 years, while the country falls to bits.
Put Wallace and Boyd Barrett in Burkas!
People in important jobs should dress in a way appropriate to their position, that’s just the way it is. It’s a national parliament for goodness sake. The only people making the biggest issue out of this are clowns like RBB.
Just dress up Barrett
They are politicians not school children. They should be allowed wear what they want as for the most part they do a really good job.
Their casual attire represents their casual attitude towards the job. They are acting like pure muckers.
What an ignorant statement, is it any wonder that the country is fecked. Whatever you think about Barrett, Flanagan and Wallace, they got to where they are off their own batt or off the support of a tiny party busing its chops. Look at the likes of Enda, never worked a day in his like, got on daddy’s chair and FG paid for it all, look at Cowen and Lenihan the same. Ming might be a bit of a smoker but that is the only thing that anyone of them could be got on, look at FG’s fundraising during the 90′s, where did those millions come from. It was described as money laundering and how apt it was. Talk to any journalist and they will name out 10-15 FG TD’s that they know to be corrupt. The Govt. should look among its own for the real disrespect for the house and laws of this state. God knows FG and FF have a long enough history of ignoring laws when it suited them or their donors.
Tony you hit the nail on the head there. As for the suits what a load of s#!te. The brains behind this scheme must be so proud of himself. Can you imagine that we pay for these committees and fools to create this tripe. As Barrett says and he says a lot of tripe at times but I’ll give him this one we are disillusioned big style. The HSE won’t pay up to 75 days after they should and these fools all want to head to a tailor. Give me a break.
Typical non-politics from the establishment.. No words can describe its foolishness.. Worse still is that parlimentary committees are paid to come up with this rubbish.. Address the real problems and stop kicking the can down the road with this tom foolery
Perhaps sackcloth and ashes might be an appropriate dress code.
Flip flops?
It’s just so childish. The country is in dire straits and they debate what clothes they should be wearing.
If they do their job it should not matter how they dress
Im not bothered about pink shirts long hair etc just get in do what you said you would do thats why people put you there
Think of someone turning up to a wedding in a pair of jeans and a casual shirt. (Ok add the Mick Wallace hair too if ya want………..)
Lots of folk would be ticked off cause they would see it as an insult to the occasion or indeed to the couple.
Dressing down int he house of Parliment is just bad manners. We at least want politicians with manners and respect first……then they can start debating.
Your earn respect by your behaviour NOT by how you dress!
Fergal…NO!
What’s a wedding got to do with this at all? The comparison is flawed. And people certainly don’t have to wear long sleeved shirts to weddings.
The chief whip was on radio this morning saying Boyd Barrett had to wear a school uniform…another pointless flawed comparison. Sure when we were in school drinking was illegal and we were encouraged to be honest. Maybe they’ll convene and make some rules about honesty next!
Ah Fergal, you’re just silly now.
When the first suit as we understand it was worn in parliament there was outrage then too. The same stuff about respect for the occasion that you are going on about. Up until then MPs (as it was the UK parliament) wore exclusively frock coats, then a whippersnapper called Keir Hardie turned up in a lounge suit! Oh how they bemoaned his lack of propriety, but now of course, they all wear those same suits.
It’s called change.
Perhaps if RBB and Mick Wallace etc had bothered to turn up properly dressed when newly elected, we wouldn’t be having to waste time on this stupid issue.
I am sure they earn enough to buy a suit for gods sake.
You should dress for the position that you hold and if that is as a teacher, nurse (in my own case) or TD you should dress appropriately. If a TD is apparently representing his constituency, then he/she should dress like he/she does indeed represent their people in the dail.
They never said they would wear suits, they were blunt on that. They were elected by the people and no jumped FF/FG politicians can go tell elected rep’s of the peole what to do and what not to do, that’s democracy, don’t like it tough!. Given the endemic corruption and massive failures that define FG and FF they really can’t be complaining to anyone. Unhappy with short sleeved shirts but have no problems with Magdelene launderies, institutional child abuse, Haughey and Garrett’s loans and a million other things. Who here believes that FG and FF TD’s didn’t know what was going on regarding the above.
Every profession has a some sort of dress code, going into dail unshaven, shirt creased and hanging out might cut the mustard at local level but doesn’t inspire too much confidence in a more national sense, even third work parliaments tend to wear at least a dirty old tie, then again our standards seem to be dropping day by day.
They’ll be looking for an allowance for the cost of the suits next ;-)
Priorities, eh?
Politicians SHOULD dress formally (out of respect for the position they have been given by the people), but they should not be FORCED to dress formally by their peers.
The fact is TDs are elected for their stance on issues and their abilities to represent their constituencies.They are not elected because they look good. Well dressed idiots have been destroying this country for years so clothing clearly does not make the TD.
Maybe so but even a shirt inside someones trousers might be a start or a compromise, for a country relying on a bit of foreign investment it doesn’t inspire too much confidence when u see shabby, normally when you see shabby you get it.
When one considers the sheer scale of the robbery that FG and FF TD’s have been involved in over the years, it is absolutely disgusting that they think that they can judge anyone. They’ll try to ban these three for not wearing ties but Lowry is untouchable, Ahern is untouchable and they keep refusing to close down the Dáil bar. A pub in the workplace, where TD’s and party hacks drink off our backs during work. Can anyone ever imagine Séan Barrett pushing for an end to drinking at work off the taxpayers back. No, nor can I.
It seems a full suit is essential attire when you’re telling a county you’re shutting down a hospital.
Priorities? They’re over-rated by the looks of it.
(possible sarcasm alert)
This is not about dress code. This is a protest by three individuals on the floor of the dail each day. They have forgotten that they were voted in to work for the people who voted for them. RBB seems sincere enough but is clueless as to how the dail works. Ming is delighted with the job and the salary. He is on as many committees as possible and again delighted with the expences. He will not hold clinics or attend funerals of those who may have voted for him, so he sits on a comfortable seat in the dail for 3 days per week, goes home to Roscommon saves his bit of turf and collects the kids from school. Poor old Wallace owes €47m needs to eat, so he jumps on the band wagon of national discontent, gets elected, €100 grand a year plus expences just to do a drag act 3 short days a week.
” He will not hold clinics or attend funerals of those who may have voted for him” Hahaha, if he’d attend funerals of those who voted for him he might as well change his job and become a funeral director. You’re not seriously expecting each and every politician to attend funerals of their voters do you?
As for the rest of your argument I can only say one thing. That goes for every politician.
If you want to see why Ireland is broke, and habitually goes broke, why we have to force hundreds of thousands away, read Pat’s post. Funerals and clinics! Jesus wept.
look whal all the last suit wearers did there was not one real man among them only ; RATS; . THERE IS A LOT MORE IMPORTANT THINGS GOING ON IN THIS HELL WHOLE OF A STATE THAT ALL THE LAST LOTOF SUITS GOT US INTO. who cares what they wear get on with what u are suppose to be doing like get rid of the senate; cut the number of t d .
I don’t think young people would be alienated at all, many of us actually work and understand the reasons for looking neat and sharp in the work place, for example if you deal with customers. It’s about professionalism and respect. What would perhaps make sense is the way many companies tackle the issue: by having one day a week, usually a Friday on which people can depart from the norm within reason.
Rabble! Rabble, rabble, rabble!!!! ;-)
I don’t see any need to fuss over it. Nothing wrong with requiring members of the house to dress a certain way. I’d like something more creative but that would end up with us paying for it and we pay for enough already! It doesn’t take from the discussion of pressing and urgent matters, the lack of a longer week does that.
Now let’s get back to figuring out how to survive this mess!
Mick Wallace allowed into the Dail.
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTQmZgefzx3GXCqVqm-AkJK3cGkmg5MQI6slmQwHVo48Qt33eWm
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