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A SINN Fein TD has launched High Court proceedings alleging the attendance of “super-junior” ministers at Cabinet is unconstitutional.

Deputy Patrick Daly moved an initial application on Tuesday seeking a “very urgent” hearing of an application for permission to pursue his claims in court.

Ms Justice Mary Rose Gearty allowed him to file his legal papers with the High Court and said she will hear the “leave” application on Wednesday.

Feichin McDonagh, senior counsel for Mr Daly, told the court the case relates to the Government’s recent appointment of three “ministers of state” with rights at Cabinet.

He said the three non-government super juniors cannot vote at Cabinet but have all other rights.

The recently-appointed juniors, aside from the chief whip, are Fine Gael’s Hildegarde Naughton, and Regional Independents Sean Canney and Noel Grealish.

Mr Daly wants the court to declare that their attendance at Cabinet is unconstitutional, said Mr McDonagh, appearing with barristers Brendan Hennessy and John Biggins.

He said there is legislation that permits the taoiseach to appoint ministers of state, but his client argues the Constitution precludes this.

Mr Daly wants declarations related to the constitutionality of the super junior appointments and is not looking for strike-down orders “at the moment”.

He said the case raises “very serious issues”.

The Co Kerry representative’s action is against the Taoiseach, Government, Attorney General and Ireland, who have not yet had an opportunity to respond to the claims in court.

Article 28 of the Constitution stipulates that the government “shall consist of not less than seven and not more than 15 members who shall be appointed by the president”.

Article 28.4.3° of the Constitution requires the maintenance of strict confidentiality regarding discussions at meetings of the Government except where the High Court determines that disclosure should be made.

Government ministers are appointed by the president of Ireland on the advice of the taoiseach and with the prior approval of the Dail.

Ministers of state attending Cabinet are appointed directly by the government on the nomination of the taoiseach.

Not known, clear with picture desk

FANS of ITV’s Benidorm can stay in the exact hotel this summer with lagoon-style pool and swim-up bar.

The Solana resort from the show is actually the Sol Pelicanos Ocas in Benidorm.

Tiger Aspect Productions

The Solana hotel is actually filmed at the Sol Pelicanos Ocas in Benidorm – and you can stay there[/caption]

booking.com

The Sol Pelicanos Ocas has hundreds of apartments over two buildings, some with balconies and terraces[/caption]

Unlike most TV shows that are filmed away from their on-screen location, the Sol Pelicanos Ocas is actually in Benidorm.

The ITV series filmed between the months of March and June for over a decade before the show ended in 2018, and now you can book your summer holiday there.

The Sol Pelicanos Ocas has 783 rooms spread across two apartment buildings.

There are two pools, one of which is the lagoon-style swimming pool with a swim-up bar which featured heavily on Benidorm.

Alongside it are three hot tubs, a swim-up bar and plenty of loungers.

The complex has two buffet restaurants where you can grab breakfast, lunch and dinner, and for drinks, there are five bars so you won’t struggle to get a cocktail.

For the kids there’s a playground, watersports in the pool, archery, and table tennis. There’s also an entertainment programme for children and a kids’ club with a ball pit.

Sadly Neptune’s karaoke bar isn’t actually in the hotel – instead it’s over the road and is called Morgan’s Tavern.

booking.com

The lagoon pool with palm trees and a swim-up bar are a main attraction from the show[/caption]

ITV Plc

The hotel two minutes away from Levante Beach where you can swim and bodyboard[/caption]

Unlike the series that sees Madge Garvey cause chaos on her mobility scooter, the hotel does not allow them anywhere within the hotel.

The hotel is handily a two minute walk to Levante Beach where you can swim, bodyboard, and jet ski in the water.

We found results for £299pp based on a seven night stay from Bristol to Alicante with breakfast included.

But if you just want to book the stay yourself, Loveholidays has rooms from £64 a night – working out £32 each, although the cheapest summer deal we can find is £120 a night in May or October.

For another £55, you can upgrade to half board. All inclusive at the hotel is an extra £165 which could include all meals, drinks and snacks.

Old Benidorm, which is a whitewashed town, is less than half an hour away by foot. But there are plenty of buses and taxis that will take you there to explore tapas bars, shops and see the San Jaime church.

Lots of guests have booked the hotel purely for the “Benidorm (series) experience”.

booking.com

Mateo’s swim-up bar is a real hut in the swimming pool[/caption]

ITV

Lots of guests have booked the hotel purely for the “Benidorm (series) experience”[/caption]

Another was really impressed, they wrote: “Originally Booked as a ‘Tick for the list of things we said we would do’…. This turned out to be a surprise Gem of a stay!”

A third said: “As fans of the TV series there was only one part of the pool we wanted to relax by.”

We found all these holiday homes you can stay in that appeared in UK television shows.

These are seven real-life sets from television shows that are completely free to visit.

Getty

Levante Beach is filled with sunbeds and has a palm tree lined promenade[/caption]

IT’D be silly to come to London for a bath.

Even if it was a gloriously deep tub with gleaming hardware surrounded by Cipollino marble.

So, instead, come to London for a bespoke wooden four-poster bed with dreamy white bedding that feels like sleeping on a cloud.

Or, come to London for the pomp and ceremony of afternoon tea in sumptuous surroundings in the heart of the UK capital.

In short, for all this and more, come to The Adria Hotel situated in the heart of charming South Kensington, steps away from world-class museums, iconic landmarks, and quaint streets waiting to be discovered.

GETTING THERE

First things first, my husband James and I started as we meant to go on: in luxury.

We ditched waiting at the gate at Dublin Airport’s T2 for an altogether more decadent experience in the Aer Lingus lounge.

For €30 per person, you can wait for your flight in comfort, sipping coffee – or something stronger – and enjoy pastries, soup, or sandwiches.

The gates are a walk away and the tranquil space ensures you’ll start your trip off on the right foot.

FINEST HOTEL ON THE BLOCK

We took a British Airways flight out of Dublin to Heathrow Airport.

The flight time was less than an hour and a half, and after only minimal head-scratching, we took the Piccadilly Line into the city.

Our destination was a grand old dame of a hotel located in the heart of South Kensington – less than five minutes from the tube stop.

The Adria Hotel is an exclusive 5-star establishment with 22 luxury rooms and suites, breakfast and dining services, meeting rooms and private lounges.

All meticulously restored to capture the elegance of the building’s 19th-century heritage.

This sublime townhouse – which would be a perfect getaway for Valentine’s Day – was our home away from home for a whistle-stop visit to London.

It was my first visit in many years, and now it will certainly not be my last.

SERVICE WITH CHARM

The Adria sets itself apart from other hotels with its personalised service and attention to detail.

The staff are exceptionally friendly and attentive. No request is too big or too small for them.

A heartfelt thanks goes to Sebastian, who made such a positive impression. He went out of his way to ensure everything was just right and couldn’t have been more helpful.

And a thank you to Catherine too who was a pleasure at breakfast and afternoon tea. It’s clear all the staff here take great pride in their work, and it really makes all the difference to the overall experience.

Not only are the staff exceptional, but so are the surroundings. The décor is elegant yet homely, and the scent wafting through the hallways is bespoke from Italy.

A ROOM WITH A VIEW

We were on the third floor and the spacious open plan room had everything we could need.

Two large windows and a sofa for lounging as well as a desk that doubled as a makeup table.

TV, of course, coffee machine, safe and mini fridge. Anything you don’t have – the staff will provide.

The en-suite bathroom was gloriously appointed, with heated floors, a bath to die for, and a roomy, separate shower.

High end toiletries and fluffy towels added to the opulence. And did I mention, a TV in here too?!

The pièce de résistance was the bed – so comfortable, it was a dream to sleep in.

Visitors also have access to stunning lounges where you can read a book, catch up on some work or simply relax with a coffee.

If lounging around in the lap of luxury isn’t your thing, there’s plenty to do nearby. The hotel is just a short walk from the Natural History Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Harrods department store and the Royal Albert Hall.

For those who enjoy green spaces, Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park are also just a stroll away, providing a serene escape from the city’s hustle and bustle

TIME FOR TEA

The hotel doesn’t have a restaurant but you can order in and eat in your room or have your meal set up in one of the common areas.

However they do offer an afternoon tea service that is a quintessentially British afternoon experience.

James and I were lucky enough to indulge in an elegant selection of finely crafted sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and an array of delicate pastries.

A glass of champagne completed the reverie which was a perfect afternoon diversion.

IN DEMAND

Next port of call for an evening feast was Dishoom Kensington. The queue snaking down the street proved this eatery was in demand, and once we walked in we could see why.

Dishoom is art deco extravagance bouncing with quick tempo’d jazz and groups of lively patrons chatted in the low lighting as chandeliers glimmered overhead.

The food is a step up from your usual fare. Last year, Dishoom chefs embarked on a special journey to Bombay and across a week they tasted over 100 dishes a day and the unforgettable trip became the inspiration for the restaurants biggest menu update since 2010.

Alongside the much-loved hits guests will be able to opt for new dishes from small plates, rolls and salads, to grills and curries.

One of the regional additions is a seafood staple, Goan Monkfish Curry, influenced by Bombay’s vibrant Goan community.

This new curry consists of tender chunks of monkfish in a hot and sour sauce; a contrast to the creamier Dishoom signatures of Chicken Ruby and Black Daal.

We choose to indulge in the Nalli Nihari Biryani, a triumph. Enjoyed the fragrant and hearty Pau Bhaji recently updated for the new menu. It consisted of buttery-spicy, mashed vegetables and home-made buns on a chowpatty tray and James favourite was the warm aubergine chutney.

We also ended our feast with melting-in-the-middle chocolate pudding served with a scoop of Kashmiri chilli ice cream. You will not want to share.

If you think this feature article is waxing lyrical, you’d be right. So it’s only fair to end with something I wasn’t entirely happy with.

And that’s that I didn’t have more time to spend in London.

AN OPW project to replace an unsafe seventy-metre perimeter wall around a government office ended up costing over €490,000.

The works at the Dublin HQ of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) were originally expected to cost around €200,000 exclusive of VAT.

However, a live ESB cable and a leaking pipe were discovered during preliminary works leading to extensive delays and unforeseen costs.

It resulted in a doubling of the bill with around €240,000 spent on demolition of the wall and rebuilding, in line with the original OPW estimates.

The extra works to deal with the high voltage live electricity cable that was uncovered during the work ended up adding more than €250,000 to the bill.

The OPW acknowledged there were “very significant delays as well as increased costs” on the job at Lansdowne House in Ballsbridge.

This included payments of €54,000 to the ESB to redirect the wire and €61,500 to Dublin City Council so footpaths and public parking could be closed off.

A further €82,200 was spent on ancillary costs, according to a detailed breakdown of spending provided by the OPW.

The saga began in March 2021 when the OPW was conducting an inspection of the building where they found the perimeter wall was “deemed unsafe for health and safety reasons” and had been built without a proper foundation.

A decision was made to rebuild it using salvaged bricks with the building firm Sensori approved as contractors and a preliminary estimate of €213,366 inclusive of VAT for the work.

However, the project ran into difficulties in October 2022 when the leaking water main and an electrical cable were discovered.

In early 2024 however, the contractor discovered there was still a section of live electrical cable near where works were taking place.

Then in August 2024, it emerged that the reconfiguration and building of the wall had left a shortfall of around 750 blocks of a special type that were needed.

The delays on the project caused frustration for the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), which lost a large number of parking spaces.

In an information note, the OPW said the two-metre-high boundary wall was around seventy metres in length and was built in the 1960s.

They said because the site was an architectural conservation area, a decision had been made to retain the existing blocks to “rebuild the wall in accordance with the original design”.

On the rebuilding project, they said: “The total costs involved in the wall removal and reconstruction was €201,500 ex VAT in line with the original estimate.”

For the unforeseen electrical cable, they said works on that were now complete.

An information note said: “The total additional cost due the discovery of the live wire cable was €211,300 ex VAT.

“The fact that the live wire was found, which posed a serious health and safety risk introduced an unforeseen complexity into the project, increasing the time and costs involved.”

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BALAMORY has been given a official return date as BBC bosses reveal new details of the reboot.

The beloved kids TV series was green-lit for not one but two new series last year – 20 years since it first debuted.

BBC

BBC

Two series have been ordered and filming of the beloved show will kick off this year[/caption]

And now Beeb bosses have confirmed the revamped show will return in 2026, with filming to begin this year.

Lion Television Scotland will produce the new series, with 10 episodes ordered, each running for just under 15 minutes.

The original series, which aired between 2002 and 2005, ran for 19-22 minutes, with specials given a full half an hour slot in the schedule.

Balamory‘s reboot is still in development, though the BBC say it will be inspired by the original series.

Kate Morton, Senior Head of Commissioning 0-6 for BBC Children’s and Education said: “Audiences new and old are set to fall in love with this new series on CBeebies about the small island community of Balamory in Scotland from 2026.

“This was a highly competitive bidding process and we would like to commend all the shortlisted producers for the high quality and comprehensive bids they put forward.”

It’s yet to be revealed if Balamory will once again be filmed on Tobermory Island.

The casting is also not confirmed, though it’s expected the original stars will not reprise their roles.

Balamory was known for its vibrant houses and quirky characters like Miss Hoolie and Suzie Sweet.

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