Early Edition
A morning news update from The Irish Times, covering top stories five days a week. Produced in association with MSD.
Episodes
Four HSE regions to lose powers; 9/11; The Grand Tour reboot
Four HSE regions are to be stripped of their powers over day-to-day spending by the Government in response to an overspend of hundreds of millions of euro, Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said.Of 12 teenagers before Dublin Children’s Court on Wednesday, facing charges including for theft, assault, stealing cars, possession of drugs, and carrying weapons, just one had a solicitor
Clamping reform for Dublin city; Hospital incomes; IRFU hotel
Clamper vans will but disappear from Dublin city centre in what’s to be the biggest shake up in parking enforcement in almost 30 years.Hospital incomes have been hit by the move to public-only consultant contracts, notes a confidential HSE report seen by The Irish Times. Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers, will be on the Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan later today.Paddywagon,
Rise in child poverty; Ireland’s most prosperous town; and the Irish unity debate
There has been a sharp rise in children living in households below the poverty line, according to new figures for 2024 from the Economic and Social Research Institute.Carrigaline, County Cork, has the lowest rate of commercial rental vacancies in Ireland showing a busy local economy and strong competition for consumers.Ireland’s most senior civil servant has criticised Government departments for d
Germany’s AfD win regional elections; data centre energy use; the fall of rural Irish pubs
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has claimed the largest share of the vote in elections in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.New data centres could be offered lower gas connections if they agree to have their supply interrupted during periods of extreme demand.A special cost recovery team has been deployed to Naas General Hospital amid concerns it could go over budget by as much
Foreign aid spending; HSE over budget; and invasive skunks in Co. Kildare
Ireland was one of only two European countries to increase spending on foreign aid last year, with €1.9 billion spent on official development assistance.The government has defended public transport fares rises, coming in January, saying it will help fund new services.The HSE remains significantly over budget, despite efforts to tighten spending controls across the health service.An investigation h
Public transport increases; Creche overcharging; Patrick Freyne's Kardashian analysis
Bus and train fares are to increase by an average of 15% under new measures to be announced on Thursday.There has been a steady increase in the number of childcare providers under investigation for possible overcharging of parents since 2024.Make no mistake, last week’s 18 billion dollar settlement in the US was really a win for Meta, writes Emmet Ryan in his column today.Ireland can expect an unu
1.5 degree 'battle has been lost'; School refusal; Cuban Belfast man V Deliveroo
The battle to keep global heating from passing the agreed 1.5 degree threshold has been lost, United Nations (UN) environment chiefs have conceded.More than half of primary school pupils and two-thirds of secondary students refused to go to school at least once last year for reasons including anxiety, difficulties engaging with lessons and problems with friendships, according to a new study. Of al
Cancer ‘more survivable’ with advancements; Bloomfield Hospital patient mistreatment; and storm names unveiled
Cancer survival rates have improved substantially over the past 20 years, with many more people now living with and beyond cancer, according to the National Cancer Registry Ireland.Several staff at Bloomfield Hospital in Rathfarnham were either dismissed or resigned following an investigation into the treatment of residents at the mental health facility.Rescuers in Nepal are trying to reach hundre
Ireland to approve Israeli bonds for the EU; and the Monk to get reimbursed for election expenses
Tánaiste Simon Harris has been trying to stop Ireland from once again becoming the EU country responsible for approving Israeli state bonds.Former independent election candidate Gerry “The Monk” Hutch is set to receive a reimbursement of almost all of his campaigning expenses.A controversial housing development near the Dublin-Wicklow border is to be torn down over a breach of planning permission.
Gambling with crypto; deer in Phoenix Park; and what scientists learn from the eclipse
The government is planning a crackdown on money laundering including stricter rules on using cryptocurrency on gambling sites.National roll out of one-to-one counselling for school children is threatened by a shortage of qualified mental health professionals.Irish Times science and climate correspondent Caroline O’Doherty looks at Phoenix Park’s herd of fallow deer, and their having on biodiversit
Irishman hand picked by Gianni Infantino; Solar Eclipse; Gifts for EU diplomats during Irish presidency
Who is Dan O’Toole, the Irish Fifa executive at the heart of deal to sell off World Cup? The Dubliner was reportedly handpicked by Gianni Infantino to work on his controversial Wold Cup sell-off plan. Gavin Cooney is profiling him today.Jars of honey harvested from the roof of the Department of Justice – but no loud trad music – were ordered up for visiting dignitaries during the Irish EU presiden
What next for the Kinahan cartel; a shortage of creche places; and issues with the ReTurn scheme
An international money laundering investigation has been launched into the Kinahan cartel following the extradition of Daniel from the United Arab Emirates.The Department of Children has intervened to stop the planned closure of a creche in Limerick amid growing concerns over a shortage of childcare places.Dozens of people are known to have died in a powerful earthquake in Colombia, causing widesp
Daniel Kinahan charged; Living in Dublin's Phoenix Park; Sitting on the fence
Daniel Kinahan has been charged with directing the activities of a criminal organisation in the Special Criminal Court, after being flown to Ireland under armed guard yesterday.Israel has rejected Donald Trump’s Board of Peace plan for withdrawing from Gaza.Ever wondered what it’s like to live in the various lodges dotted around Dublin’s Phoenix Park? Kitty Holland has been speaking to the familie
Rough sleepers removed from Belfast City Centre; and demolition of a bunker under Hitler’s Reich Chancellery
Dozens of people rough sleeping on the streets of Belfast have been moved from the city centre, according to a homeless charity.Donald Trump has dismissed reports that the United States is running low on key military munitions.Residents are mounting a growing campaign against Fingal County Council’s proposed Dunsink City Quarter, a massive housing development that could become Ireland’s largest to
Tradwives; unionists discovering the Fleadh; Have You Never Heard of Bill Fuller?
“Tradwife” influencers and other online trends that pressure women into “particular care roles” will be challenged by a new Government funded public awareness campaign, which is expected to be launched next year.The Government had to provide a €30 million bailout for its electric vehicle grant scheme in April as consumers started to feel the fuel crisis really bite.The Traditional Unionist Voice (
Re-Turn scheme salaries, back-to-school costs, and rules for lawyers using generative AI
Re-Turn chief executive Ciarán Foley and board members earned a 16 per cent increase to their pay last year. The not-for-profit company paid out total compensation of €700,000 to Foley and private sector executives from Coca-Cola HBC Ireland, Britvic, Heineken, Musgrave and Diageo who sit on its board.Some parents are taking out loans to cover back-to-school expenses this year, according to a new
Negotiations with Iran; breast cancer referrals; and raw sewage dumped in Co. Clare
Iran has said it’s in negotiations with Oman to reach an arrangement that would allow commercial ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.Breast cancer clinics are missing their target for urgent referrals, with only three out of every four patients seen within two weeks this year.The story of a young woman at UCD who alleged she was raped and accused the university of failing to support her.In
Metrolink property deals; Grinds 360's losses; E-scooters; All Together Now
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has spent more than €9 million to acquire four homes beside a contentious MetroLink station site in south Dublin.An online grinds company where rugby stars Brian O’Driscoll and Caelan Doris are investors increased losses last year to €1.19 million since it was founded.Twitter had its faults but it didn’t have an overt political agenda. That changed under Elon
Tributes to Glen Hansard; sex abuse case against Christian Brothers; and guidance on AI in healthcare
Tributes have been paid to the Irish music and film legend Glen Hansard who died in a road crash. He was 56.A claimant fighting for damages against the Christian Brothers over historic sex abuse can file notice to former members in a national newspaper advert, the High Court has ruled.The health and safety watchdog, Hiqa, has issued Ireland’s first ever guidance on the use of AI in healthcare incl
Patrick Collison; Courgette mountains; Hot Boys Cry
Stripe co-founder and chief executive Patrick Collison has donated more than €6 million to a political campaign group fighting to block a proposed wealth tax in California, US filings show.Heat-pump installations need to increase twenty-fold and the pace of general home retrofits must at least double if targets to improve the energy efficiency of the country’s buildings are to be met, the Climate
Mayo's still celebrating; Fighting health insurers; last-minute staycations
The Sam Maguire arrived in Castlebar last night to roars of “Up Mayo!”, as tens of thousands of people turned out at MacHale Park for the Mayo team’s official homecoming.A couple, with a good income on paper and who are in receipt of the Government’s Help-to-Buy grant still can’t afford a three-bed semi in large parts of the country, according to a new report by the Society of Chartered Surveyors
Metrolink cost; Berlin attack investigation; and the copyright case against AI giant Anthropic
Dublin’s long-awaited MetroLink project could cost as much as €19 billion, according to senior Government sources.Police in Germany say they are not currently looking for other suspects in connection with the attack on Berlin pride on Saturday.Wildfires are continuing to wreak havoc across Europe, with France and Spain facing some of the worst blazes in recent memory.Hundreds of Irish writers are
Childcare providers overcharging; and the trial of Dublin man Daniel Tatlow-Devally in Germany
Ireland’s childcare sector is facing its first ever nationwide review into fees, as authorities move to identify creches that may be overcharging parents.MI5 and the Police Service of Northern Ireland have been ordered to pay damages to RTÉ Northern Editor Vincent Kearney after a tribunal found they illegally accessed his phone data in attempts to identify confidential journalistic sources.A deleg
Christian Brothers compensation claims; and fear in Co. Limerick over Aughinish Alumina
A High Court judge has signalled a move that could make it much easier for survivors of abuse in Christian Brothers schools to pursue compensation claims.The withdrawal of services from solicitors in cases involving criminal legal aid enters its second day.The government has outlined its spending plans for the next year in its Summer Economic Statement with an additional €7 billion largely to cove
Sanctions on Aughinish Alumina; criminal court shutdown; and outpatient waiting lists
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky urged the European Union to block exports from Aughinish Alumina in Limerick, to Russia.The criminal courts face a possible total shutdown today and tomorrow, and three days next week, in a dispute with barristers over a new criminal legal aid model.One of the top criminal aid law firms urged barristers to routinely ask judges to assign multiple solicitors to
E-scooter ban; alumina exports to Russia; and Houthi rebels in Yemen
The ban on e-scooters puts frontline Gardai “at risk” according to Garda Mark Ferris writing in today’s Irish Times.The report into alumina exports from the Aughinish plant in County Limerick won’t be published.Iran has instructed the Houthi rebels in Yemen, one of its proxy groups, to begin attacks on ships going into the Red Sea.School secretaries and caretakers in the Forsa union have been offe
Ramped up attacks by Iran and the US; surge in knife crime hospitalisations; and e-scooter ban
Attacks by Iran and the US have ramped up following the killing of two US soldiers in a strike on a military base in Jordan.There has been a surge in the number of people admitted to hospital with injuries from serious knife crime, information obtained by The Irish Times reveals.There will be a renewed attempt to introduce a new Occupied Territories Bill in September when the Dail returns from sum
Sex abuser Michael Shine; and Russian technology being used by three state agencies
A statutory of investigation should be carried out into the crimes of convicted sex abuser Michael Shine during his time working at Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, an independent report has said.At least three state agencies are customers of a password company using Russian technology prompting national security concerns, an Irish Times investigation has found.Doctors have told The Irish Times th
Exports to Russia; the murder of Jamey Carney; and Montenegro’s application to join the EU
Aughinish Alumina exports making their way to the Russian military supply chain cannot be ruled out, a government report is expected to say.The investigation into the killing of 43-year-old Jamey Carney is entering a new phase as attention shifts to the legal challenges in speaking to the main suspect, 28-year-old Ahmed Al Saqar, who fled to Jordan.The government has failed to engage with investig
Deportation flights; 'rough sex' defence; Australia; 'book-handling' in Berlin
The State paid more than €1 million for a single deportation flight when returning 42 adults and children from Ireland to South Africa in June.The ‘rough sex’ defence didn’t work for Lorcan Murphy. The 38 year old Dubliner - jailed for murder in Hungary last week - wasn’t the first to try it either.The reality of building a life in Sydney, Australia? “It’s bloody hard to afford anything,” writes I
Iran trades blows with the US; and massive gun stash linked to Polish crime gang in Ireland
The conflict between the US and Iran has escalated again after Donald Trump said he would reimpose the blockade on Iranian ports and charge a 20% tariff on any ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.Gardaí have seized one of Ireland’s largest organised crime arms dumps in more than a decade, uncovering machine guns, pistols, and drugs linked to a Polish gang.A new law giving women up to
Violent pornography ban; GAA World Games; and Yellow weather warnings for heat
Possession, production and sharing of extreme or violent pornography could be effectively banned in Ireland under proposals being put to cabinet by the Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan this week.The Department of Justice was concerned about cuts to the Garda budget for security during Ireland’s EU presidency, internal documents have revealed.Research being led at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
Airstrikes on Iran; Dublin man sentenced for murder in Hungary
There has been more escalation in the exchange of fire between Iran and the United States.The brother of Mackenzie Michalski, who was murdered by a Dublin man in Hungary in November 2024, has said he is happy the man is off the streets having been handed 14 years in prison.Political correspondent Harry McGee explains why there is so much opposition to hare coursing in the Daíl.What does The Irish
Road deaths; water leakages; artists' privacy concerns; tech tips for your holidays
Minister of State for Road Transport Seán Canney has told the Road Safety Authority (RSA) he was concerned about its “lack of visibility” following a series of road deaths late last year.The regulator for utilities has imposed a €31 million penalty on Uisce Éireann for failing to meet performance targets, relating to leakages and bad debts.The Government should recuse itself from negotiating legis
Black-listed gambling sites; Sinn Féin's merch profits; Returning emigrants
Irish authorities granted gambling licences to six companies at the heart of a global network of black-market betting websites. Two Irish companies were also found to be processing payments for unlicensed gambling sites operating in Europe.Ireland’s richest political party, Sinn Fein, sold merchandising worth euro more than €405,000 last year, according to financial accounts filed with the Standar
George Gibney found guilty of historic sex abuse; and wildfires rage across southern Europe
Former Olympic swimming coach George Gibney, who’s 77 with an address in Florida, has been found guilty of sexually abusing four girls more than 50 years ago.Authorities in France have evacuated 10,000 people because of wildfires burning out of control near the Spanish border. Fires are also raging in northern Spain, Portugal, and Greece.With Donald Trump reigniting his feud with Italian Prime Min
Community healthcare waiting lists; smuggling of wood soaked in liquid cocaine; and JD gift cards reissued
New figures show some patients are waiting as long as 13 and a half years for community healthcare appointments like dietetics, ophthalmology and psychology.Ireland will chair EU meetings around new European Oceans legislation aimed at strengthening protection of Europe’s marine territory, undersea cables and pipelines, and improving ocean health.Gardaí have uncovered what’s believed to be the mos
Aughinish Alumina exports to Russia; and customers to be offered human interaction on bank calls
Taoiseach Michéal Martin has faced questions over exports from the Aughinish Alumina plant in county Limerick to aluminium smelters supplying the Russian military.The government will sign a new law requiring financial service providers to offer customers the right to speak to a human rather than an AI bot.A jury in the trial of a 77-year-old man on historic sex abuse charges will continue its deli
Parnell Square attacker found guilty; EU presidency begins; and return to work mandates “narcissistic”
Riad Bouchaker, who’s 52, has been found guilty of attempted murder in relation to the stabbing in Parnell Square in November 2023. Our legal affairs correspondent Mary Carolan recounts the events which left a child with life altering injuries.After authorities in Sweden froze the assets of a company owned by Rusal, which owns the county Limerick plant Aughinish Alumina, what next for the firm lin
Metrolink agency; Spend like it's the 90s; Best new shows in July
The Government is seeking to fast-track legislation which will allow for the establishment of a State agency to deliver the planed Dublin metro project.The Ukrainian Government has rejected a donation from Ireland of a fleet of armoured combat vehicles to aid in the fight against Russia. The Defence Forces’ 27 light armoured tactical vehicles (LATVs) were first acquired 20 years ago but had a poor
Aughinish Alumina; Unsafe vapes; World Cup hydration breaks
Aughinish Alumina will be forced to pay up front for the costs of closing down the Co Limerick plant and repairing environmental damage in the area, under a new deal agreed with the State.Europe is being “flooded” by cheap vapes and e-cigarettes produced in Asia that often do not meet EU safety rules, dodge customs taxes and in some cases contain harmful and illegal substances, the head of the EU’
Fuel excise cuts to be phased out; Russian signal jamming of planes; competitive socialising
Coalition leaders will consider plans to continue the reductions in excise on petrol and diesel, at least in part, beyond the July 31st deadline. However it is expected that the reductions introduced following the fuel protests in April will be tapered off over the coming months.The State is opting to retain out-of-date aircraft navigation systems as they are less susceptible to Russian jamming at
It's not a heatwave; Women of the revolution; Veronica Guerin; USA's 250th birthday
“As it stands right now, Ireland isn’t in heatwave conditions,” says Holly O’Neill, a meteorologist from Met Éireann, “although we recognise that it is unusually warm, of course”.Dublin City Council (DCC) is to commission a new monument honouring the women of Ireland’s revolutionary period, as part of a broader effort to address the historic underrepresentation of women in public spaces.Thirty yea
Harris meets finance influencers; the three day abortion wait; and the hottest day ever?
Minister for Finance Simon Harris brought a group of “finance influencers” who run popular Instagram accounts into the Department of Finance this week to brief them on the new State savings scheme.Government TDs are seeking extra scrutiny of legislation scrapping the three-day waiting period for abortion services due to fears of a backlash over it being “railroaded” through the Dáil.Ireland’s heat
Heatwave chaos in Europe; and the extradition of US millionaire Jason Cardiff
The heatwave has caused chaos in a number of European countries. At least 40 people have drowned in France after entering seas and rivers.The US millionaire Jason Cardiff is facing extradition to the US on allegations he defrauded customers out of hundreds of thousands of dollars through the sale of products marketed for sexual performance, weight loss, and smoking cessation. He denies the charges
Jeffrey Donaldson guilty verdict; new legislation on dog breeding; and heatwave weather warning
The former DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson has been told by a judge to expect a lengthy prison sentence after he was convicted of all 18 sex abuse counts, including the rape of a woman when she was in primary school.The UK will get a new Prime Minister following the announcement by Kier Starmer that he is to stand down. Our political editor Pat Leahy says he improved the relationship between the UK a
Iran peace talks; shared island rail funding; Caolan Robertson: the social media reporter in Ukraine
Peace talks have been taking place in Switzerland between the US and Iran following the publication of an initial deal signed by Donald Trump last week.The Government is set to approve major new rail funding as part of the Shared Island initiative which it says will improve services and cut journey times on key cross-border services.Ireland’s waste management system is under fresh scrutiny amid co
Iran peace deal; jury deliberations in the case against Jeffrey Donaldson
A full memorandum of understanding has been published on the peace deal between Iran and the US including an end to the conflict on all fronts, a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and that Iran will not produce any nuclear weapons.The jury in the sex abuse case against Jeffrey Donaldson, who’s 63 and from Dromore, County Down, will continue its deliberations at Newry Crown Court today. He denies
An Post CEO pay row; EU Gaza blame game; thanking bus drivers
A significant row has erupted between AnPost and the Minister for Communications Patrick O’Donovan over pay for its new chief executive, and Government authorization to raise the company’s borrowing limit for its future development strategy. Ireland has a strong economy and a resilient society, but “well-being data” shows a more complex picture where inequalities persist, a new Government rep
The Dead Zoo; Social media ban; Best EVs under €25k; Wigan Kebab with Irish curry sauce
The timing of when the Natural History Museum will reopen, and the final budget for its redevelopment, remain unclear almost two years after it closed for refurbishment.Readers have been having their say on the UK’s plans to introduce social media ban for under 16s, with many of you believing it would be far more effective to ban harmful algorithms instead.The government’s new pilot scrappage sche
Iran war peace deal; the IRA murder of Terrence McKeever; a thrilling All-Ireland football championship
The US has struck a deal with Iran which could pave the way for an end to the war, but key details are yet to be released.Terrence McKeever was found murdered by the IRA 40 years ago today.Concerns are growing over capacity and safety at Ireland’s main youth detention centre at Oberstown following new released documents.Ireland is well prepared for any potential cases of Ebola and the overall
Threat of industrial unrest; survivors of abuse by Bill Kenneally; the rise of Gianni Infantino
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions says the Government risks industrial unrest unless it delivers a budget that supports working people.Survivors of abuse by Bill Kenneally will meet the Justice Minister this week, calling for a new law, making misconduct in public office a criminal offence.There has been a steady rise in the number of asylum seekers choosing to leave Ireland voluntarily according
Doctors and private practice; our oil reserves; Aughinish Alumina; Intel's turnaround
Two consultants are taking two separate judicial reviews against the HSE seeking the right to offer private care in new publicly funded surgical hubs.From Kharg Island in the Gulf of Hormuz Persian Gulf to Whiddy in Co Cork, the trickle-down effect of the Iranian oil crisis is starting to affect Ireland’s national oil reserve.Aughinish Alumina complained to the European Commission about difficulti
Parnell Square stabbing trial; Ireland’s ageing population; Children’s reading and maths skills
The trial of Riad Bouchaker resumes today and the Central Criminal Court. He has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges relating to the stabbings in Parnell Square in 2023 in which several people, including children, were injured.Smaller pockets of protests occurred in Northern Ireland on Wednesday night following the knife attack on Steven Ogilvie in north Belfast on Monday. Around 200 people
Anti immigration protests in Belfast; Canadian PM's Mayo visit; relocating flood prone communities
Hundreds of protesters gathered on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast where a bus was hijacked and set alight, stoking racial tensions after a horrific attack on a man in his 40s on Monday night.The government needs to start preparing to relocate communities away from areas where repeat flooding or coastal erosion can’t be stopped, according to the Climate Change Advisory Council.And t
Sentencing of Sean McGovern; should Ireland consider nuclear energy?
Sean McGovern, a senior figure in the Kinahan cartel, has received what The Irish Times understands to be one of the longest gangland sentences in Irish history.There has been a rise in reports of wildlife habitat destruction, but according to new figures, prosecutions for it aren’t keeping up, according to the National Parks and Wildlife Service.An “exponential” rise in Irish language exempt
Concerns over staffing in An Garda Síochána; the rise of ‘free births’ in Ireland
An Garda Síochána is facing what insiders are calling a “ticking time-bomb” of retirements as new projections show nearly 1,700 Garda members are due to retire over the next decade.Concerns have been raised over the number of landlords asking for sex in exchange for accommodation.A row has erupted over what’s believed to be the use of artificial intelligence in Irish politics after one TD submitte
The Russian oligarch believed to control Aughinish Alumina; supermarket turf war
A confidential report by Swedish authorities claims the Russian billionaire, Oleg Deripaska, still controls the metals giant Rusal, which owns the Aughinish Alumina plant in County Limerick, despite sanctions meant to limit his power.Researchers at Maynooth University say the record for the hottest day ever in the month of May was smashed by more than 2 degrees, and it wouldn’t have happened witho
Lidl warns government; Trump's UFC ring; Shergar; Rotunda row reaction
The planning system for commercial development is being exploited, sometimes for anticompetitive purposes through spurious objections, supermarket chain Lidl has said.There’s been a huge reaction from readers to Fintan O’Toole’s column this week which was about the row that’s kicked off between the Rotunda Hospital and the HSE and Department of Health.There could surely be no more appropriate or d
Car scrappage scheme; Rotunda Hospital; Leaving Cert; Space X; Big feet blues
People with petrol and diesel cars that are more than 13 years old are to be eligible for grants of €8,500 to purchase a new electric vehicle (EV) under a State scrappage scheme.The Rotunda maternity hospital has been warned it could have its funding pulled if it does not withdraw permission for consultants on public-only contracts to practise privately on its premises.60,000 students will not onl
Jeffrey Donaldson trial; rise in arson attacks on council houses
The jury hearing the trail of former DUP leaderJeffrey Donaldson, 63, has been told he wrote a letter to one of the two alleged victims expressing “regret” and that he had sought God’s forgiveness. He denies 18 charges, include rape.Electric Ireland says prices will go up by 8 per cent, affecting around 1.1 million customers.New figures seen by The Irish Times reveal a sharp rise in arson att
Irish visas for Russians; ADHD and addiction; reckoning for dating apps
There are concerns ‘hostile’ agents may be among the 14,000 Russians granted Irish visas in the past four years.The Government hopes to make “swift progress” pushing forward negotiations on Ukraine’s stalled bid to join the European Union when Ireland holds the union’s rotating presidency in the second half of this year.Dating apps are struggling with the AI revolution as users lose faith. Can the
Naval service names online; wind farm objections; most annoying phrases
The names of dozens of Defence Forces personnel, including those involved in intelligence work and sensitive counterdrug smuggling operations, are being published online by the European Union, triggering safety concerns among members.A chill wind – why are wind farms drawing so many objections at a time of climate crisis?Does your household have the “two good salaries, but still feel broke” proble
Is Sinn Féin still seen as left wing? New anti-drone technology for the defence forces
There are tensions between left wing parties and Sinn Fein on the policy direction of Mary Lou McDonald’s party following its performance in the Dublin Central and Galway West byelections.Ireland’s Defence Forces are ramping up anti-drone measures to prepare for new threats.A search for the body of Seamus Maguire, one of the so-called disappeared who were murdered and buried in secret during the t
Kyne and Ennis elected to the Dáil; HSE waiting lists; the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson
The Dáil has two new TD’s; Daniel Ennis from the Social Democrats and Sean Kyne from Fine Gael. Political correspondents Cormac McQuinn and Marie O’Halloran explain who they are.Plans to rezone a stretch of protected land along Dublin’s Liffey Valley could deliver a significant windfall for billionaires John Magnier and JP McManus.New figures from the HSE show more than 32,000 adults in Ireland ar
Polls open in byelections; Paul Rudd on filming in Dublin; Under the Hawthorn Tree
Voters in Dublin and Galway are going to the polls in two byelections on Friday after intense canvassing in the closing days of the campaign and efforts by candidates to ensure their supporters turn up to vote.The Government has exceeded its annual spending target by an average €5.1 billion in each of the last three budgets, new figures from the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) indicate.Meanwh
Meta job losses; RTÉ salary row; more registered voters that residents in some areas
Meta is to cut 350 jobs from it’s Irish workforce amid a global round of layoffs affecting around 8000 roles worldwide.RTÉ has faced tough questions at an Oireachtas committee about newly disclosed salaries.More than 40 leading climate scientists are warning Ireland against adopting a controversial new way of measuring greenhouse emissions.Planned changes to the electoral register following revela
Dodgy boxes; more flotilla boats set for Gaza intercepted; What happened to Yves Sakilas
200 users of so-called dodgy boxes used to illegally stream live TV have been issued with cease and desist notices.Rents across Ireland have just shot up at the fastest rate ever recorded, rising 4.4% in just three months, according to Daft.ie.More boats in the aid flotilla heading for Gaza have been intercepted by Israeli forces, crew members have said.What do we know about what happened to Yves
Tobacco lobbyists; sexually abusive homes; A.I. in schools
Irish diplomats in Brussels have been warned to be on high alert for lobbying by the tobacco industry.The European Commission has signalled tighter restrictions on exports that could be used by Russia’s military, following concerns raised about materials leaving the EU.Fear of homelessness is increasingly trapping people in sexually abusive situations, according to the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.Th
Irregular betting on by election; bodyguards to protect special care staff
There are serious questions about betting activity linked to Friday’s by-election in Dublin Central in which $1 million (€860,000) was placed and then withdrawn with little or no profit.Immigration, the cost of living and housing are among the main issues on voters minds in Dublin Central and Galway West.Taoiseach Micheál Martin has used Fianna Fáil’s centenary Ard Fheis to defend the party’s reco
Dublin Central by election; trouble for Kier Starmer; Trump in Beijing
Sinn Féin’s Janice Boylan leads the race for the Dublin Central by election according to a new Irish Times/ TG4 poll.A UK Labour MP has stepped down paving the way for Andy Burnham to run for parliament and potentially topple Prime Minister Kier Starmer.New rules for childminders are putting pressure on the sector, with some now saying they’re thinking about quitting altogether.There was a record
Ballooning national debt, women and cycling, and Patrick Freyne’s ‘history of sexy tellly’
Ireland’s national debt could approach a quarter of a trillion euro by the 2030s, the head of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) will tell an Oireachtas committee on Thursday.Aggressive driver behaviour, speeding, poor cycling infrastructure, and the increased size of vehicles, is deterring women from getting on their bikes, research by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has found.
Four to a bed, Keir Starmer, one-off housing, and ice Hockey in Dublin?
A spotlight is being shone on the condition of council housing after plans to regenerate one of Dublin’s most neglected flat complexes were halted. Janice Maguire shares a bed with three of her youngest sons. Two sleep at the bottom, and one at the top next to her.Keir Starmer’s future as the British prime minister is looking increasingly untenable following a string of cabinet resignations yester
Ambulance strike; guns ordered off the dark web; and falling overseas holiday bookings
Two thousand ambulance staff in the Unite and SIPTU unions begin a 24-hour strike this morning in a long running dispute over pay.The media regulator, Coimisiún na Meán has released its first complains insights reports showing RTÉ attracted the highest number of complains between 2023 and 2025.Guns bought on the dark web are now one of the biggest challenges facing An Garda Síochána, according to
Derelict city council properties, Louth sisters in Miami plastic surgery, and the richest man in the Seanad?
More than 30 vacant and derelict properties bought by Dublin City Council for social housing since 2017 remain unused, and may no longer be viable for refurbishment, because of their extreme state of dilapidation.The assets declared in Aubrey McCarthy’s return to the Seanad register of interests are being examined by political correspondent Cormac McQuinn today.Since the Iran war began, financial
Narrow lead for FG in by election poll; Passengers who disembarked cruise ship after hantavirus outbreak
Fine Gael’s Seán Kyne holds the slimmest of leads over Independent Ireland rival Noel Thomas in the Galway West by election campaign, according to an Irish Times and TG4 opinion poll published on Friday.Ireland is recycling more waste, but not fast enough to meet national targets, according to a new report from the Environmental Protection Agency.The race is on to trace dozens of passengers who di
Asylum seekers posing as children; peace negotiations over Iran; billion dollar TV series’
Almost 300 adult asylum seekers who claimed they were children were placed in Tusla children’s centres in the last four years. Separately, Tusla is to launch an appeal in the Supreme Court on whether parents already in receipt of civil legal aid can recover legal costs in special care cases involving their children. The US and Iran are to begin peace negotiations. The Iranians are understood to be
Katie Simpson murder review; replaceable batteries in electric devices
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has called for anyone abused by Jonathan Creswell to come forward after a review found a failure to properly investigate the murder of Katie Simpson.The body representing the tech industry is asking the government to push for an exemption to smart watches from new EU rules requiring devices to be fitted with replaceable batteries.Fewer than half of peo
Money laundering cases surge; British King Charles III likely to visit Ireland and the case for electric HGVs
On today’s episode:There is a growing expectation that British King Charles III will visit Ireland, perhaps as soon as next year, reports Pat Leahy.Cases of money laundering have exploded in Ireland in recent years, new figures show. Conor Lally explains the nature of the cases and what An Garda Siochana are doing to tackle this growing category of crime.After three passengers died of a virus they
Gaza flotilla dispersed; the New IRA's threat; and the price of Kerrygold
The aid flotilla making its way to Gaza has been dispersed. One skipper in the waters off Greece says he will be continuing on to Gaza when they regroup.The mayor of Berlin is to be sued by an Irish pro-Palestine activist for defamation, after a court in Germany threw out a criminal case against Shane O’Brien.Autism a Chara, formlerly Autism Initiatives Ireland, notified the HSE it would transitio
