Irish
Last year
2024
lost for words
Promised interpretation standards for asylum applications not being introduced by deadline
Poor interpretation undermines asylum seekers’ credibility and delays their cases, say lawyers.
drug policyTaoiseach expects Oireachtas committee on drug use to be up and running no later than April
How I Spend My MoneyMoney Diaries: How is your spending and saving going? Would you like to keep a diary for us?
Family and careFianna Fáil launches its Yes Yes referendum campaign today as Martin makes jibe at Fine Gael MEP
ballingearyBereaved man pleads guilty to drink driving causing the death of funeral mourner in Co Cork
Gaza
Varadkar says he is abused on the street about Gaza, as Tánaiste says sanctions not ruled out
Varadkar said Israel has become “blinded by rage” and is not even listening to the advice of its close ally the United States anymore.
Taoiseach says he has been "shouted at and abused" by the public over the government's response to Gaza
Tánaiste says Ireland could impose travel ban on West Bank settlers even if EU does not make collective decision
UNRWA chief will meet with Micheál Martin in Dublin this week
High CourtAircraft leasing executive claims €200k bonus withheld from him in working from home row with employer
department of housingIrish language activists and politicians protest at the Dáil over 'Gaeltacht housing crisis'
Social MediaAI algorithms pushing content 'romanticising' suicide to children, Oireachtas Committee hears
Flight CancellationsRyanair has cancelled all flights to and from Israel citing increased airport costs at Tel Aviv
CourtsMusician Donovan fined €500 and disqualified from driving for two years for dangerous driving
rising costs
Government approves additional €500 million for Children's Hospital, pushing costs over €2 billion
The new funding brings the previous budget of €1.73 billion – which was already well above initial spending forecasts – to €2.24 billion.
Gaza
Rafah crisis: Simon Coveney accuses Israel of 'behaving like a rogue state'
Coveney was speaking as the international outcry over Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah grows.
Assisted DyingHSE tells Assisted Dying Committee there are already 'significant' supports for 'dying in a dignified way'
Food SafetyRodent droppings and no hand washing: Three food business closure orders served in January
whom it concerns
RTÉ confirms [previously redacted] names of 20 people interviewed for Toy Show musical report
The original Grant Thornton report, which was published last month, anonymised those who were interviewed.
EU Enlargement
Irish public support Ukraine joining the EU, but don't want to see membership fast-tracked
Polling also found a fifth of the public believe the EU’s response to the war in Ukraine to be “very bad”.
The Journal/Ireland Thinks poll found 72% of Irish citizens support Ukraine joining the EU.
The same poll found that 39% of Ireland are not in favour of Ukraine getting its application to join fast tracked.
This comes as accession talks began in December and additional war-time relief funding was just approved.
Investigation
Asylum-seeker support workers expected to act as interpreters without specialist training
Experts concerned that ‘cultural mediators’ being asked to provide “interpretation services” beyond their required skill set.
Cultural mediators were introduced to speed up the asylum application process
Advocates say the lack of clarity around role risks harming asylum seekers
UN body who trains them says mediators "not legally accountable" for applications
