
Seized criminal assets to be disposed of more quickly under new measures
Minister for Justice
Jim O'Callaghan
will bring a review of the Proceeds of Crime Act, which was passed at the same time as the legislation which set up the
Criminal Assets Bureau
in 1996, to Cabinet.
The legislation governing the treatment of the proceeds of crime is periodically reviewed, and under amendments to be brought following the review, CAB will be given new powers which aim to strengthen its operations and its ability to target the proceeds of crime.
Under the Bill, assets that are the proceeds of crime can be disposed of after two years instead of five, while a receiver can also be put in immediately after they are determined to be such assets so people cannot continue to benefit from them prior to the State selling them off.
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Organised crime in Ireland is estimated to be worth about €1.7 billion annually.
Minister for Housing
James Browne
is to bring forward
new planning design standards for apartments
, which were reported on over the weekend. The Government believes they will result in an average reduction of €50,000 per apartment unit.
They will allow for more one-bedroom and studio apartments, and reduce some apartment sizes, while changing rules around the number of apartments in a scheme that have to exceed minimum sizes by 10 per cent. Other matters such as loosening restrictions on dual aspect, governing natural light, will also be contained.
Minister for Finance
Paschal Donohoe
will bring a Bill legislating for a statutory 'right to be forgotten' for
cancer
survivors when it comes to buying a home or
insurance
products.
The legislation will adapt a Bill brought forward in this area by
Fianna Fáil
TD for Dublin South Central Catherine Ardagh. The new legislation will focus on
mortgage
-protection insurance.
Minister for Climate
Darragh O'Brien
will bring forward amendments on air pollution to support enforcement personnel monitoring air quality. He will also ask the Cabinet to note the outcomes of the
29th COP
conference in Baku.
Meanwhile, Minister for Communications
Patrick O'Donovan
will update the cabinet on the National Broadband Plan, telling Ministers that the project is on track to be delivered ahead of time and within its budget.
Minister for Health
Jennifer Carroll MacNeill
will bring amendments to the health Act including new requirements for the
Health Service Executive
board and chief executive regarding budgetary management, and requiring that proposals for corrective action be put in place where expenditure levels are exceeded.
The annual report of the
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
will be brought to Cabinet by Minister for Enterprise
Peter Burke
, along with a report on Irish competitiveness and the
Enterprise Ireland
report for 2024.
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Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Mum and kids killed in Fermanagh shooting are 'together and finally safe', funeral hears
Crowds turned out in the Co Clare village of Barefield for the funeral of a murdered mother and her children. Veterinary surgeon Vanessa Whyte, 45, and her children James Rutledge, 14, and Sara Rutledge, 13, died in a shooting incident at their home in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh, in July. Agricultural contractor Ian Rutledge, 43, who died on Monday, is understood to be the only suspect in the shooting of his family. Vanessa, James and Sara were laid to rest on Saturday. Pic: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire Police in Northern Ireland have said a triple murder and attempted suicide was a line of inquiry. Following a service of removal in Maguiresbridge on Wednesday, a funeral service took place for Vanessa and her children in Barefield, where she was originally from. Crowds travelled to attend the funeral at the Church of the Immaculate Conception on Saturday. Many of the mourners wore GAA jerseys and bright colours as requested by the family as they lined the main street to watch the three hearses pass by. Symbols were placed at each of the three victims' coffins by their family and friends to remember them for what they loved. Cattle tags and a blue card were laid at veterinarian Vanessa's coffin to celebrate the 'unique and irreplaceable' life she led. A hurley was placed at James' coffin as 'the pitch was his second home'. His spirit of 'loyalty, dependability and kindness' was what he carried with him on and off the pitch. A toy cat was given as a tribute to Sara to demonstrate her love for animals and to represent how she was 'calm, quietly attentive and always there.' Vanessa's sister, Regina, then read a heartbreaking and touching eulogy for all three of the victims. Regina began: 'From an early age, Vanessa was destined to become a vet. As a child, Vanessa grew to love the land and more specifically, the animals that roamed it. 'She had a keen interest in the well-being of animals, which was highlighted by the purchase of a donkey with her newfound wealth from making her First Holy Communion… 'Vanessa was a witty, bright, kind and determined young lady. She would sit for hours nursing sick lambs, kittens and calves.' The three victims were huge GAA and animal lovers. Pic: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire Regina told a story about how Vanessa left her job in a local shop at 15 because she saw the owner mistreating a bird. She also explained her sister's love for the GAA led her to travel up to Dublin for the All-Ireland final in 1997 despite not having a ticket. This proved not to be an issue for Vanessa as she secured herself a ticket within 'an hour of reaching the capital.' Vanessa also loved to return to her native Clare, and it was where she 'truly relaxed'. Regina then moved on to the eulogies of Vanessa's 'world' – her children. She said: 'From a young age, James was exposed to the GAA… 'Over the last number of days, the GAA community have acknowledged James as the kind, bright, determined young teenager we as a family know so well. 'His vibrance and divilment in training often resulted in extra laps and push-ups but ultimately deeper friendships. 'James' smile was infectious and his loyalty was strong.' Recently, James was a part of the Fermanagh under-15 hurling team that narrowly lost the All-Ireland league final. Regina added: 'Although word on the street is that James wore his Clare jersey coming and going from the dressing room.' She recalled playing hurling with James in the local pitches and that he was never seen without his hurley or Gaelic football. His family find comfort that James got to witness his beloved Clare hurling team win the All-Ireland last year. Regina then told the church about 13-year-old Sara and her love for animals. She said: 'Her dream was to follow in her mother's footsteps and become a veterinary surgeon. 'When Sara is mentioned, the immediate association is with her beloved cats – Rosie in particular – and their well-being became our responsibility in recent times. 'Sara will be delighted to know that their new home and family will love and take care of them, as did she.' The community has been shaken 'to its core'. Pic: Noel Sweeney/PA Wire Sara played football and hurling just like her brother and although she was 'quiet and reserved', Sara had 'a smile that would light up a room'. Regina described her as a 'normal, happy 13-year-old teenager whose friends attest to her kindness, warmth and passion for life'. She also never left home without 'Bunny', a small toy dog. Regina continued: 'Over the years, there were many searches for Bunny in many houses over the country. He was often found in the bottom of her schoolbag or the pocket of the car door. 'When you saw Sara, Bunny was in close proximity and he will remain with her on her final journey.' Sara also learned a lot about the farm and always followed her mother and brother out to look after her herd. Regina concluded: 'Vanessa, James and Sara were taken from this world in a cruel and vicious manner. 'There are no words available to express how this has impacted our family and their friends. 'We as a family have been robbed of both our relationship with our sister and the chance to see James and Sara grow up and they have been robbed of the remainder of their lives. 'It has taken us 11 days to be in a position where we can have Vanessa, James and Sara back in Clare. 'This was supposed to be a happy and joyous occasion, where Vanessa would see her new nephew and Sara and James would meet their baby cousin Harry Joe for the first time. 'Instead, we are in the position of choosing coffins, final burial places and funeral hymns. 'For us, as a family, the only comfort we have is that Vanessa, James and Sara are together and finally safe. 'Vanessa will have her children at either side of her forever, as they were when they were alive.' Vanessa, James and Sara are to be buried together in Templemaley Cemetery.


Irish Times
3 hours ago
- Irish Times
Mother and two children killed in Co Fermanagh shooting are ‘irreplaceable', funeral told
The funeral of a mother and her two children killed in a suspected murder-suicide last week has heard they played an 'irreplaceable' part in the lives of their families, community and beyond. Vanessa Whyte (45), her 14-year-old son James and 13-year-old daughter Sara were shot during the incident at their home in Maguiresbridge, Co Fermanagh , on the morning of Wednesday, July 23rd. The sole suspect, Ian Rutledge (43), died in hospital several days after the shooting. Mr Rutledge was married to Ms Whyte and was the father of her two children. Mourners were asked to wear bright colours to the Mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Barefield, Co Clare , where Ms Whyte is from. READ MORE Bishop of Ferns Ger Nash told those gathered in the church, outside and viewing online that many are 'heartbroken at the tragic and unspeakable loss of three lives with so much to give to the world'. 'Every story and shared memory since their deaths reminds us of the irreplaceable part they played in the lives of their families, their community, their schools, workplaces, teams and clubs,' he said. He said there is no easy answer for why tragic events such as this occur. 'Here in Barefield church today with Vanessa, James, and Sara, we are in the land of 'I don't know',' he said. 'The tragic events of last week, and the ripping away of three people from their family and friends leave us searching for answers and coming back again and again to the only answer that is completely true: 'We don't know.'' The funeral Mass Vanessa Whyte, her son James Rutledge, and daughter Sara Rutledge was held on Saturday. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA The coffins of shooting victims Vanessa Whyte and her children Sara and James Rutledge. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The coffins of shooting victims Vanessa Whyte and her children Sara and James Rutledge. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire He said Ms Whyte brought immense gifts to her adopted county Fermanagh and the Maguiresbridge community. Bishop Nash said tributes paid to Ms Whyte and her children on came from people who knew them well but also from strangers who signed their messages: 'A Waterford mammy', 'A Cork granny', 'A Wicklow mother' and 'A Dublin family'. 'There were some with both dads and mams mentioned, but there were many where a woman spoke from her own heart. They don't know you, nor you them. But they know your story, and if they hug their teenagers more tightly and call a ceasefire in the perpetual war about tidy rooms, then they have learned that life is precious, and we must be grateful for every day given to us and to those we love,' he said. 'Over and over, I could see that women and mothers, as individuals, reached out in their shock and sadness at the loss of a mother and children ... The messages highlighted the vulnerability of women to pain inflicted by others and [there were] were signs of solidarity in the face of that pain.' Addressing Sara and James's friends, he encouraged the young people to 'talk often about our absent friends and to seek help and support when the sorrow becomes too heavy'. Police Service of Northern Ireland detectives are continuing their murder investigation.


Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
Woman (50s) dies after getting into difficulty swimming in Co Donegal
A woman in her 50s has died after getting into difficulty while swimming in Co Donegal . Gardaí in Killybegs were alerted to the incident at Glencolmcille just after 7pm on Friday evening after the woman was taken from the water. She was airlifted to Sligo University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination is due to take place and a file will be prepared for the coroner. READ MORE Investigations are ongoing, gardaí said.