How spike in deportations led to massive drop in asylum cases
Jim O'Callaghan, the justice minister, will present new figures to a cabinet committee on immigration tomorrow showing 43 per cent fewer migrants have sought asylum in the first six months of this year compared with the same period in 2024.
The number of people deported after failing to secure international protection has been steadily increasing over the past number of years.
In 2023, when Helen McEntee was justice minister, 80 people were deported and 156 people had to leave the following year. So far this year, 198 people have been deported, with the majority being flown to their country of origin on chartered flights accompanied by gardai.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
French President Macron announces 6.5 billion euros in extra military spending in next two years
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced 6.5 billion euros ($7.6 billion) in extra military spending in the next two years because of new and unprecedented threats, ranging from Russia to nuclear proliferation, terrorists and online attacks. The French leader laid out the spending plans in a sweeping speech calling for intensified efforts to protect Europe, and support Ukraine in its war against Russia's full-scale invasion. He said France will aim to spend 64 billion euros ($74.8 billion) in annual defense spending in 2027, the last year of his second term. That would be double the 32 billion euros in annual spending when he became president in 2017. ″Since 1945, freedom has never been so threatened, and never so seriously,'' Macron said in the French president's traditional speech to the military on the eve of the Bastille Day national holiday. ''We are experiencing a return to the fact of a nuclear threat, and a proliferation of major conflicts.'' ″To be free in this world, we must be feared. To be feared, we must be powerful,'' he said. He insisted that France can find the money to spend more on the military even as it tries to bring down massive national debts. Conservative and far-right parties have supported greater defense spending, while left-wing parties accuse the government of sacrificing hard-won social welfare benefits for military spending. Europe is in danger because of Russia's war in Ukraine and wars in the Middle East, and because ″the United States has added a form of uncertainty,″ Macron argued. Other dangers he cited included online disinformation campaigns by unnamed foreign governments and propaganda operations targeting children, in ″the screen era.″ Macron also ordered France's top military and defense officials to start a ″strategic dialogue″ with European partners about the role that the French nuclear arsenal could play in protecting Europe. In an exceptional move, France and Britain agreed in recent days to cooperate on nuclear defense issues. Macron's speech came as U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to make an announcement about Russia on Monday, and the head of NATO is traveling to Washington for two days of talks. Trump last week announced plans to sell NATO allies weaponry that they can then pass on to Ukraine, which has been struggling to repel massive and complex Russian air assaults. Macron recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in three years, but remains a target of widespread criticism in Russia for his vocal support for Ukraine. The Kremlin argues that the Ukraine conflict is a consequence of Western countries' decision to ignore Russia's security interests. The head of the French military, Gen. Thierry Burkhard, laid out risks emanating from Russia that stretch well beyond Ukraine. Russia is disrupting trajectories of satellites to jam them or spy on them, is involved in undersea infrastructure sabotage, and leads disinformation campaigns in France and Africa, Burkhard said Friday. He said Russian attack submarines penetrate into the North Atlantic and the Mediterranean, and Russian military planes interact frequently with other aircraft over the Black Sea, Syria, the Mediterranean and the North Atlantic. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, in an interview published Sunday in La Tribune Dimanche, urged more French spending on defense technology and better training of engineers and technicians. ″Big powers and certain proliferating countries are working secretly on quantum computers ... that will be capable tomorrow of revolutionizing the battlefield. Do we want to stay in the game?'
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Church of England faces civil war over same-sex blessings
Church of England parishes are facing civil war over same-sex blessings, it has been claimed. The blessings, for same-sex couples who have already entered a civil marriage or partnership, have been given by vicars since a vote two years ago. But not everyone has to perform them and it has become a point of contention between liberal and conservative clergy. It has now emerged that junior priests are being 'overruled or marginalised' in their parishes by vicars who are against the blessings. One priest complained that in some cases, vicars are promising at their interviews to offer same-sex blessings but once in post have gone back on their word. They claimed juniors are being 'treated horrifically, called names and put down'. It is up to the discretion of each individual vicar as to whether or not they wish to offer the blessings, known as Prayers of Love and Faith (PLF), in their church, according to Church guidelines. The Rev Chantal Noppen, of the diocese of Durham, said in a written question to General Synod, the Church of England's legislative body which is convening in York: 'Clergy who in conscience cannot offer the PLF are assured that they will not be required to do so. 'What corresponding protections or support are in place for Parochial Church Councils [PCCs], lay leaders or clergy colleagues who do wish to offer PLF but find themselves overruled or marginalised – particularly following the appointment of new incumbents whose views differ from the inclusive ethos the parish has long upheld?' The Archbishop of York, the Most Rev Stephen Cottrell, said that if a new vicar's is against offering the blessings, this should be agreed beforehand so that there 'would be no surprise' when they are banned. He said: 'The current guidance indicates that use of the PLF is always at the discretion of the minister. 'Good practice is to make this decision in consultation with the PCC and to work within the tradition and sensitivities of their local context. 'The guidance suggests that if a parish has strong views on whether the prayers should or should not be offered, this should be agreed in advance of the appointment…so that there would be no surprise when a new incumbent takes up their post.' Responding to the Archbishop's comments, the Rev Chantal, who works as the national co-ordinator of Inclusive Church, a pro-LGBT rights group within the Church, said: 'I asked the question because I know it has been happening. And this has not been named or acknowledged openly so I wanted to flag it up.' She said that since asking the question 'I have had more people coming up and telling me that it happened to them, or in their church too'. The priest added that there are 'incredible layers of protection for those who want to remain affirming', adding that 'there has never been a question that any priest will be forced to do something they don't feel they can'. But she accused priests who are against the blessings of blocking those who want to be 'welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community'. She said: 'I've heard of clergy being appointed who have promised at interview to honour the churches theology and praxis, but then once in post they've gone back on that. And very few PCCs are able, or feel able, to push back in those situations.' She added that the views of vicars who do not believe in same-sex blessings are not 'more important or valid', and that 'the morals, integrity and call of priests in other lines of work and fulfilling their vocation in a different way, are not lesser'. 'We have to put up with being treated horrifically, called names and put down,' she said. Left post with 'heavy heart' The historic vote in 2023 was criticised by progressives who claimed it did not go far enough towards full equality because same-sex marriages are still prohibited. Conservatives were also against it, arguing marriage should only be between a man and a woman. In June, the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Martyn Snow, announced that he would step down as the lead bishop for the Living in Love and Faith (LLF) process, which is designed to support the Church of England's guidance on sexuality. He said he left the post 'with a very heavy heart' and that he no longer believed that agreement could be reached under his leadership. Church officials have since announced that they will not replace him and no longer have a bishop leading the LLF process. Bishop Snow's departure has plunged the Church into further chaos over the issue and comes at a pivotal moment, as the House of Bishops works towards presenting final proposals regarding the institution's stance on sexuality to the General Synod in 2026. The Archbishop of York referenced the ongoing struggles regarding LLF at the top levels of the Church in his opening address to Synod on Friday where he said: 'Although we seem no nearer a settlement that can hold us together, how many other organisations would go this far with such disagreement?'
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
France's Macron announces plan to accelerate military spending
PARIS, July 13 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced a plan to push forward France's defence spending, pledging to double the military budget by 2027 - three years earlier than originally planned - in response to a complex geopolitical moment. France had aimed to double its defence budget from 2017 levels by 2030. However, Macron pledged to reach the target by 2027. A military budget that stood at 32 billion euros ($37.40 billion) in 2017 will rise to 64 billion euros by 2027, with an additional 3.5 billion euros allocated for next year and another 3 billion euros in 2027. He said the accelerated spending, which comes as France is struggling to make 40 billion euros in savings in its 2026 budget, would be paid for by increased economic activity. "Our military independence is inseparable from our financial independence," he said. "This will be financed through more activity and more production." He said Prime Minister Francois Bayrou would provide more details in an address on his plans for the 2026 budget on Tuesday. Bayrou is facing an uphill battle to steer billions of euros worth of savings through a bitterly divided parliament, as France strives to lower its budget deficit to keep EU bean-counters and foreign investors at bay. ($1 = 0.8555 euros)
