Donal Fallon: What the Israeli ambassador got wrong about Ireland's wartime neutrality
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Irish Independent
6 minutes ago
- Irish Independent
Sean Kelly and Heather Humphreys confirm battle for Fine Gael nomination to run for Áras
Mr Kelly and Ms Humphreys had previously ruled out seeking a nomination when Fine Gael first sought a candidate. Ms Humphreys declared her intention to run for the presidency this morning on Northern Sound FM. She appeared on the Joe Finnegan Show on Northern Sound, less than an hour after her party colleague Sean Kelly confirmed his bid for the Áras. "I have decided to go for it and I will be seeking the Fine Gael nomination to be a candidate for the president of Ireland," she said. She added: "I've had a good rest. The tank is full again. Timing is a funny thing, because I have never felt as good about taking on a challenge." Fine Gael is now on course for an internal leadership battle over who should be their candidacy for the presidential election. In a statement this morning Mr Kelly said: "The time is right to put my name forward for this enormously important role." He said: "As someone who has devoted my life to serving communities across Ireland, as a teacher, as President of the GAA, and for the past sixteen years as MEP for Ireland South, I am confident that I can represent the country with integrity, inclusiveness, and a commitment to our communities. To be entrusted with that honour would be the greatest privilege of my life." He said: "I take this opportunity to particularly thank my constituents in Ireland South for their unwavering support over the years and their encouragement in recent days." He said he believed a competitive selection process is good for Fine Gael" and would "ensure that we are best placed heading into this vitally important election." ADVERTISEMENT Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, he said he was now 'enthusiastic' about running for president. "Obviously circumstances changed with Mairead having to withdraw and that changed the position. We needed a new candidate. I was the last man standing the last time. He continued: "I'm delighted and enthusiastic about the prospect of running for President of Ireland, reflecting what many people have said to me because I underestimated the support I had at grassroots while I was out in Europe," he said. "In the last two or three weeks I'm here at home, everywhere I went people said to me, Sean we're very disappointed you can't go forward, we had the shoes ready, we're looking forward to calling to you in the hours for a cup of tea." Mr Kelly announced on the very same programme last month that he would not seek the Fine Gael nomination for the Áras, describing the position as merely "ceremonial" compared to his work as an MEP. "Well that was in comparison to presidents maybe around the world who have executive power," he said. "But I think actually there's a huge potential in the job is the highest honour in Ireland," he said, praising the "tremendous work" carried out by previous Irish presidents. "I would bring the Áras to the people as much as the people to the Áras," he added. Mr Kelly welcomes the prospect of competing with fellow Fine Gael member Heather Humphreys which he says is "good for democracies". "We didn't have a contest for a long time now. We didn't have a contest at the last presidential election some years ago, within the contest of leadership, we wouldn't go to the contest in marriage of the nomination. So I think people would like to have a contest. Contests are good for parties, they're good for democracies."
Extra.ie
3 hours ago
- Extra.ie
Positive outcome after White House meeting with Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sounded optimistic after his meeting at the White House yesterday, in which he held discussions with President Donald Trump aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine. European officials said the hastily arranged talks reflected the urgency many leaders feel, along with President Trump, on ending the war, which has claimed thousands of lives over the past three and a half years. Trump and Zelensky held an initial meeting, before they were then joined in a discussion with key European leaders from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, The European Commission and NATO. WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 18: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on August 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by) The atmosphere was much friendlier than that of the last meeting at the White House, which descended into a shouting match between President Zelensky, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. This time, Volodomyr Zelensky broke from his usual military style clothing and wore a smart suit to the meeting, and he also handed over a letter from his wife Olena, for the American first lady Melania Trump, thanking her for her message to Vladamir Putin about the suffering of children during the war. WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 18: U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and other European leaders at the White House on August 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump hosted President Zelensky at the White House for a bilateral meeting and an expanded meeting with European leaders to discuss a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. (Photo by) It's understood their discussion covered security guarantees and humanitarian concerns, but, there was also some discussion on the possibility of Ukraine purchasing American weapons, through European funding. Zelensky also said both men discussed a map of Russian-captured areas in Ukraine, adding that he had 'argued' with Trump about the amount of territory held by Russia. It's understood President Trump paused the meeting with Zelensky to phone Putin and tell the Russian leader what had been discussed and come to an agreement on setting up a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, something it's believed Putin was supportive of. WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 18: U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House on August 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by) Speaking after the meeting Donald Trump promised American assistance saying 'When it comes to security, there's going to be a lot of help,' adding that European countries would be involved. 'They are a first line of defence because they're there, but we'll help them out.' Afterwards the Ukrainian president was upbeat as he described the promise of American help as a 'major step forward' saying these guarantees would be 'formalized on paper within the next 10 days'. Donald Trump also said he had already begun making plans for a bi-lateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, adding that he would join in a tri-lateral session, after the two men held initial talks. The Ukrainian leader added that he is ready for 'any format of a meeting' with the Russian President.
Irish Independent
4 hours ago
- Irish Independent
China extends EU dairy probe into 2026, citing case ‘complexity'
When the investigation was first launched in the second half of last year, it was widely feared to be part of a tit-for-tat reciprocation in response to EU countries voting to impose tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China. Yesterday, China extended its investigation into whether EU members are illegally subsidising dairy that is then sold for export. The Ministry of Commerce said it had prolonged the investigation period to February 21, 2026, citing the case's complexity. In June, an investigation into European pork was similarly extended, leaving exporters on tenterhooks at a time of heightened global trade tensions and a push within the EU to expand into new non-US markets. Trade tensions between China and the EU erupted in 2023 when the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy probe into Chinese-made electric vehicles, accusing Beijing of flooding the market with state-backed exports. In April this year, a European Commission spokesperson said the EU and China had agreed to look into setting minimum prices of Chinese-made EVs instead of tariffs imposed by the EU last year. The two sides have yet to reach a deal. China's move in relation to food imports means its response to barriers against its EVs hits EU member states, including Ireland, that do not produce cars that compete with Chinese-made models, but do value access to Chinese consumers. So far, Irish farmers and producers have largely escaped the backlash. The Chinese complaint relates to a sub-sector of dairy products, including cheeses. Most Irish cheese exports are directed to the UK and EU markets. Irish exports are skewed more to butter and milk-derived dairy ingredients used in baby powders and other whey-based products. However, the case highlights the growing trend away from market access across the globe, not just in the US where a tariff regime is now becoming firmly entrenched. 'Beijing is still hoping to come to terms with the EU on a long list of trade conflicts,' said Even Rogers Pay, an analyst at Beijing-based Trivium China, who specialises in agriculture. 'This investigation – along with the investigation into EU pork, which was extended in June – are significant bargaining chips in the ongoing negotiations around the EU's tariffs on Chinese new energy vehicles,' she said.
