Sexual abuse in schools inquiry
Sadly, I experienced many years of physical and mental abuse. It is very disappointing that the dreadful abuse of corporal punishment, suffered by so many in this country, has not been included in this investigation.
Any kind of abuse, be it sexual or otherwise, leaves dreadful lifelong scars, and stays with victims for the rest of their lives. – Yours, etc,
BRIAN McDEVITT,
READ MORE
Glenties,
Co Donegal.
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Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
White House confirms 15% tariff rate will include pharma and semiconductors
The White House has confirmed the tariff rate of 15 per cent in the trade deal struck with the European Union on Sunday will include pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. The two sectors are key to Irish exports, accounting for the bulk of the €72 billion of goods shipped to the US last year. The Government and the European Commission both said on Monday it was their 'clear understanding' there would be a tariff ceiling of 15 per cent in those sectors. Senior figures in the commission said its negotiating team had been given commitments by US president Donald Trump's administration on this point, but there remained some lingering concern owing to the unpredictable nature of Mr Trump. READ MORE However, a 'fact sheet' published by the White House contains a line stating the tariff rate of 15 per cent will apply to pharmaceuticals and semiconductors, albeit couched in terms that suggest the tariffs will be paid by the EU when in fact they will be borne by US companies or consumers. [ How the EU's 'lopsided' US trade deal was done Opens in new window ] 'As part of president Trump's strategy to establish balanced trade, the European Union will pay the United States a tariff rate of 15 per cent, including on autos and auto parts, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors,' the White House said. EU Commission trade spokesman Olof Gill noted that the framework agreement was in effect a 'political commitment' rather than a legally binding document. He said Europe and the White House were now working on a joint statement, which will be treated as 'an agreement in principle' that will give the bloc a 'political road map to where we take it from here'. 'Both sides are working very hard now to get the details of that signed up,' he said on RTÉ Radio One. 'We're hoping to do that before the deadline of August 1st set by the US.' At that stage, he said, the EU would be in a position to say 'very clearly' what the next stages are, and will use the joint statement as 'a platform to look at other areas where we can reduce tariffs'. 'This is how it's going to work,' he said. 'Fifteen per cent is across the board. That's going to cover all sectors. It's going to cover pharma. It is going to cover digital. 'What we're talking about here are political commitments. This joint statement I mentioned isn't a legally binding document. These are commitments.' Separately, it has emerged Irish butter entering the US will return to the tariff level in place before Mr Trump came to office, which was around 16 per cent. In a briefing to members this week, business lobby Ibec pointed out that butter had been subject to a tariff based on the weight of the product, rather than a percentage figure which is more common. This worked out at about 16 per cent of the value of the product. Under the finer details of the deal, products which had been tariffed on this basis are to return to their original level rather than the 15 per cent which will apply more generally. This returns Kerrygold, sold by Ornua, to a tariff level at which it has managed to grow its market share in recent years. Since Mr Trump imposed his additional 10 per cent tariff in April, Irish butter imported to the US has faced a punitive tariff of around 26 per cent. Meanwhile, the trade deal has been described by an academic from University College Cork as 'a capitulation' by Europe that will cause 'long-term negative results'. Dr John O'Brien, an academic on financial markets and investments, who was previously an investment manager in London, said the EU had projected 'weakness'. 'The EU commission, and Ursula von der Leyen in particular, has capitulated in the US trade deal with the US,' he said. 'The deal will negatively affect growth. In the short term, this is a better outcome than a trade war. 'However, the projection of weakness by the EU, surrendering to economic threats and accepting a one-sided deal will be noted globally with long-term negative results. China and Russia will be particularly interested in this weakness. 'The financial markets reacted by selling the euro, signalling an expectation of lower growth across the EU. This view was repeated as stock exchanges across the EU also fell.' Dr O'Brien said the 'supposed benefit' of certainty was 'overstated', and, echoing the comments of Mr Gill, noted that the current deal was just a 'political agreement'. 'There are many failure points before a deal is signed,' he said. 'Having conceded once to Trump there is no guarantee that he will not come back for more having sensed weakness. Business planning on the basis of 15 per cent and done may be surprised before the end of the year.' Matthew Ryan, head of market strategy at global financial services firm Ebury, said estimates of about a 0.3-0.5 per cent hit to the bloc's GDP in the next three to five years was 'moderate, but not enough to fuel recession concerns'.
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Man in 70s sent forward for trial accused of historical sex offences
A man in his 70s accused of historical sex abuse offences has been served with a book of evidence and sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court. The man, who cannot be named due to the nature of the charges, faces 79 allegations relating to the sexual abuse of four girls in Ireland during the 1970s and 1980s. Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court granted a return for trial order at the request of State solicitor Rory Staines. He told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) consented to being sent forward on indictment on the 79 charges in the book of evidence served by Garda Sergeant Amy Kelly. READ MORE They include 78 counts of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape. The offences allegedly occurred at various locations in Co Dublin, including Dún Laoghaire, Killiney, and Blackrock, between 1971 and 1981. At the time, the girls were minors aged between eight and 15. The man was extradited from the US last week. Judge Finan notified the man that he must inform the prosecution within 14 days if he intends to use an alibi in his trial. She also ordered investigating gardaí to provide copies of interview videos to the defence and told the accused that his lawyer would explain it to him later. The man, who has not yet entered a plea, was remanded in continuing custody pending trial with no bail application made. Legal aid has been granted, with the defence stating that he is not working and has no assets. The judge noted that there was no Garda objection, and she agreed to a request by his solicitor, Tracy Horan, that it would include senior and junior counsel representation. The date for his next hearing before the Central Criminal Court has yet to be set but will be held the next legal term, commencing in October. Dressed in a grey tracksuit and black runners, the man sat silently in a wheelchair and spoke only to consult his solicitor, who asked that he get dental attention in custody because he still had no dentures and 'is not able to eat solid foods'. Following extradition proceedings at the request of the Irish authorities, he was arrested at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport on the morning of July 22nd. Gardaí charged him at the instruction of the DPP. He faces 41 counts of indecent assault and one for attempted rape of one of the complainants, 34 counts of indecent assault of another female, two counts of indecent assault of another complainant, and one charge of indecent assault of the fourth. The offences are contrary to Common Law. At his first hearing, a few hours after his arrest, the defence solicitor had informed the judge that her client required medical assistance in custody because he had no dentures or hearing aid, as they had not been brought over from the United States. The judge had noted this information and agreed to add that he should urgently get dentures and a hearing aid in custody. When the proceedings resumed on Tuesday, she heard that the man still had no dentures and recommended that he get the appropriate treatment.
Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
Justin Kelly named as new Garda Commissioner to succeed Drew Harris
The Government has appointed current Garda Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly to succeed Garda Commissioner Drew Harris , who is due to retire in a matter of weeks. Mr Kelly has been appointed to lead the Garda force after a recruitment process that began in May. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan recommended Mr Kelly to his colleagues at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, where the appointment was confirmed. In a statement, Mr O'Callaghan said he is 'very pleased' the Government has accepted his recommendation. READ MORE 'The role of Garda Commissioner is one of the most challenging and impactful leadership positions in Ireland's public service and the appointment process was suitably rigorous,' he said. 'I am satisfied that Justin Kelly is both qualified and particularly well suited to the role of Commissioner given his extensive leadership experience over the last 30 years in some of the most challenging issues facing An Garda Síochána including national security, domestic and sexual violence, and organised crime.' [ Justin Kelly interview: The changing Irish drugs trade: rocketing cocaine prices, gangs growing closer and Irish middlemen in Colombia Opens in new window ] A three-week recruitment campaign was held in May, including an international search for suitable candidates, which resulted in 14 candidates. The selection process included two interviews and a presentation by candidates as well as a detailed psychometric assessment. While Mr Harris is not due to retire until September 1st, after seven years in the role, the handover to Mr Kelly is expected to take place sooner than that. His appointment will be a popular one across the Garda force as he has spent the majority of his policing career involved in crime investigation work, mostly combating drugs and organised crime. As a result, he is regarded as someone familiar with the pressures facing frontline gardaí. A Dubliner, Mr Kelly joined An Garda Síochána as a recruit in the 1990s and has served, since last October, as deputy commissioner for 'security, strategy and governance'. Before that he was assistant commissioner in charge of the 'serious and organised crime' area of the Garda, including all the specialist units that tackle serious and for-profit crime. He has been one of the key figures in the Garda leading and managing the investigations into the Kinahan cartel, including its leadership tier based in Dubai and its Irish operation, which was previously headed by Dubliner Liam Byrne. In an interview with The Irish Times last year, Mr Kelly said the nature of Irish organised crime had changed, with far fewer gangland gun murders but significant co-operation around importing drugs. He said he believed drugs gangs had seen how the Garda wiped out the Kinahan and Hutch groups in Dublin during the operation targeting their feud and had decided not to engage in feuding or gun murders for fear of being targeted in the same way. Mr Kelly said although many people believed Irish crime groups were 'competing with each other and these groups would kill each other on sight, that isn't the way'. Instead, Irish gangs were 'coming together' to import drugs, or transit drugs through the country on to other final destinations. 'We used to be an end destination, now we're [also] a transit country, without a doubt. And in some ways, we're a production country now, around cannabis herb,' Mr Kelly said, in reference to the proliferation of cannabis growhouses in the Republic. 'We've even had large MDMA [and] methamphetamine seizures here that have been going out of the country. And some of the really big cocaine seizures ... some of them have been partly staying here, partly transiting through the country.' Earlier, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) said the key issues that the new Garda Commissioner will have to address are retention, the morale crisis within the force, the use of suspensions and discipline, lack of training and excessive bureaucracy. Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast on Tuesday morning, the GRA's general secretary, Ronan Slevin, said he hoped that whoever is appointed as Garda Commissioner will recognise those issues that need to be addressed immediately. When asked about the GRA's lack of faith in Mr Harris, Mr Slevin said that he had failed to address issues identified by the association over many years. 'He still is denying that there is a morale issue within An Garda Síochána. And I think that the resignation and retirement figures clearly demonstrate that there's a serious morale issue within the workforce.' Mr Slevin said that the new commissioner will have to address issues such as the inability to attract new members into the force, as well as the staff retention issue. 'Those are issues that he can address immediately, the use of suspension, discipline, the lack of training, the bureaucracy and administration tasks that members unnecessarily have to get involved in on a day-to-day basis. All of that is leading into a demoralised workforce and I think that the new Commissioner will have to address that,' said Mr Slevin. 'You have a force that are in some way in fear of working because they know that if they make any form of a mistake they will be disciplined severely as a result of that, and that strangles the workforce in the environment that our workforce is in.'
