Latest news with #EamonnFarrell
Extra.ie
23-07-2025
- Business
- Extra.ie
Crackdown on petrol price gouging as raids hit in several counties
Consumerwatchdog inspectors have carried out a string of unannounced raids on petrol stations and shops over 'mis-pricing'. Some filling stations have been accused of charging more for petrol than they had advertised on their price boards. The 55 inspections, carried out by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), targeted dozens of retail businesses nationwide earlier this month. The raids included clothing, beauty, furniture, grocery and hospitality businesses. Labour Party enterprise spokesman George Lawlor. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/ Labour Party enterprise spokesman George Lawlor told last night that any such 'mis-pricing' is a 'betrayal of customers' and called on the CCPC to 'send a signal' that these practices will not be tolerated with the strongest level of fines. 'This is an awful betrayal of customers, particularly at a time when we have a cost-of-living crisis – to have individual petrol stations falsely displaying prices and charging higher is something that really must be tackled by CCPC and the severest fines possible imposed. It must be tackled and ended so the practice is discouraged in the strongest possible way,' Deputy Lawlor said. The 55 inspections by the CCPC included 22 in Dublin – in Swords, Dundrum and Tallaght; one in Leixlip, Co. Kildare; and eight in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The 55 inspections, carried out by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), targeted dozens of retail businesses nationwide earlier this month. Pic: Leah Farrell/ A further 12 were carried out across Donegal, including in Letterkenny, Bundoran and Donegal town, and there were another 12 in Co. Sligo. The CCPC's last annual report, released last July, found that misleading pricing had surged amid cost-of-living pressures. In 2022, the CCPC was given tough new powers to crack down on false pricing, where the retailer advertises one price but charges another. Those new powers included surveillance against suspected offenders. Lifestyle Sports (Ireland), DID Electrical Appliances and Rathwood Home & Garden World pleaded guilty in March to breaking sales pricing legislation and were ordered to donate €1,000 each to Little Flower Penny Dinners for the homeless. n May, pharmacy chain Boots pleaded guilty to wrongful claims of Black Friday bargains. Pic:In May, pharmacy chain Boots pleaded guilty to wrongful claims of Black Friday bargains and was also ordered to pay €1,000 to the same homelessness charity. However, the CCPC wants more powers to impose large fines for serious offences – such as penalties that are a percentage of a business's turnover. CCPC member Patrick Kenny said: 'We carry out unannounced inspections and if we find traders breaking the law, we can issue fines and take prosecutions. Consumers need to see prices up front in order to make informed choices. If our enforcement officers find breaches of consumer protection law, we will act.' A CCPC spokesman said: 'These inspections form part of the CCPC's ongoing work to monitor compliance with consumer protection laws and ensure fair trading practices across Ireland. The law sets out how traders must display prices and covers the selling price, unit price and reduced prices. Some filling stations have been accused of charging more for petrol than they had advertised on their price boards. Pic: Shutterstock 'CCPC officers identified several breaches of consumer protection law, including inadequate or inaccurate price displays on items for sale.' David Blevings, spokesman for the Irish Petrol Retailers Association, which represents independent garages, said it 'welcomes any investigation by the CCPC as our members are fully aware of the requirements of the Fuel Price Comparison legislation'. 'We send out the price information to all our members quarterly, ahead of the required date for implementation,' he added. 'We would encourage consumers to check if their local station is a member of the Irish Petrol Retailers Association when purchasing fuel.' Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Niamh Smyth TD. Pic: Sam Boal/Collins Photos A spokesman for the Fuels For Ireland body, which represents the larger service station chains, did not comment. Earlier this month, Niamh Smyth, Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, told the Dáil that the CCPC would be given enhanced powers to protect consumers. Ms Smyth said she was 'progressing legislative reforms' that would give the CCPC 'the ability to impose stronger sanctions for breaches of consumer protection law'. The Fianna Fáil TD also said that the CCPC has actively used its existing powers for enforcement where necessary and that in 2024 and 2025 it 'successfully prosecuted several retailers for breaches of price indication and sale pricing regulations'. 'In these cases, the courts ordered the offending retailers to pay legal costs and make charitable donations as part of the settlement,' she said. People who suspect a trader has breached consumer law are encouraged to call the CCPC by phoning the National Consumer Helpline on 01 402 5555 or emailing ask@ For serious breaches, the CCPC can impose fines of up to €5,000.
The Journal
22-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Houses, water, health and Metrolink: The key points from the National Development Plan
THE GOVERNMENT HAS announced funding proposals for the latest National Development Plan (NDP) this afternoon. The announcement, made at Government Buildings by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and independent TD Seán Canney, was made at Government Buildings this afternoon. The NDP is the government's long-term plan for what large-scale infrastructure projects will be needed in Ireland over the next five to ten years. This iteration covers the period up to 2035 and sets out a total investment of €275.4 billion. Advertisement Every few years, the development plans are re-worked and reviewed by governments to ensure there are plans in place to meet things like housing needs to account for Ireland's growing population. The plans also cover demands on public transport and roads and whether people have adequate health services now and into the future. The plans are often ambitious and sometimes described as 'wish lists' by ministers. However, under the current government, ministers were instructed to submit projects that could be delivered in the short- to medium-term, rather than ideas that might never see the light of day (as has been the case in the past). There are also concerns that Ireland is playing catch-up with the rest of Europe when it comes to infrastructure, which is why a key focus in this NDP is housing , along with water infrastructure and Ireland's energy sector . So, what's in it? Housing The government plans to invest €35.955 billion in housing from 2026 to 2030. €28.275 billion of this has been assigned to housing itself and €7.680 billion to water infrastructure. Describing housing as the 'most critical priority' for the Government, the Taoiseach outlined a target of 300,000 new homes. The 300,000 includes privately developed homes and the figure reaffirms the target contained in the Programme for Government. Of those new homes the Government has set a target of delivering an annual average of 12,000 new build social housing units by 2030. Water (inc sewerage, water services) Including funding from outside today's NDP allocation, a total of €12 billion has been released and earmarked specifically for critical water infrastructure investment. Martin said that increased investment in water facilities is 'critical' to meeting demand for more infrastructure. 'This is critical to meet the heightened pace of demand for infrastructure due to increased economic growth and will support new house building industrial development and regional growth,' Martin said. The government's ability to meet its housing targets has been called into doubt by economists who have raised concerns about the state's ability to provide the infrastructure needed to serve housing developments, most notably water. Related Reads Roads, houses and water: Ireland's biggest ever infrastructure plan to be announced today Members of the media at today's annnouncement. Eamonn Farrell / © Eamonn Farrell / © / © Transport (roads, public transport) The government plans to invest €24.33 billion in transport between 2026 and 2030. This includes €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund (ICNF) that is being allocated to 'low-carbon transportation' projects – in particular, the MetroLink underground line for Dublin . The MetroLink would see an underground rail line running between the north and south of Co Dublin, with stops in the suburbs, the city centre and at Dublin Airport. An underground rail line for Dublin was first proposed in a government plan in 2005 but was shelved for several years during the recession. It's now expected that construction may not begin until at least 2028 . Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the total investment will go to 'extending public transport, improving road networks and road safety, promoting electrification and supporting active travel and greenways'. Health The health service is to receive €9.25 in infrastructure investment under the new National Development plan from 2026 through to 2030. In 2021 just €5.7 bn was committed to spending on healthcare infrastructure for 2021-2025. The Government said that this 'substantially enhanced' provision will support the delivery of 'equitable' health services around the country. Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has sought funding for further work on the introduction of an electronic health record and other digitalisation projects, which was also a key focus for the last NDP. The proposed Metrolink project. Climate and energy Exchequer funding of €5.6 billion has been earmarked for infrastructure spending by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The government is increasing its equity shareholdings in ESB and EirGrid to the value of €2 billion and €1.5 billion with a view to enabling the companies to 'significantly increase capital investment to expand electricity transmission and distribution network infrastructure'. 'Even though there are many countries internationally who are pushing to move in the opposite direction, we believe that the climate crisis is acute and addressing it must remain a priority,' the Taoiseach said. Martin said expanded investment in energy infrastructure and diversifying sources of energy are 'critical to our national security and to realising the enormous potential AI to future economic development'. Increased investment in energy infrastructure is also an important part of the government's plans to address the housing crisis, Martin said. Reporting by Christina Finn, Daragh Brophy, Lauren Boland, Eoghan Dalton, David MacRedmond and Eimer McAuley. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
TD calls for 'Russian' replica sailing ship to be removed from Irish waters off Dublin
LAST UPDATE | 2 hrs ago Sailing ship The Shtandart opposite Dalkey Island this afternoon Eamonn Farrell / Eamonn Farrell / / THIS MORNING Irish authorities have officially contacted a controversial sail training vessel which is suspected of links to the Russian Government. The Shtandart is a replica of a ship built in 1703 by Peter the Great, a Russian Tsar – she is currently visible at anchor off the village of Killiney in south County Dublin. It was built in 1999 and sails under the flag of the Cook Islands but campaigners have claimed it is a Russian operated sail training vessel. It is understood that the Naval Service hailed the vessel this morning and asked what are its intentions. All Russian ships are banned from entering EU ports due to sanctions that were imposed on Russian vessels shortly after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The vessel has no permission to land in Ireland. Her destination, as entered on a ship tracking system, is listed as Dundee in Scotland – she has sailed up from France. 8.7.2025 1:15pm TS Shtandart 🇨🇰 | Hawk Cliff | Killiney Bay | 🇮🇪. • View from Vico Road, Dalkey. • View from dlr Killiney Hill Park. @PhotosOfDublin — Don Sheahan (@SheahanDon) July 8, 2025 Controversy The presence of the vessel has caused some controversy and Fine Gael TD Barry Ward, who is from Dún Laoghaire, has called on the Minister Timmy Dooley, the Minister for State for the Marine, to intervene and have the ship removed. 'These EU sanctions were put in place in reaction to the appalling atrocities carried out by Vladimir Putin and his administration and if we are to be serious about their implementation, we must adhere to them. 'In recent weeks, this ship was banned from entering a number of French ports including Saint-Malo, which will be familiar to many Irish holidaymakers. Going back further, there is an extensive list of European ports that have blocked or sought to block this vessel from entering their waters. 'The formal EU sanctions against Russia are clear and while the Shtandart operates under a Cook Islands flag, this has only been the case since June 2024 and previously sailed under a Russian flag. European Union sanctions introduced a port ban on Russia-flagged vessels, and those reflagged after the invasion of Ukraine, in April 2022,' he said. Advertisement Ward said that the ship is permitted to transit through Irish waters but said there is a 'legal grey area'. 'This ship has a history of declaring false emergencies in order to gain extended access to European ports. 'This includes medical emergency declarations (which would allow it to seek safe harbour) but this must not be allowed to happen in Dún Laoghaire or Dublin. 'The European commission has specifically clarified that this vessel falls under the scope of the sanctions and these sanctions must be upheld,' he added. Ward added that he has written to the Minister and said that the captain of the ship is showing 'clear disregard for EU sanctions and this arrogance and perception of impunity cannot be permitted'. Speaking to RTE News the Captain of the vessel Vladimir Martus said that the attention his ship was facing was 'unfair'. 'We are against what Putin is doing and nobody on this ship has ever expressed support for Russia. 'The Shtandart is simply a replica vessel. We are not a Russian vessel. Shtandart is, and always has been, dedicated to education, heritage, and human connection. We are a homeless child in European waters, and we are fighting for survival,' he told RTE. State response A statement a spokesperson for the Department of Transport confirmed it was monitoring the ship 'on an administrative basis' to ensure it is in compliance with EU's 'restrictive measures against Russia'. 'The Department is aware of the movements of the vessel known as Shtandart. It should be noted that the vessel has not entered a pre-arrival notice for entry into an Irish port which is required under EU regulations. 'From the information available to the Department through third party sources it is understood that the vessel was previous registered under the Russian flag and would fall under the restrictive measures. 'The Department of Transport has been in contact with ports under its remit on the east coast (Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort) to remind them of their responsibilities under EU Council Regulation 833/2014 and the prohibition on providing access to Russian registered vessels to Irish ports and locks. 'This prohibition also applies to vessels that have changed their flag or their registration from the Russian Federation to the flag or register of any other State after 24 February 2022,' the Statement said. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Extra.ie
26-06-2025
- General
- Extra.ie
Peat trade laws ignored as councils refuse to intervene with illegal €40m extraction
Peat worth €40million is being illegally extracted and exported from sites in seven counties. The failure of county councils to properly crack down on illegal peat extraction 'flies in the face' of Ireland's climate and biodiversity obligations, the Environmental Protection Agency has warned. A new report by the EPA released today reveals that the agency has investigated 38 sites across seven counties where 'local authority enforcement performance is patently inadequate'. Pic: Eamonn Farrell/ 'Local authorities have been conspicuous in their lack of enforcement of environmental law,' the report noted. It highlighted that Offaly had the most unauthorised sites with nine in the county, followed by Westmeath at eight, Roscommon and Tipperary at six, Longford and Kildare at four, and Sligo with one site. It's estimated that these sites are responsible for 300,000 tonnes of peat being exported annually, valued at almost €40million. The main markets for the peat are the North, Britain, the Netherlands, Australia and Japan. Pic: Shutterstock The director of the EPA's Office of Environmental Enforcement, Dr Tom Ryan, said that there could be even more than 38 large-scale sites in Ireland, but that the agency has put considerable effort into monitoring them over the past few years. 'We've been engaging with the local authorities for a number of years on this. We've identified all of these sites, given them all the important information that we have, including aerial photography of the sites,' he said. 'We have sent out draft notices to them as part of our role in overseeing them, and they've responded to that part of the process. They've said that what we are asking for, they don't have the resources for or that a regional enforcement authority might be set up years down the line that will deal with it. Pic: Shutterstock 'With the exception of one local authority, they aren't planning to take any action at all.' Dr Ryan noted that of the seven local authorities the EPA has been engaging with for years, only Longford County Council appears to be making genuine efforts to combat the diversity-harming unauthorised extraction of peat. He said: 'They've issued notices under the Planning Act. There is still a long way to go, but it's a positive move in the right direction.' Dr Ryan added that while a regional enforcement authority could be established in the future to help combat the issue, this is no excuse for current inaction. 'Right now, local authorities have the statutory responsibility in this area and they need to step up to those obligations and prioritise the resources to develop a county-wide plan,' he said. The Environmental Protection Agency's report pointed out that it has 'deployed significant resources' to carry out 170 inspections between 2021 and 2024, despite the fact that primary responsibility for regulating all commercial peat extraction lies with local councils. Peat extractors are required to be granted Environmental Impact Assessments, Appropriate Assessments associated with protected habitats, and planning permission from local authorities before they can begin operating. However, the EPA states that these regulations are being ignored by peat extractors and that local authorities are failing to act on these violations. Dr Ryan said: 'Local authorities have been conspicuous in their lack of enforcement of environmental law. They need to step up to meet their legal obligations as regulatory authorities, prioritise their resources and use the ample enforcement powers at their disposal to bring these illegal activities to an end and to protect our environment.' The seven local authorities mentioned in the EPA report as being 'inadequate' in their enforcement were contacted for comment, but no response was forthcoming at the time of going to press. Peat extraction can lead to the destruction of ecosystems vital for biodiversity as well as the loss of important carbon sinks, which remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Mr Ryan said: 'If you are destroying peatlands, that goes against our climate efforts. 'It's also irreplaceable. If it has to be done, it can be done in a regulated way like Bord na Móna did, but what's taking place now flies in the face of our efforts to protect biodiversity and aid the climate. 'Operators engaged in unauthorised peat harvesting activities are in flagrant violation of environmental law. They are destroying our precious natural environments, and this needs to stop,' he said. The EPA has also taken legal action at the District Court and High Court levels against operations on areas exceeding 50 hectares – approximately 45 GAA pitches. These legal actions have resulted in several sites ceasing operations, while 'a number of actions remain live before the courts', the EPA stated. The EPA's 38 notices to the seven local authorities in relation to the large sites they identified could lead to legal action. In extreme cases, the Environmental Protection Act of 1992 allows the EPA to 'carry out, cause to be carried out, or arrange for' vital environmental actions if a local authority refuses to comply, and then charge the local authority for the cost. The report added that 'the EPA will continue using its powers to ensure all seven local authorities fully implement and enforce environmental requirements pertaining to large-scale peat extraction'. A 2024 study funded by the EPA found that carbon emissions caused by peat extraction for domestic use have been vastly under-reported in Ireland's greenhouse gas reports to the UN. Just under 65,000 hectares of raised bog across Ireland have been cut up for domestic use, the study found, which is nearly 162 times more than the 400 hectares reported in Ireland's annual UN report.
The Journal
22-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Countering demonstrations overwhelm Dublin City centre
AN ANTI-IMMIGRATION DEMONSTRATION and a countering anti-racism rally were held in Dublin city today. O'Connell Bridge was closed for a time this afternoon as the gardaí erected extensive barriers to separate the two crowds. The United Against Racism rally began at the Central Plaza on Dame Street, marching through the city to O'Connell Bridge at around 2pm. Several protesters carried signs saying: 'Blame the Government, not migrants'; and: 'Dublin stands against racism'. They also chanted: 'Say it loud, say it clear, refugees are welcome here.' The anti-immigration protest marched down O'Connell Street and turned left at O'Connell bridge before continuing along the quays. Participants from both sides shouted and gestured towards each other from across the empty space between the barriers created by gardaí. Advertisement Eamonn Farrell / © Eamonn Farrell / © / © At one point, the anti-racism rally chanted at the anti-immigration group: 'You say protect women, that's a lie' and referenced a photo being carried by one person of MMA fighter Conor McGregor, who lost a civil trial where Dublin woman Nikita Hand accused him of raping her in a Dublin hotel. The anti-immigration group, which was the larger of the two, was thick with large tricolour flags. It chanted 'ole ole' and: 'Whose streets? Our streets'. Several people were seen wearing 'Make Ireland Great Again' green caps and holding US or 'Trump' flags, and some signs critical of RTÉ. At one point, the famous rebel song 'Oro 'Se do bheatha 'bhaile' was played by the anti-racism rally over a speaker, and prompted some participants in the anti-immigration group to sing along and applaud at the end. There was an extensive garda presence at the location where the two protest groups were due to cross paths. The Garda Mounted Support Unit, the Public Order Unit, and garda members from outside the Dublin Metropolitan Region were in attendance. One garda member was heard telling a member of the public he could not give directions as he was brought in from a region outside Dublin to police the protest.
