Latest news with #Finan
Agriland
4 hours ago
- Business
- Agriland
IrBEA: Govt cannot leave liquid fuel imports to the EU
The publication of heads of bill for the proposed Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO) has been welcomed by members of the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA). However, according to the IrBEA there are fundamental scheme design items which must be urgently clarified and confirmed to encourage investment in indigenous fuel production, and for the obligation scheme to achieve its stated objectives. It claimed that Ireland is the worst performing member of the EU in the deployment of renewables in heating, and that RHO can provide an opportunity for the development of the solid biomass, bioliquid, and biogas/biomethane sectors. The CEO of IrBEA, Seán Finan said that the publication of the RHO heads of bill is a welcome first step. Finan outlined that on review of the heads of bill, members are concerned about some of the fundamental design items outlined in the document. Among the concerns raised by members, is that the obligation rate is only set for the first two years. IrBEA believes that this gives no ivestment certainty for renewable fuel producers, particularly the biomethane sector. The long-term ambition of the obligation scheme must be confirmed now rather than in year three, as indicated. IrBEA said that, at a minimum, the government must immediately publish the obligation rate for 2030, and the projected ambition beyond this. According to IrBEA, the heads of bill do not outline how the government is going to meaningfully address the issue of fraud prone liquid biofuel imports from non-EU unsupervised supply chains fulfilling the obligation. It claims that this fuel is having a "devastating impact" on indigenous biofuel production under the Renewable Transport Obligation Scheme (RTFO) and must be addressed in the RHO primary legislation. Finally, concerns were raised that the additional renewable energy certificate for biomethane produced in the state is "inadequate" to create a level playing field for indigenously produced biomethane over imported renewable gas. Finan said: "It is disappointing that the government has chosen not to meaningfully address the concerns raised regarding imports in the high-level design of the RHO. "This item needs to be considered and urgently addressed in the drafting of the primary legislation for the RHO." "The government cannot simply leave the liquid fuel imports issue in the hands of the EU, to address, but must take responsibility and implement its own measures and controls,' Finan added.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Former Irish sports figure accused of historical sex abuse offences served book of evidence and sent forward for trial
A FORMER Irish sports figure accused of historical sex abuse offences was 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, is in his seventies and Advertisement 2 Judge Michele Finan granted a return for trial order Credit: HANDOUT PR IMAGE Judge Michele Finan at He told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions consented to being sent forward on indictment on the 79 charges in the book of evidence served by 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. Advertisement Read more in News At the time, the girls were minors aged between eight and fifteen. The man was extradited from the 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. Advertisement Most read in Irish News 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. DATE YET TO BE SET 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. Advertisement Dressed in a grey tracksuit and black runners, the man sat silently in a wheelchair and spoke only to consult with 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 22. CHARGES FACED Gardaí charged him on 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. Advertisement 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 today, she heard that the man still had no dentures and recommended that he get the appropriate treatment. Advertisement 2 A former Irish sports figure accused of historical sex abuse has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin
Irish Examiner
22-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Former sports industry figure remanded in custody on 79 sexual abuse charges
A former sports industry figure extradited from the United States to face multiple allegations of sexually abusing girls in Ireland in the 1970s and 1980s was remanded in custody on Tuesday. The 77-year-old man, who cannot be named due to the nature of the charges, is facing 79 allegations of offences relating to the alleged abuse of four girls. The case features 78 charges of indecent assault and one count of attempted rape at various locations in Co Dublin, including Dun Laoghaire, Killiney, and Blackrock, from 1971 to 1981. The girls were minors aged between eight and 15. Following extradition proceedings at the request of the Irish authorities, he was arrested at Terminal 2, Dublin Airport at 5.56 am on Tuesday. He was then brought to appear before Judge Michele Finan at Dublin District Court. Dressed in a pale green jumper, grey shorts, white socks, and brown slip-on shoes, he sat silently in his wheelchair throughout the brief hearing. He has not indicated a plea, and there was no application for bail. State solicitor Rory Staines told Judge Finan that the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that he face "trial on indictment in the Central Criminal Court". It was expected that the prosecution's book of evidence would be ready to be served on him when he appears again at the District Court on July 22. He faces 41 counts of indecently assaulting, 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. Garda Sergeant Amy Ryan told the court that after the pensioner's extradition, he was arrested on foot of 79 warrants, taken to Ballymun Garda station, and charged at 7.40 am. She furnished the court with a document listing the offences and his reply to each charge; however, the judge did not require the sergeant to read out the defendant's responses. Defence solicitor Tracy Horan told Judge Finan that her client was not making a bail application and that he consented to being held in custody. Mr Staines asked that the accused appear before the court in person at his next hearing rather than via video link, to be served with the book of evidence. Legal aid was granted after Ms Horan said, "He is not working; he has no assets." Garda Sergeant Ryan said there was no objection. The defence solicitor also informed the judge 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 noted this information and agreed to add to the custody warrant that he urgently receive dentures and a hearing aid.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sector Update: Financial Stocks Rise Wednesday Afternoon
Financial stocks advanced in Wednesday afternoon trading with the NYSE Financial Index and the Finan
The Journal
07-07-2025
- The Journal
Dublin pensioner admits blackmailing woman after finding sexual images on second-hand phone
A DUBLIN PENSIONER has admitted recovering pictures of a woman engaged in sexual acts from her old phone to 'blackmail' her years later. Anthony Nolan, 84, of Richmond Road, Fairview, was charged with harassment from 8 May 2021, until 10 May 2022, under section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. He pleaded guilty when he appeared at Dublin District Court before Judge Michele Finan today. The court heard the woman, who was known to the accused, gifted the pensioner her old phone in 2009, which she had used for four years. Three years later, Nolan discovered some content on the phone, including personal messages and 'photos showing the injured party in sexual activities and he attempted to blackmail her in relation to that'. Advertisement Judge Finan noted that defence solicitor Andrew Molony said his client was attending psychiatric treatment and he needed time to obtain a report. The woman was not present for the hearing. Adjourning sentencing until September, Judge Finan requested that a victim impact statement be prepared for the next hearing. She also extended legal aid for a psychiatric report on Nolan. The accused was remanded on continuing bail and was not required to testify. It followed a preliminary hearing in April to consider whether the case should be sent up to the Circuit Court, which has wider sentencing powers. Jurisdiction was accepted, keeping it in the District Court. The judge had heard that before the victim gave Nolan the phone, 'she wiped the phone clean of personal data.' The evidence against him also included an accusation that, having discovered the messages and images, he refused to return the phone. Judge Finan heard the complainant tried to 'block' him, but he continued to harass her by electronic means and with messages.
