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Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Why is Ireland so far off its climate targets?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its latest projections for the 2030 climate targets and it's bad news for Ireland. The Irish State has the worst emissions per capita in Europe – projections show our greenhouse gas emissions will fall by just 23 per cent by 2030, compared to our original national target of 51 per cent, according to EPA data published on Wednesday. The latest figures indicate none of the State's biggest emitting sectors – transport, agriculture and electricity – will meet their climate commitments. In most sectors, emissions continue to rise or are going down only marginally. The cost of missing these targets is obvious – extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and disruptive. And countries who fail to meet these commitments must pay huge fines. READ MORE What can Ireland do between now and 2030 to reduce emissions? And how much will Ireland pay if it fails to meet these legally-binding targets? Today, on In The News , why is Ireland so far off its climate targets? Irish Times environment and science correspondent Kevin O'Sullivan discusses the implications of Ireland's failure to meet climate targets. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey.
Irish Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I've been drinking Guinness for years and just realised what the logo means'
Guinness isn't just any beer - it's Ireland most iconic export and a proud symbol of Irish heritage recognised all over the world. This famous dry stout, brewed in Dublin since 1759, is instantly recognisable by its rich, dark colour and creamy white head. Loved for its unique roasted malt flavour, over 10 million glasses of Guinness are enjoyed every single day across the world. But there's something even the most seasoned Guinness drinkers might not know - the famous logo you see on every bottle, can and pint glass isn't just a decoration. After years of drinking the legendary beverage, many people are only just realising what the Guinness harp really means, and it's deeply Irish story. The harp isn't just any harp. It's inspired by one of Ireland's oldest and most treasured symbols, the Brian Boru harp. This ancient 14th-century Gaelic harp, sometimes called the O'Neill harp, is kept safe at Trinity College Library in Dublin, where visitors from all over come to see it. Guinness explains: "Ireland was well-known overseas at the time for its rich culture and musical heritage. The harp was a significant emblem of this tradition and has been a heraldic symbol of Ireland from the 13th century. The Guinness Harp is based on the 'Brian Boru Harp', considered to be one of the finest surviving examples of the Gaelic harp, or cláirseach. "The mythology of the harp itself is that it once belonged to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, who died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. More recently, the harp has been dated to the 14th century but maintains its nominal association with Ireland's legendary king. The original creator of the harp remains a mystery. The harp was donated to Trinity College Dublin in 1782, where it continues to be on display today." The harp first appeared on a Guinness bottle label back in 1862 and while it has gone through several redesigns over the centuries, it's been synonymous with the brand ever since. In what might come as a twist, the Guinness harp actually faces the opposite way to the official Irish harp used by the government. Guinness said: "The Irish Free State chose the same Brian Boru harp as the official emblem on its founding in 1922 and it remains on the Republic of Ireland's national coat of arms. It appears on the Presidential seal, as well as coins and passports. As Guinness had already trademarked the logo, the Irish State were required to 'flip' the image harp faces in the opposite direction - compare the logo on an Irish coin to your pint glass!" This little detail has clearly surprised fans on social media, especially with the recent 'split the G' trend, where people have been dissecting and celebrating Guinness's logo like never before. One person wrote: "How am I just noticing that Guinness logo is a harp?" Another shared: "Am I the only one that is just realising that the Guinness logo is a harp?? I seriously thought it was just a weirdly bent piece of gold."
Extra.ie
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Extra.ie
American deportee plane 'was permitted to land in Shannon'
An American flight carrying deportees from the US to Africa was legally allowed to land at Shannon, the Department of Transport has said. The New York Times reported that a plane carrying eight deportees, in violation of a court order by a federal judge in Boston, stopped at the airport in Co. Clare this week. The judge had barred the US administration from deporting people to countries that were not their own without giving them enough time to object. Shannon Airport. Pic: Shutterupeire/Shutterstock The article said that the flight landed at Shannon at around 9.39pm US time on Tuesday and departed at about 11.47pm before going on to Djibouti. 'I'm trying to establish the facts on this now in real time, because I'm aware of the US media reports,' Tánaiste Simon Harris told RTÉ Radio. 'We've been very active, from an Irish embassy point of view, in providing consular support to citizens who have been caught up in these stronger, for want of a diplomatic phrase, enforcement policies around migration.' He added: 'I have no reason to believe the procedures in place for the use of Irish airports by foreign aircraft has been breached by the United States, but I am seeking more information from my department this morning on this matter.' Tánaiste Simon Harris. Pic: Leah Farrell/ Asked if Ireland was complicit in illegal US deportations, he said: 'I want to get legal clarity in relation to this before speaking with great certainty, because of the seriousness of the matter. 'But I think complying with US law is obviously a matter for the US administration. Complying with our own laws is obviously a matter for the Irish State and the Irish Government. So let me try and establish more in relation to this, as my department is.' He continued: 'There are very clear rules in relation to flights that can and can't stop over in Shannon and what they must do and not do, and we need to see whether this was in compliance with that. 'This is a story that's only emerged in US media, so I'm trying to get on top of it now.' Shannon Airport. Pic: Shutterupeire/Shutterstock A spokesman for the Department of Transport confirmed that the flight was allowed to land in Shannon Airport. He said: 'The Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention), and its associated annexes, established the framework for the operation of international civil aviation. Both Ireland and the United States are contracting parties to this convention.' 'Article 5 of this convention provides for the right of air operators of contracting parties to operate non-scheduled overflights and stops for non-traffic purposes (e.g. refuelling) in the territory of the other contracting parties. 'This provision is provided for in Irish law in Article 3 of the Air Services Authorisation Order 1993.' Mr Harris has said he does not believe weapons are being flown through Irish airspace to Israel, but added that more international co-operation was needed to find out what is being flown above Ireland.
Irish Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Buses and taxis for international protection applicants cost €12 million
More than €12 million has been spent transporting international protection applicants to accommodation centres throughout the country since February 2022, new figures have revealed. The cost relates to bus and taxi services used to transport asylum seekers from their point of arrival in the country to accommodation centres. More than 89,500 beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTPs) have been provided with accommodation by the state during the period. Almost 24,300 of those are currently in state-supported accommodation, while around 38,000 are in accommodation with hosts in receipt of the Accommodation Recognition Payment. A total of €4.12 million was spent on transport for BOTPs in 2022 following the activation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive in the wake of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The directive places obligations on EU member states regarding services and entitlements that must be provided to those seeking temporary protection. The transportation bill increased to a peak of €4.75 million during 2023, but fell significantly to €2.43 million last year. A further €770,000 has been spent on buses and taxis for BOTPs to date in 2025. The figures were published by Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan in response to a parliamentary question from independent TD Carol Nolan this week. 'The Irish State and the Irish people have responded with exceptional support and generosity since 2022 in supporting people seeking temporary protection here from the war in Ukraine,' he said. A total of 116,040 people have been granted temporary protection in Ireland since 2022, which Mr O'Callaghan said was 'an important demonstration' of solidarity with Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. '[BOTPs] hold temporary permission to remain in Ireland, and this permission is renewable on an annual basis as long as the directive remains in force,' he explained. 'Under the directive, those fleeing the war against Ukraine are entitled to apply for temporary protection in any member state and to move from one member state to another.' The Department of Justice is currently in the process of renewing BOTPs' permission to remain, requiring applicants to prove that they are currently residing in Ireland. 'It is envisaged that this project will be concluded later this year and, once completed, I will be in a position to outline the total number of BOTPs who are currently resident in the state,' said Mr O'Callaghan. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has estimated that around 75 percent of those granted temporary protection are still in the country, based on activity associated with their PPS numbers.
RTÉ News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- RTÉ News
Israel intends to ethnically cleanse Gaza, O'Gorman says
Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman has said Israel has put the world on notice that it intends to ethnically cleanse Gaza. Earlier this week, Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that a victory for Israel in Gaza means that the Palestinian territory will be "entirely destroyed" before its inhabitants depart for other countries. Following that, the foreign ministers of Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain expressed their "grave concern" about a further military escalation in Gaza, saying it would "only exacerbate an already catastrophic situation for the civilian Palestinian population and threaten the lives of the hostages that remain in captivity". Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, Mr O'Gorman urged the Government to quickly pass the Occupied Territories Bill, which he said would reverberate internationally and mark a significant change in approach. There is no reason why this cannot happen before the summer recess, he said. Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton said the Government will progress the Bill, but it must be done in a way that is legal. "We are absolutely committed to doing this. We need to get this right. This is not a policy difference," she insisted on the same programme. Minister Naughton said the Tánaiste has held discussions with his counterparts in the Netherlands and Spain this morning "to grow the EU coalition" to support the people of Gaza. The minister signaled that she would not have a problem with publishing the Attorney General's advice on the legal difficulties he has identified around including a ban on service in the Occupied Territories Bill. This distinction has been described by Opposition parties as a delaying tactic. Sinn Féin TD John Brady said that if international law means anything there has to be consequences for Israel. As well as the swift passing of the Occupied Territories Bill, he said the Government should stop the selling of Israeli war bonds through the Central Bank as well as enacting Israeli Settlement Divestment Bill. Aontú TD Paul Lawless said that this country has a reputation for peace and neutrality and it should be centrally involved in trying to broker a peace deal rather than "standing back from the conflict." Meanwhile, Labour leader Ivana Bacik has said more needs to be done by the Irish State - including enacting the bill without delay. Speaking at the annual James Connelly commemoration at Arbour Hill cemetery this morning, she said the party will "be pressing to have some further progress before the summer". "We see again, more tragic deaths today, more reports, deeply distressing reports of children dying by starvation in Gaza under Israel's denial of aid, we've described it as a genocide - I don't think that's too strong," she said. "I think when we hear our own Taoiseach and Tánaiste describing Israel's actions as war crimes, we do need to ensure that more is done by the Irish State."
