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Irish Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on presidential aspirations: an uninspiring slate
Nature, it is said, abhors a vacuum. Politics often does too. Yet the slow bicycle race toward the presidential election has now reached its most lethargic phase, with little sign of urgency before the pace – hopefully – quickens in September. At present there are just two confirmed candidates certain to secure a nomination: Catherine Connolly and Maireád McGuinness. That raises the possibility of the first two-way contest since Erskine Childers defeated Tom O'Higgins in 1973. But seasoned observers expect more names to emerge, whether under the banners of Fianna Fáil or Sinn Féin, or as Independents. Peadar Tóibín of Aontú has publicly questioned whether an Independent can realistically gather the 20 Oireachtas votAes needed for nomination. If that route is blocked, the alternative is to secure backing from four local authorities. But time is short. Sean Gallagher, who came close to winning the presidency in 2011, has warned that the local authority route demands a long lead-in. Lobbying councillors, arranging votes, and then mounting a campaign cannot be done in a matter of weeks. His own experience suggests that those who have yet to start this process may already be too late. READ MORE As for those who have been mentioned as possible candidates, none has yet sparked much public enthusiasm. Some are virtually unknown outside small circles. Others either carry political baggage that would make them unelectable, or are plainly unfit to hold the office. The presidential race attracts many aspirants but the campaign itself tends to have a ruthlessly winnowing effect. This leaves the focus on Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and their respective parties. They must decide soon whether or not to allow the election to proceed as a head-to-head between Connolly and McGuinness. Neither woman is unbeatable, and each has a political record that opponents could effectively exploit. In politics, vacuums rarely last. By September, the parties will have to choose whether to fill this one or leave the electorate with a binary choice.
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Irish passport service should put US applicants 'at bottom of the waiting list', TD says
Ireland's passport service should introduce a 'hierarchical structure' for processing applications, with Americans placed at the 'bottom of the waiting list', a TD has suggested. It comes as figures received by Aontú show an ongoing post-covid increase in applications. Information released by Tánaiste and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín show that between 2015 and July 21, 2025, 8,567,741 passport applications were received. Some 8,853,137 passports were issued over the same period. Mr Harris said the number of passports issued can be higher than the number of applications received for various reasons. This includes if an application is for a 'passport bundle', which includes a passport book and card. This is counted as one application, but two travel documents are issued. They can also differ as an application may be made in the previous calendar year, and the document may not be issued until the following year. 820,000 applications a year up to 2019 Between 2015 and 2019, an average of 819,933 passport applications were received every year. This dropped to 499,884 in 2020 in line with pandemic restrictions that shut down international travel. There was a slight uplift to 772,850 applications in 2021. However, as travel restrictions were lifted, the number of applications received increased dramatically. Over a million applications each year now In 2022, some 1,157,990 passport applications were received. There has been in excess of 1m applications received every year since, with 1,036,712 applications and 1,000,640 applications in 2023 and 2024, respectively. As of July 21, there had been around 580,000 applications received so far in 2025 with 615,5433 issued. Aontú's Paul Lawless told the Irish Examiner that Irish citizens must be prioritised for passport processing, as he suggested that US citizens are 'applying for a passport just to frame it'. 'I think it's natural that we saw a spike in the number of passport applications after the pandemic as people were permitted to travel again and needed to renew,' he said. 'At certain times of the year there are delays and this is very unfortunate for people who have booked flights or holidays and are left in the lurch as to whether they will be able to travel or not.' He said Aontú believes there needs to be a clear hierarchical structure put in place for processing passport applications. 'Those who need to travel due to death or illness in the family should be prioritised first and foremost. Date of travel should determine priority also. We also think that people who were born in or are resident in Ireland should be prioritised over non-residents. 'I'm aware of some cases where American citizens are applying for passports because they just want to frame it, or to be able to say that they have an Irish passport. These individuals should be put to the bottom of the waiting list, especially at times where Irish families are struggling to get passports.' In May 2022, the passport service reached a crisis point with 195,000 applications in the queue. The Dáil heard that some applications were taking up to 14 weeks. However, Mr Harris said the turnaround for paper applications is now eight weeks, with the 'majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days'.
BreakingNews.ie
6 days ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Over 150 gardaí assaulted while on duty so far this year
Over 150 gardaí have been assaulted while on duty so far this year, according to figures from the Department of Justice. A total of 3,440 gardaí have been assaulted while on duty in almost 12 years. Advertisement There have been a higher-than-average number of reported assaults since 2022 compared with previous years. There were 299 assaults on gardaí while on duty in 2014; 301 in 2015; 282 in 2016; 264 in 2017; 224 in 2018, and 266 in 2019. In 2020, there were 223 on-duty garda assaults, in 2021 there were 266, in 2022 there were 316, in 2023 there were 470, and in 2024 there were 373. There were 156 assaults of on-duty gardaí reported as of July 23rd this year. Advertisement 'We are all immensely grateful to all our gardaí for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society,' the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said in response to a parliamentary question from Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín. 'For the most part, the relationship between gardaí and the public they serve is one built on very significant trust. 'We only have to look to the fact that An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, and yet hugely effective, community policing service.' The figures come after a probationary garda was injured in a knife attack while on patrol on Dublin's Capel Street, and another garda was punched in the face. Advertisement A man has appeared in court charged with the assault of the probationary garda. 'The recent unprovoked attack on a garda in Dublin has been rightly condemned by all. It was a truly shocking incident in our capital city,' Aontú Senator Sarah O'Reilly said. She said there was 'no doubt our streets are becoming unsafe'. 'When the Dáil resumes, my party will be reintroducing our bill, which seeks a mandatory minimum sentence for anyone who assaults a garda or frontline emergency worker. Advertisement 'I'm hopeful that other parties will support our legislation in both the Dáil and the Seanad. 'These attacks on gardaí are not helping morale or recruitment to the force; the Government needs to support our legislation for harsher sentencing.' Anyone convicted of assaulting a garda, a prison officer, a firefighter, an ambulance paramedic, or a soldier can face a maximum prison sentence of 7 to 12 years.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Drivers and households facing higher bills as carbon tax hikes slated for Budget 2026
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín says his party would 'oppose any increase in carbon tax' The Government is set to continue with carbon tax increases in Budget 2026. It will hit cars, gas, electricity, home-heating and the cost of delivering goods.
Irish Examiner
05-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Nearly 400 inmates at large in the last decade never returned to prison
Nearly 400 prisoners classified as unlawfully at large over the last decade did not return to custody. It includes 126 people granted temporary release from Irish prisons last year. In total, some 4,178 people were recorded as unlawfully at large between 2015 and 2024. Some 3,815 individuals were returned to custody. This means 363 individuals recorded as unlawfully at large were not brought back to prison. It includes 15 outstanding inmates from 2015. Of 702 people recorded as unlawfully at large in 2024, some 126 did not return to custody, the data shows. The figures were given to Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín following a parliamentary question to justice minister Jim O'Callaghan. Further figures released to Mr Tóibín show that seven people died while unlawfully at large between 2014 and 2025. According to Mr O'Callaghan, a person is deemed unlawfully at large if they have not returned to custody 'before the expiry of their temporary release period or if a condition of their release is breached'. He noted that the 'vast majority' are recorded as unlawfully at large for 'technical breaches whereby they do not return to the prison on their designated date to sign on', adding that 'these numbers are dynamic'. Last year, an average of 506 prisoners were on temporary release each month, according to Irish Prison Service reports. Prisoners can be temporarily released from prison for specified lengths of time for reasons such as for a funeral or family emergency, at Christmas or near the end of a prisoner's sentence. In recent parliamentary questions, Mr O'Callaghan admitted that temporary releases are being used to tackle prison overcrowding. Meanwhile, proximity to buses, rail, and a good road network, along with higher population, has resulted in Mallow and Midleton recording the highest level of crimes in Cork county, according to gardaí. The 'Irish Examiner' is exploring crime data from garda stations in our Cork Crime series in print and online here on Monday and Tuesday, August 4 and 5. Central Statistics Office figures show that Mallow had the highest reported crime level in Co Cork last year. The garda station in the town recorded 792 recorded incidents, including 224 thefts and 135 public order incidents. Midleton was next highest, with 613 in total, again with thefts and public order being the most reported offences.
