Latest news with #Taoiseach
Agriland
8 hours ago
- Business
- Agriland
The Farming Week: Cooling beef prices, Taoiseach on farmers and climate, the next CAP
The Farming Week: Cooling beef prices, Taoiseach on farmers and climate, the next CAP June 5, 2025 4:58 pm Charles O'Donnell, Francess McDonnell, Breifne O'Brien and Maitiú Monaghan bring you the biggest stories of the week in Irish agriculture from Agriland, which this week includes: Agriculture and Climate Change Conference; 20 EU agri ministers defend two-pillar CAP; Latest on beef prices; Report outlines climate change risk to agriculture; Fines for not disclosing vet medicine withdrawal; Common cranes return to Offaly bog. Don't forget to rate, review and follow The Farming Week, Agriland's weekly review of Irish agriculture, and visit for more. *This podcast is sponsored by AXA Farm Insurance
Irish Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
More than 350 lawyers and academics say Government not complying with international law obligations over Palestine crisis
A letter signed by more than 350 lawyers and academics has been sent to the Taoiseach and Tánaiste expressing 'deep concern' at the Government's 'continued failure' to take 'necessary steps to comply with its international legal obligations in relation to the crisis in Palestine'. Without 'urgent and meaningful action' the State will continue to fail to meet its obligations under international law, the signatories claim. 'The daily atrocities in Gaza carry an appalling human toll and are being perpetrated by Israel in overt defiance of fundamental rules of international law and human rights,' states the letter, signed by barristers, solicitors and academics based in the Republic, Northern Ireland, England, Belgium and Australia. Successive Irish governments 'have delayed and prevaricated' on the Occupied Territories Bill when there are no 'insurmountable legal obstacles' in either Irish, European or international law preventing the adoption of legislation prohibiting the import of goods and services produced in the unlawful Israeli settlements in the West Bank, it states. READ MORE This is 'the absolute minimum' required from the State to comply with its international legal obligations and the holdings of the International Court of Justice, the letter states. The signatories call on the Government to act urgently to adopt the necessary domestic legislation to give effect to its international obligations arising as a result of what they say is Israel's unlawful presence in Palestine and 'continued commission of severe breaches of international law'. Any existing legal advice on proposed legislation should be published in full, it states. The Government's obligations under international law also require it to act to ensure the EU and other international organisations of which it is a member 'do not render aid or assistance to the unlawful actions of Israel'. The Republic must press with 'even greater urgency' to ensure the EU-Israel Association Agreement is reviewed and necessary action is taken , it states. The letter demands that the Government reviews and reports on existing trade and economic relations with Israel, including the issuing of bonds by the Irish Central Bank, to ensure these 'do not contribute to recognising, aiding or assisting the unlawful situation created by the continued presence of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territories'. The State is urged to provide 'enhanced support' to relevant international institutions, in particular those facing attacks and sanctions, such as the International Criminal Court and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. 'The persistent violations of human rights, repeated atrocities and denial of the self-determination of the Palestinian people require concerted efforts by all States at the domestic, regional and international level,' the academics say. The many academic signatories include professors Shane Darcy, of the Irish Centre for Human Rights, School of Law, University of Galway; Conor O'Mahony, School of Law, University College Cork; and Siobhán Wills, director of the Transitional Justice Institute of Ulster University. Other signatories include Eilis Barry, chief executive of the Free Legal Advice Centres and barrister and Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik.
BreakingNews.ie
22-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Ireland's Covid review is not public inquiry and 'not here to point fingers', chair says
Senior decision-makers' engagement with the State's pandemic review will not be aired in public, the chairwoman of the Covid-19 Evaluation said. Professor Anne Scott said the process was not a public inquiry and was 'not here to point fingers'. Advertisement She made the comments as she urged the public to share their experiences of the pandemic to inform its assessment of Ireland's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Prof Scott described the process as a non-statutory, non-adversarial independent review and repeatedly stressed it was not a public inquiry. It is expected to use engagement from different figures and groups, 'voluminous' documentation, and research to produce a final report within 12-18 months. She said the expert panel will produce an 'actionable' report of recommendations which will be presented to the Taoiseach and they would 'hope' that they will then be actioned by the Government. Advertisement The evaluation's engagement with senior politicians, civil servants and experts who informed decisions made during the pandemic will not be held in public. A transcript will not be published but the interviews will be recorded. Asked whether the engagement of figures such as health ministers and senior members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), who appeared on people's television screens regularly during the health emergency, would be publicly available to view, Prof Scott said it was 'unlikely'. She added: 'In my view, at this moment, it is unlikely that that kind of information or evidence gathering will be done in public.' Advertisement Prof Scott said that individuals would not be named, before adding 'we are not here to point fingers'. Chairwoman of the Covid-19 Evaluation Professor Anne Scott at a press conference in Dublin (Gráinne Ní Aodha/PA) She said: 'This is actually an evaluation, and an evaluation on learning lessons so that we strengthen and improve our decision-making for the future. 'People were well used to seeing the chief medical officer or the taoiseach or whoever they happened to be on the screens every night during the pandemic, they remember what they were seeing and what they were doing. 'I don't think it requires us to actually rerun that. Advertisement 'As I've said, this isn't about reliving the past. 'It is about learning lessons. 'It's about being open and developing a non-adversarial, co-operative means of getting as full a picture as we can in terms of what happened. 'As one of your colleagues has already pointed out, a lot of the formal decisions that were made that we live with the impacts of whatever they happen to be in terms of restrictions, is already in the public arena. Advertisement 'One of the key things we don't have, however, is what we're focusing on today, which is actually trying to engage with the public to get an insight into their lived experience, what was it like for them to live through the pandemic.' In making an appeal for people to engage with the evaluation, Prof Scott said it was 'vitally important that we hear from people across the country'. She said that the pandemic affected everyone but had a 'profound impact on some', and mentioned women giving birth alone, curtailed education, and restricted hospital visits. Prof Scott said it was important to hear from people about what it was like to live through those moments and 'learn from it' as a country. Adults can engage with the evaluation at until July 1st. A second process is expected to be set up to capture the views of people aged under 18.
Irish Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Miriam Lord: It's been like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds on Merrion Street since the sun started to shine
Mooney Goes Wild should do a programme from Leinster House. For starters, there is the squawking and squealing Dáil Chorus, which never happens too early in the morning and runs all through the year with long breaks for the holidays. And then there's the wildlife. Rats. Mice. Inside and out. READ MORE Slugs in the basement. Bluebottle infestations. Incontinent pigeons. Black ants. Randy moths. Foxes breaking and entering. And don't mention the dive-bombing seagulls snatching grub from unwitting snackers on the plinth. Here's the latest on the wildlife front. It seems the seagulls are upping their game and launching a ground war to go with the usual aerial offensive. Their target is Government Buildings . From the Taoiseach down, nobody is safe. The corridors of power could be destroyed this weekend. Maintenance sent an email to all occupants yesterday explaining the situation. 'As we are experiencing some (rare, much-needed and well deserved!) warm weather at the moment, a lot of windows in the building are open during the day. 'Please ensure that any windows you may have opened during the day are closed before you leave in the evening, including any windows on the corridors. 'Your co-operation is much appreciated as we have had a few seagulls visiting!' Apparently it has been like Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds on Merrion Street since the sun started to shine with seagulls ducking in through the open windows once people go home and making themselves at home. Eating anything they can find and pooing with abandon. The chequerboard ministerial corridor will be ruined entirely. It couldn't be that bad? A bird fancier tells us: 'If they don't close those windows they'll come in on Monday morning and it'll be like Dumbo the Elephant was flying around the place all weekend'. Who has the knives out for Jim O'Callaghan? Is everything all right, Jim? Justice has always been considered a tough ministerial gig. But things must be very bad in the St Stephen's Green HQ if Jim O'Callaghan 's interesting aside in the Dáil on Thursday is anything to go by. During questions on Justice, Gary Gannon of the Soc Dems asked the Minister what he intends to do to alleviate 'the worsening crisis of prison overcrowding, where over 350 people are reportedly sleeping on floors and prison numbers are at a record high'. Jim began by saying he has already embarked on a prison visiting programme. 'Since I've been made Minister I've been to Cork Prison, I've been to Cloverhill and I'm going to another prison on Monday,' he revealed. 'I intend to visit every prison – if I'm lucky enough to survive in office for a sufficient period of time...' What? Sufficient period of time? There are 12 active prisons in the country – 10 traditional 'closed' prisons and two 'open' centres. Once he completes his next visit on Monday, Minister O'Callaghan will have four tours under his belt with just eight more prisons to go. That shouldn't take him too long. At the rate he's going he might even achieve the full set before the summer recess. If he's lucky enough to survive, that is. Who has the knives out for poor Jim? Is the Coalition at breaking point already? Is there something we should know? The Government wasn't formed until late in January. It's a bit early for the Minister for Justice and Insecurity to be talking like that. Social Democrats rejig senior roles The Leinster House rumour mill cranked into action on Thursday with rumblings about big changes afoot in the Social Democrats . Sinéad Gibney , the party's then spokesperson on foreign affairs, was mentioned in dispatches. She recently refused to say whether she would remain in the parliamentary party if the suspended TD Eoin Hayes was readmitted. The Dublin Bay South TD was suspended indefinitely for misleading the party over when he sold his shares in a firm which supplies the Israeli military. The rumour was unfounded. Sinéad was not leaving the party nor was Eoin returning – at least, not yet. Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins In a somewhat less dramatic development, the Soc Dems announced their deputy for Dublin Rathdown was being replaced as spokesperson on foreign affairs by Senator Patricia Stephenson in a rejigging of senior roles. Sinead is now spokesperson on enterprise, trade and rmployment; arts, media, communications and culture; and efence. She later said: 'I know that Gaza in particular is a hugely important topic for everybody right now, so it is important to say this is not going to stop me or any other member of the parliamentary party continuing to work on Gaza and hold this Government to account on its inaction.' The week before, when still wearing her Foreign Affairs hat, Sinéad passionately called on the Government to use its position within the European Union to persuade Europe to finally stand up to Israel as it continues its monstrous onslaught on the people of Gaza. As a mere Opposition TD, Sinéad does not have the power to do this. 'All we can do is use the parliamentary tools that are available to us. We will continue to raise this again, and again and again. I will continue to attend protests. I'll keep getting my nails done with the Palestinian flag.' That's one way of nailing your colours to the mast. At the news of Sinéad's replacement, Alan Shatter , the former Fine Gael minister for justice and diehard defender of Israel, was out of the starting stalls as soon as he could straighten his blinkers. 'The Social Democrats should clarify whether regularly painting their nails with the Palestinian flag remains the party's foreign policy priority or whether its now abandoned,' he gleefully tweeted. Apart from providing social media fodder to the former minister for justice, Sinéad's tone-deaf nail art comment – given the unfolding catastrophe in Gaza – raised eyebrows among politicians in Leinster House. We hear some of them are now calling her 'Nailson Mandela'. Simon Harris surprises Seán Kyne with a cake for a roundy birthday Happy birthday to Senator Seén Kyne, Fine Gael's leader in the Seanad. The former TD for Galway West, who lost his seat in 2020 and is in his second term in the Upper House, was 50 yesterday. On Wednesday, party leader Simon Harris surprised him in Leinster House with a birthday cake. It's a miracle the smoke detectors didn't go off with the amount of candles on his Colin the Caterpillar. Seán was chairing a meeting of senators in the party rooms when Simon burst through the door with Colin the Caterpillar cake ablaze on a big plate. He hadn't been expecting the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs – who has a hectic travel schedule at the moment – to turn up out of the blue like that. As his colleagues burst into a chorus of 'Happy Birthday', the red-faced and mortified senator didn't know where to look. McEntee not taxed by questions on inheritance tax Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn is among a number of TDs and senators who have been asking the Government to reform the inheritance tax system so people who don't have children can pass on the same tax-free amount to their loved ones as parents are allowed to leave to their children. 'Is it equitable that parents like yourself, Minister, with two children, can leave up to €800,000 tax free' he asked Minister for Education Helen McEntee , who was standing in for the Tánaiste at Leaders' Questions on Thursday, 'where people like myself with no children ... can [only] leave €80,000 tax free to loved ones? That's 10 times less. The system penalises the childless citizen of this country for the simple fact that they do not or perhaps cannot have children.' At present, parents and some grandparents can pass on €400,000 to a child tax free. Other relatives can leave someone €40,000 tax free. For everyone else the limit is €20,000. The Minister gave a sympathetic but non-committal reply. 'As a Government, we have made changes to our inheritance tax system over the last number of years. I appreciate it does not apply to the scenarios you're referencing…' The State is telling many thousands of childless people they 'are less deserving and their relationships with their niece, nephew, siblings or lifelong friends simply do not count' argued the TD for Cork North Central. He gave a striking example of the unfairness of the measure: 'If I leave all my money to the dog's home, the dog's home pays absolutely zero tax. So therefore, the chihuahua has more rights in this country than the childless citizen or my niece or my nephew.' He got another woolly response. 'This is about all of us collectively looking at our rules and how we can make them more equitable, fairer and how we apply them equally. We have to do so, however, within the parameters and contexts available to us. I am very aware of this and I am sure the Minister is open to doing that.' Meaningless dogswallop, as the chihuahua might say. No-show from the Others on union recognition Bill On Wednesday, the Dáil had a lively discussion on People Before Profit 's Union Recognition Bill. Concluding the debate, PBP-Solidarity's Paul Murphy began by noting that it was ending 10 minutes ahead of time. 'It's because the Lowry group, who fought so hard to get their time to speak on these matters, don't presumably consider it important to come and speak about trade union rights, or maybe they are embarrassed because they are going to vote against trade union rights later on today.' The final Opposition speaking slot was for speakers from the 'Others' group. Nobody showed up. We checked the result of that night's vote. The Coalition voted against the Bill. The combined Opposition – parties and independents – supported it. Two of the three members of the Lowry Udders without Government jobs – Barry Heneghan and Gillian Toole, voted down the Bill to allow trade union recognition in workplaces. Michael Lowry didn't vote. Danny Healy-Rae didn't vote either. Of the two non-Government supporting independents who are also in the Udders category, Mattie McGrath didn't vote and Offaly's Carol Nolan voted in favour with the Opposition.
Irish Independent
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Leinster House bike shed: No value for money assessment carried out on project, audit finds
Such an evaluation would have allowed other options including a cheaper version or 'doing nothing' to be considered according to the audit seen by the Irish Independent. There was public outcry after it emerged that €336k was spent on the shelter which fits 18 bikes. Simon Harris - who was Taoiseach when the controversy first arose - described it as "inexplicable and inexcusable." The audit to be published later today found an "absence of fundamental good practice." A report by Deloitte into the project found there are no value for money assessments carried out on certain public projects below €500k. Such a process would have meant the OPW would have had to outline the reasons for the costs associated with the bike shed which ran to €335,000. The report to be published this afternoon and seen by the Irish Independent says approval for the project should only have been formalised when such an evaluation was complete. This would have allowed officials to consider the cost and whether other options including "lower cost alternatives" and "doing nothing" should have been considered.
