Latest news with #Éireann
BreakingNews.ie
23-06-2025
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Politics watch: O'Neill, Eastwood linked with presidential bids
Here, we have a look at the issues likely to dominate political discourse in the week to come. O'Neill declines to rule out Áras bid, Eastwood hints at run Nothern Ireland First Minister Michelle O'Neill is the latest name to be heavily linked with a presidential bid. Advertisement At a press conference in Co Armagh on Friday, Ms O'Neill was asked about the possibility of her running in the election, which must take place by November 11th. She replied: "I think I've plenty to do, being First Minister. But I would think the fact remains that I could stand for election, I could be elected as Uachtarán na hÉireann, but I can't vote in that election, so that's where there's a deficit and what we need to see is presidential voting rights extended to the North so the Irish citizens in the North can vote.' Former SDLP leader Colum Eastwood was also linked with a presidential bid on Friday. He told the BBC that people had asked him to consider a presidential bid. 'I'm going to take the time to think about it." Advertisement Mr Eastwood was previously involved in talks with Fianna Fáil about closer links between the party and the SDLP, and he could be backed if he decides to run as Fianna Fáil have not yet come to a decision on a candidate. With the end of President Michael D Higgins' second term fast approaching, Fine Gael have not announced a candidate either. There had been speculation the party could sit the presidential election out, or back a candidate in conjunction with Coalition partners Fianna Fáil. However, Tánaiste Simon Harris has previously said his party will name its own candidate. Advertisement In an interview with The Journal in March, the Fine Gael leader said: "'I haven't had any discussions with any other party, but I expect we will run a candidate in our own right. That's my that's my working assumption." Former tánaiste France Fitzgerald had been the favourite to be Fine Gael's candidate, but she confirmed she would not run in April. Taoiseach criticises 'excessive' measures faced by students seeking US visas The Taoiseach has described a decision to subject students applying for J1 visas to a 'comprehensive and thorough vetting' of their social media as 'excessive'. Micheál Martin said he does not agree nor approve of the measures announced by the US embassy on Monday. Advertisement Ireland's national students' union said the new measures represent a significant and disproportionate intrusion into personal lives and digital privacy, and that they raise serious concerns about freedom of expression and online surveillance. The changes also apply for other exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J non-immigrant classifications. Leo Varadkar says Keir Starmer should not 'try to censor' Kneecap Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said politicians should not try to censor artists after UK prime minister Keir Starmer said Kneecap's Glastonbury inclusion was "inappropriate". The Belfast rap trio are scheduled to perform on Saturday at 4pm. Advertisement Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh appeared in court on Wednesday charged, under UK anti-terrorism legislation, with showing support for a proscribed organisation. The performer, known as Mo Chara, allegedly draped himself in a Hezbollah flag at a London gig last November and shouted 'up Hamas, up Hezbollah', referring to the Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups respectively. In an interview with The Sun, Mr Starmer was asked if he thought the trio should perform at Glastonbury, to which he replied: 'No, I don't, and I think we need to come down really clearly on this. 'This is about the threats that shouldn't be made, I won't say too much because there's a court case on, but I don't think that's appropriate.' In a social media post, Mr Varadkar said he initially believed Mr Starmer's comments were "a gag". '[I] no longer hold office nor have any mandate so my views don't count for so much anymore. I get that. But I really thought this was some sort of gag. It's the role of artists to be avant garde, inappropriate, challenging, disruptive - from James Joyce to Sex Pistols and Playboy. 'Politicians really should not try to censor this. If an offence was committed, let the courts decide. In the meantime, the rule of law says the accused is innocent until proven guilty.' Anti-immigrant activists tried to 'weaponise' Carlow shooting incident with misinformation Misinformation around a recent shooting incident at a Carlow shopping centre was "weaponised" by anti-immigrant activists and facilitated by social media algorithms, according to a researcher who monitors far-right activity in Ireland. In an interview with , H&CC research and communications lead Mark Malone said: "Claims from the likes of Derek Blighe, from Gavin Lowbridge (who runs the OffGrid Ireland account on Twitter spaces), they were framing the incident as a terrorist shooting related to their own anti-immigrant politics. This was all within a time period that allowed for no verification, and subsequently what transpired was most of it was utter nonsense." Mr Malone also mentioned anti-immigrant activist Philp Dwyer, who drove to the scene in Carlow to film. "It was telling that Philip Dwyer was travelling back from an anti-migrant demonstration in Clonmel, heard there was something happening and landed up in Carlow, he describes himself as a 'citizen journalist'." Abroad All eyes are on the US, after president Donald Trump sanctioned strikes on Iran in support of Israel. Mr Trump has called into question the future of Iran's ruling theocracy, seemingly contradicting his administration's earlier calls to resume negotiations and avoid an escalation in fighting. 'It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change???' Mr Trump posted on social media. 'MIGA!!!' The posting on Truth Social marked something of a reversal from defence secretary Pete Hegseth's Sunday morning news conference that detailed the aerial bombing on three of the country's nuclear sites. 'This mission was not and has not been about regime change,' Mr Hegseth said.
BBC News
06-05-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Ireland weather: Hosepipe ban in parts of the Republic of Ireland
A hose pipe ban has been introduced in Milford in County Donegal, Mullingar in County Westmeath, and Kells-Oldcastle in County Meath amid concerns over very low water restrictions will apply from Tuesday and will last for six Éireann (Irish Water) has said dry conditions stretching back to last autumn, through winter, and into spring have led to a sharp drop in water supply at key in County Donegal is supplied by Lough Colmcille. Both it and Lough Bane, which serves the Kells-Oldcastle area, are at historically low levels. Lough Owel, which supplies Mullingar, is now at its lowest level for 50 years. The water conservation order bans the use of hose pipes for domestic and certain non-domestic uses, such as watering gardens outside organisation says this is aimed at preserving water for essential services. 'Dryer than normal' "The past 12 months have been drier than normal when compared to the long-term average" according to Margaret Attridge, head of water operations."This means that some water sources which traditionally would have replenished over the winter period have not seen the same level of recovery.""As a result, we are starting to experience issues with water availability at these sources," Ms Attridge saidDespite the targeted nature of the restrictions the utility has urged all households and businesses across Ireland to use water wisely as the country enters the summer in 2025 Irish weather service, Met Éireann, reported that rainfall was below average at most weather stations in the Republic during organisation also reported that autumn in 2024 was the 17th driest since records began in 1940. Will there be a hosepipe ban in Northern Ireland? In Northern Ireland, NI Water has said reservoirs are at a healthy position for the time of year despite experiencing a winter and spring with less than average rainfall."Rain in mid-April helped bring reservoir levels back up to 93% capacity" according to Water Supply Manager, Maynard Cousley."However, it is a timely reminder that our weather patterns are changing and we cannot take our water supply for granted."We must use our water supply wisely so we can conserve it for when we need it most." Drought watch status The EU's Copernicus climate service has placed Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland into a drought warning status, moving from a drought watch status earlier in indicates low rainfall is now accompanied by declining soil-moisture levels and the first signs of vegetation Northern Ireland river flows in March ended the month "exceptionally low".
BBC News
06-02-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Storm Éowyn: Record breaking winds in the Republic of Ireland
Storm Éowyn brought record breaking wind speeds at several weather stations in the Republic of Ireland, the Irish meteorological service Met Éireann has revealed. Two stations, in Ceann Mhása (Mace Head), County Galway and Malin Head, County Donegal, recorded average wind speeds that reached hurricane force 12 on the Beaufort Éireann said the highest gust was 114mph (184km/h) in County Galway and County Donegal, with sustained 10 minute average speeds maxing out at 88mph (142km/h). The storm resulted in red weather warnings being issued for much of the UK and Ireland, with high winds causing damage to the power grid leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity in Northern Ireland. Met Éireann said Storm Éowyn "went through explosive cyclogenesis as it approached Ireland from the southwest".The service said that on Thursday 23 January the storm "reached peak intensity as it brushed the northwest coast of Ireland". Disruption and danger to life Storm Éowyn resulted in the Met Office issuing its first ever red weather warning for Northern Ireland and Scotland, warning that conditions may cause a "danger to life". A number of businesses remained closed on Friday 24 January until the red weather warning was lifted, including supermarkets Lidl, Tesco and Sainsbury' were also advised to close for the day. In total 285,000 households and businesses lost power during the the peak of the disruption, more than 200,000 customers were affected by power Ireland's public transport service provider Translink cancelled all bus and train services during the red Director of Service Operations, Ian Campbell, said at the time: "We have already identified there are several railway lines blocked with fallen trees and debris that will need removed."One person was killed after a tree fell on his car in Co Donegal. Kacper Dudek was travelling on the N14, near Ballinalecky Cross when the incident happened. Some customers still without internet Some customers are still waiting to have internet and phone connectivity restored. BBC News NI has seen a message from broadband provider Fibrus telling a customer that service in their area will be restored by 17 February. As of Monday this week Fibrus had about 6,000 customers out of service due to confirmed fibre said assessing timelines was challenging "given the dependencies on other providers" but all remaining customers were being given a assembly member Deborah Erskine said five telecoms masts had been destroyed during last month's storm.
