The expenditure intervention will offset 82% of increased energy costs, and more than 90% for the poorest families. This will likely spur our government’s demand to review its own aid program before the end of the summer. This is probably in the context of the Republic’s energy policy, given the requirements to achieve net zero …

Sharp divisions have emerged between government and opposition over the attendance of eight TDs and government senators at the Punchestown races last month as guests of the Irish Bookmakers Association. Main opposition Sinn Féin said their participation was “deeply concerning” and suggested a dysfunctional relationship between the gambling industry and the politicians tasked with regulating …

Strengthening the national grid and revamping green energy carriers could reduce electricity bills for homes and businesses, a leading industry group has claimed. National electricity grid operator Eirgrid recently awarded contracts to 80 new projects, with the capacity to supply around half of the Republic’s peak electricity needs, under the Renewable Energy Support Program (RESS) …

The government appears ready to approve a plan for far-reaching changes to the state’s civil justice system. Many reforms, set out in a report by a review group chaired by retired High Court President Peter Kelly, are overdue and will help turn this slow and cumbersome system into a more efficient and accessible one. The …

For the first time in the history of Northern Ireland, an Irish nationalist party wins an election. More so, that party was Sinn Fein – once the political arm of the Provisional IRA, it believes the six counties do not belong in the UK. Speaking to the media after the election, Nicola Sturgeon was quick …

The European Union is preparing options to react if the UK government goes ahead with plans to unilaterally roll back Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit arrangements. Member state ambassadors have called for action to be prepared if London chooses to escalate a row that has plunged close trading partners back into acrimony after months of cooperation over …

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has crafted new legislation to roll back elements of the post-Brexit deal to be implemented by summer unless the European Union moves. Although legislation on unilateral action has already been drawn up by Ms Truss, she told parliament on Tuesday that the “preference remains a negotiated solution with the EU”. Following …

The government is seeking the public’s opinion on the continuation of pay restrictions at Irish banks that were bailed out during the financial crisis, as part of a review of the future of the sector. “Different views exist on this topic, but I think it’s important that the issue be considered as part of the …

Declassified files from the 1970s show that the British government planned to discredit Amnesty International in response to its work investigating the use of torture by British forces in Northern Ireland. An internal Foreign Office memo from December 1971 proposes that the government release details of the “personal history and anti-British bias” of Thomas Hammarberg, …

The situation around the Northern Ireland protocol is “now very serious”, said the Prime Minister. Boris Johnson spoke to Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin on Tuesday about post-Brexit arrangements. In an account of the call by Downing Street, the two leaders agreed on the vital importance of restoring devolved institutions in Northern Ireland as soon …

Ireland’s medicines budget has been falling in recent years as a percentage of overall healthcare spending, according to figures from a variety of sources, including the Health Service Executive. An industry report that looked at official Irish figures as well as those from 14 other EU states found that the state spends slightly less of …

The Taoiseach visited The Irish Times offices last week and sat down for an interview you may have seen over the week. He focused on Northern Ireland, the prospects for a border ballot, his Shared Island initiative – which is likely to be one of his legacies – and he also touched on the shortcomings, …

Sri Lanka’s beleaguered government won a key vote in parliament as a candidate backed by the ruling coalition was elected vice president – despite mounting public pressure amid the worst economic crisis in decades. The vote was seen as crucial in demonstrating the government still has majority support in the 225-member parliament after 40 ruling …

Gary McDonald Editor-in-Chief 03 May 2022 01:00 A PROJECT which was to create 30 new jobs on the Causeway Coast and Glens is suddenly in jeopardy – as government money it was promised has still not been transferred to its account. Community benefit society ‘Grow The Glens’ received £300,000 from the Community Partnership Fund last …

An independent TD has called on the government to treat the problem of overcrowding in hospitals as an emergency, as emergency departments (EDs) across the country continue to break records for the number of patients waiting on carts. Figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organization (INMO) released on Saturday showed more than 8,717 patients …

HOUSING MINISTER DARRAGH O’Brien has expressed serious concern as new figures show an increase in the number of homeless people in Ireland. Figures released by the Department of Housing show that in March 9,825 people were homeless. It represents an increase of 3.5% since February. Around 5,000 of these homeless people are single adults, while …

In recent days, there has been a loud and largely enthusiastic response to the European Union’s final agreement on the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA is intended to control online content, including social media platforms and video sites. It was touted as a victory for rights and a statement of the EU’s commitment to …

A Turkish court has sentenced prominent civil rights activist and philanthropist Osman Kavala to life in prison without the possibility of parole, finding him guilty of attempting to overthrow the government amid mass anti-government protests in 2013. Kavala (64) had been in prison for 4½ years without conviction and has denied charges against him over …

KPMG has secured millions of pounds in UK government contracts since pledging to temporarily stop bidding for public sector work after being threatened with a ban over its involvement in a series of corporate scandals . The Big Four consultancy has won 22 UK public sector contracts worth £10m (€11.9m) since saying in December it …

Northern Ireland will have to lose more than a million sheep and cattle to meet its new legally binding climate emissions targets, according to an industry-commissioned analysis seen by the Guardian. The large-scale reduction in livestock numbers comes after the jurisdiction’s first-ever climate law was passed, obliging the agricultural sector to achieve net-zero carbon emissions …

A MAJOR development in the way Irish betting companies advertise in the UK is set to see former players and current pundits escape the gambling advert crackdown. Irish companies such as Paddy Power, Sky Bet and Betfair – all part of the Flutter stable – have been told companies like Roy Keane and Peter Crouch …