Social media giants face scrutiny over missing age verification plans

Social media giants face scrutiny over missing age verification plans

Major social media platforms including X and Reddit have not yet submitted their plans to Ireland’s media regulator on how they will prevent children from accessing pornographic content, as a July deadline for implementing age verification measures approaches. In comments to the Irish Examiner, online safety commissioner Niamh Hodnett revealed that several platforms under Coimisiún … Read more

Income gap grows as cross-border cooperation lags, says ESRI study

Income gap grows as cross-border cooperation lags, says ESRI study

A new ESRI-Shared Island report has concluded that cross-border co-operation in key areas established by the Good Friday Agreement has not reached its full potential, particularly in strategic sectors like education, health, agriculture, and the environment. The report highlights several policy implications requiring attention, including significantly higher rates of early school leaving in Northern Ireland, … Read more

New detection system slashes uninsured vehicles on Irish roads by half

New detection system slashes uninsured vehicles on Irish roads by half

The Motor Insurers Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) has reported a dramatic reduction in uninsured vehicles on Irish roads following the implementation of a new detection system. According to recent data, just over 4% of vehicles were uninsured in 2024, compared to 8.3% in 2022. This significant improvement stems from the Irish Motor Insurance Database, which … Read more

Union calls for maximum working temperature and 'climate leave' amid extreme weather concerns

Union calls for maximum working temperature and ‘climate leave’ amid extreme weather concerns

Unite union is pushing for the establishment of statutory maximum working temperatures and paid “climate leave” as part of new proposals to protect workers during extreme weather events. The union has requested a meeting with Enterprise Minister Peter Burke to discuss their recommendations, which include setting maximum working temperatures based on job type and environment. … Read more

RSA inundated with public complaints about dangerous driving and speed concerns

RSA inundated with public complaints about dangerous driving and speed concerns

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has received numerous letters from concerned citizens highlighting dangerous driving behaviors and calling for reduced speed limits across Ireland. These complaints come amid a troubling week of multiple road fatalities reported by gardaí. Many correspondents noted a marked increase in reckless driving since the end of COVID-19 restrictions. One resident … Read more

Record high of 15,418 people now living in emergency housing

Record high of 15,418 people now living in emergency housing

The number of people living in emergency accommodation in the Republic reached an unprecedented 15,418 last month, including 4,675 children, according to official figures released by the Department of Housing. The March statistics show a modest increase of 40 people compared to February’s figure of 15,378, with 22 of these being children. January’s total stood … Read more

Ireland to build first winter sports arena in Cherrywood under €190 million plan

Ireland to build first winter sports arena in Cherrywood under €190 million plan

A landmark €190 million development is set to transform an eight-acre site in south Dublin’s Cherrywood into Ireland’s first dedicated winter sports and entertainment arena. Backed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the project is led by Prime Arena Holdings, which aims to submit planning documents by September. The venue will serve as the future home … Read more

Revolut set to launch mortgage services in Ireland by late 2025

Revolut set to launch mortgage services in Ireland by late 2025

Revolut has confirmed plans to enter the Irish mortgage market, with a soft launch expected later this year, RTE reported. The fintech bank aims to begin testing home-loan services in Q3, followed by a full rollout in Q4 2025. Joe Heneghan, CEO of Revolut Europe, said the company is advancing its preparations and will initially … Read more

Marks and Spencer halts online orders following cyber incident

Marks and Spencer halts online orders following cyber incident

Marks and Spencer has temporarily suspended online orders via its website and app as it continues to address a “cyber incident” that occurred during the bank holiday weekend. Contactless payment services at stores throughout Ireland and the UK have also been disrupted by the attack. The popular retailer issued an apology to customers, stating: “Our … Read more

Apprenticeship graduates enjoy strong employment outcomes and competitive wages

Apprenticeship graduates enjoy strong employment outcomes and competitive wages

New data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveals that over 90% of apprentices who qualified in 2020 were employed two years later, earning a median weekly wage of €935. The study, which marks the CSO’s first dedicated analysis of apprenticeship outcomes, shows significant improvement since the economic recession. The percentage of qualified apprentices neither … Read more

Dublin community rallies to support family of deceased Indian worker

A fundraising campaign has been launched following the sudden death of Vijayakumar P Narayanan, an Indian national who passed away Wednesday night in Dublin. Vijayakumar, who had been working for Eirebus in Ireland for just 18 months, leaves behind a wife and two children—aged 13 and 11—in India who were dependent on his income. The … Read more

Health experts call for national unused medication disposal scheme

Health experts call for national unused medication disposal scheme

Health experts and politicians are urging the establishment of a nationwide scheme allowing people to return unused or expired medications to pharmacies amid growing concerns over safety risks and environmental damage. Ireland currently lacks a funded national program for safe medicine disposal, putting it out of step with many other countries. The Dispose of Unused … Read more

Irish Rail passengers within 50 km of Dublin can now pay using a Leap card

Irish Rail passengers within 50 km of Dublin can now pay using a Leap card

Major changes are on the way for rail users in Dublin and surrounding areas, with Irish Rail introducing its new “Dublin Commuter Zone” fare structure, taking effect from Monday. The new system divides the commuter belt into four zones, extending Leap card access to passengers traveling within 50km of Dublin. Commuters in towns such as … Read more

Nearly a quarter of Irish renters fear homeownership will remain out of reach, new survey finds

Nearly a quarter of Irish renters fear homeownership will remain out of reach, new survey finds

Nearly one in four renters in Ireland believe that they will never be able to buy a home, according to a recent survey that highlights the country’s ongoing housing challenges. The survey, conducted by Aviva Insurance Ireland DAC, found that 29 per cent of respondents cited the lack of affordable housing options as the primary … Read more

Over 1.2 million Europeans sign petition for EU financial support for abortion access

Over 1.2 million Europeans sign petition for EU financial support for abortion access

The “My Voice, My Choice” campaign has gathered more than 1.2 million signatures on a European Citizens’ Initiative calling for the European Commission to provide financial support for safe and legal abortion services across the EU. The year-long signature collection effort, which concluded today, has successfully surpassed the one million threshold required to compel an … Read more