Revenue officers have confiscated 55,000 litres of suspected illegal fuel during an operation targeting a distributor and two petrol stations in County Louth, authorities announced today. The seizure followed an intelligence-led investigation by Revenue’s Customs Service, which had identified the stations as suspected sellers of laundered fuel. The seized product has been removed for further … Read more
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has conveyed the best wishes of “all Irish people, of all traditions” to newly elected Pope Leo XIV, following the selection of American Cardinal Robert Prevost as the leader of the Catholic Church. The Chicago-born pontiff addressed thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square shortly after white smoke emerged from the Sistine Chapel … Read more
Negotiations between post-primary teacher unions and Education Minister Helen McEntee regarding proposed changes to the Leaving Certificate examination system have concluded, with the outcome now heading to a membership vote. Both major teaching unions—the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) and the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI)—will present the minister’s latest proposals on senior cycle … Read more
The Irish government has released new guidelines outlining the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the public service, advising against the use of free generative AI (GenAI) tools such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek. The framework warns that while these tools are widely accessible, they present significant risks due to a lack of oversight and … Read more
Consumer prices in Ireland rose by 2.2 per cent annually in April, up from 2 per cent in March, according to new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). This marks the second consecutive month that inflation has been at or above the 2 per cent mark. The Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which … Read more
Ireland’s bathing waters have received an exceptionally positive assessment in the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluation. According to the newly released “Bathing Water Quality Report 2024,” the vast majority of Ireland’s swimming locations have been classified as either “excellent” or “good.” The report, which monitors and assesses the quality of designated bathing sites across … Read more
Ireland has been given a two-month ultimatum to implement several EU directives or face legal proceedings at the European Court of Justice, according to a notice from the European Commission. The Commission has warned that Ireland must act quickly to transpose EU laws covering three distinct areas: hate speech legislation, cyber security regulations, and procedures … Read more
Bank of Ireland has introduced a new feature allowing customers to voluntarily block transactions with gambling operators from their accounts, a significant step taken without any legislative requirement to do so. The voluntary restriction, which differs from existing 90-day statutory exclusion measures, can be implemented indefinitely on both personal and business accounts. Customers can now … Read more
More than 70% of nurses and midwives in Ireland report that staffing levels in their work areas are inadequate to meet patient demand, according to a new survey conducted by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). Almost all respondents who identified staffing shortages warned that patient safety is being compromised as a result of … Read more
Motor insurance premiums in Ireland rose by 9% during the first half of 2024, according to new data released by the Central Bank. The average cost to insure vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, and vans reached €616 between January and June, marking one of the largest increases recorded by the banking regulator in recent months. … Read more
Ireland could lose approximately 25,000 jobs over the next year if President Donald Trump maintains his 10% tariffs on European products, according to a stark warning from the Department of Finance. Speaking at the Global Ireland Summit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin cautioned that even if current trade disputes are resolved, the international trade landscape has fundamentally … Read more
Ireland’s government has convened a high-profile summit at Dublin Castle today focusing on the nation’s international role and influence, bringing together an eclectic mix of political, diplomatic, business, and sporting figures. The event centers on the development of “Global Ireland 2040,” a comprehensive strategy that will guide Ireland’s international engagement and approach to global challenges … Read more
Uisce Éireann has imposed a six-week hosepipe ban in parts of Donegal, Meath, and Westmeath following what officials describe as a “sharp drop in water levels” across key water sources. The water conservation order took effect immediately as authorities struggle to maintain essential water supplies. The ban affects residents in Milford (Co Donegal), Mullingar (Co … Read more
Books marketed to people with ADHD on Amazon’s marketplace appear to be written by artificial intelligence rather than human experts, potentially providing harmful misinformation to vulnerable readers, according to recent findings. Several titles claiming to offer guidance for managing ADHD, particularly targeting men with adult diagnoses, have scored 100% on AI detection software run by … Read more
Retail Excellence Ireland has urged the government to indefinitely pause any future increases in the minimum wage, citing a highly challenging commercial environment for retailers. The organisation highlighted that the statutory minimum wage has risen by 38 per cent between January 2020 and January 2025, climbing from €9.80 to €13.50. In addition to its call … Read more