The Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan, conducted the formal review of the Defence Forces contingent comprising the 120th Infantry Group who will leave in the coming weeks for service with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The … Read more
Irish Minister for the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D. met with his French counterpart, Annick Girardin, the French Minister of the Sea, in Paris. The primary focus of the meeting was to discuss Minister McConalogue’s case to provide greater protection to the inshore fishing waters around Ireland under the Common Fisheries Policy. The background to the meeting … Read more
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will visit Finland and Estonia tomorrow, two nations closely aligned with Ireland on issues including climate change, digital transformation, and opposition to Russia’s unjustified war on Ukraine. Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin and Micheál Martin will meet in Helsinki. The President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö will host the Taoiseach … Read more
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Wednesday that after delays in deliveries, further supplies of Strela missiles, which had been in the inventories of the former Communist East German army, were on the way to Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted Germany to stage a historic reversal of its policy of not sending weapons … Read more
Over 10,000 Ukrainian refugees, mostly women, and children have arrived in Ireland since the war began in the eastern European country, Independent.co.uk reported. At a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, attended virtually from Washington by the Taoiseach after he tested positive for Covid-19 last week, the Government continued preparations for tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees arriving into … Read more
The government met today to consider the ongoing serious situation caused by Russia’s illegal and immoral war on Ukraine and Ireland’s coordinated humanitarian, economic and diplomatic response to the crisis. The war is inflicting incalculable suffering on the Ukrainian people, with continued targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure by the Russian forces. The government, along … Read more
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held talks with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Saturday, where the two leaders discussed bilateral affairs and international security, as India continues to resist pressure to openly condemn Russia for its military actions in Ukraine. The two partners, pledging to boost trade between the two Asian … Read more
Russia said Sunday it has again fired its newest Kinzhal hypersonic missiles in Ukraine, destroying a fuel storage site in the country’s south. The Russian Defense Ministry also said it killed more than 100 members of Ukrainian special forces and “foreign mercenaries” when it targeted a training center in the town of Ovruch in northern Ukraine … Read more
China reported two Covid-19 deaths on Saturday, its first in more than a year, underlining the threat posed by an Omicron outbreak that has triggered the country’s highest case count since the pandemic’s onset. The National Health Commission said both deaths occurred in Jilin, the northeastern province which has been hardest hit by a nationwide … Read more
Russian President Vladimir Putin led a pro-government rally that was beset by “technical difficulties” and reports of people being forced to attend. The event marking the eighth anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, which is not recognized by most countries, came three weeks into Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that has sparked fierce international condemnation. “We have … Read more
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, several European countries have halted their “citizenship-residence by investment” schemes. Countries such as the Czech Republic, Greece, Malta, and Portugal have halted their programmes for Russian citizens which provide so-called “golden visas” in return for significant investments. In Ireland, “golden visas” can be obtained through the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) which … Read more
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has tested positive for Covid-19 while in Washington for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations. It was detected as part of Covid-19 screening required to enter the White House for a planned meeting with US President Joe Biden on St Patrick’s day. The White House insists any person visiting must undergo tests for … Read more
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, has been addressed a meeting of European Education Ministers on the illegal invasion of Ukraine. The meeting focused, amongst other things, on making language provision available for all Ukrainians and ensuring access to third-level education. Speaking at the meeting, Minister Harris said,“Ireland and … Read more
Ninety-seven Ukrainian children have died since the start of Russia’s invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Tuesday in a speech to Canada’s parliament, pleading once more for allies to “expand” their support for Kyiv. In the video address, the Ukrainian leader accused Russia’s military of “destroying everything: memorial complexes, schools, hospitals, housing complexes.” “They’ve already killed 97 … Read more
An Irish journalist working as a Fox News cameraman, Pierre Zakrzewski, who was killed by Russian shelling in Ukraine on Monday has been described as a passionate and talented individual with an “indomitable” spirit. The photographer (55) died alongside Ukrainian journalist and producer, Oleksandra Kuvshynova, after the vehicle they were travelling in with reporter Benjamin Hall was struck by incoming … Read more