File photographOne in five doctors on the Irish register were working abroad or not practising last year, according to new data from the regulator. A report from the Medical Council, published on Friday, showed that in 2024, 26,591 doctors retained their place on its register. Dr Maria O’Kane, chief executive of the Medical Council, said the report highlighted “priority areas for supporting and retaining doctors in Ireland”. Dr Suzanne Crowe, president of the Medical Council, said it was important to understand what motivated someone to renew their registration yet opt to travel and work overseas. “Irish doctors have long travelled abroad for experience and training ... but we want to see them coming home,” she said.

With that in mind, here’s my round-up of last-minute, considered gifts sure to elicit an “ooh” – for him, for her, for you, for teens and tweens. Charlotte Tilbury Mini Viral Beauty Icons Gift setCharlotte's Mini Viral Beauty Icons setCharlotte Tilbury’s Christmas offering is, as ever, engineered to please the masses. While there is a vast array of gift options at almost every price point, none appeal to me more than Charlotte’s Mini Viral Beauty Icons Set (€54 from Brown Thomas). Trinny London Back to Life Skin SetBack To Life Skin setThis Trinny London gift set contains the cutest pair of mini stainless-steel cryo globes. Chanel Beauty Lips and Hands Set (€151 from Brown Thomas) is limited edition and utterly exquisite.

The Government's plan to cut growth in day-to-day spending will mean tougher budgets, with a focus on delivering housing and infrastructure. Photograph: Getty ImagesTighter budgets and a squeeze on unplanned spending increases in the coming years are in prospect as the Government prepares to unveil its Medium Term Fiscal and Structural Plan later today. It will pledge to keep the increase in current spending to an average of 6 per cent over the remaining term of the Government. Current spending – spending on day-to-day public services, public sector wages and social welfare – increased by an average of 8.5 per cent a year between 2019 and 2024, according to official figures. This means reducing the growth of current spending is essential to leave enough money in the State coffers.

A bitter wind blows up Bow Street in Dublin’s North Inner City, buffeting the hundreds queuing outside the Capuchin Day Centre. It’s 6.30am but some have been here for half an hour already, waiting for the doors to open and the special Christmas vouchers to be passed out. The queue at the Capuchin Day Centre on Bow Street, Dublin in the early hours of Friday morning. Or maybe a pair of shoes.”Baronita Kostas from Romania will spend her Christmas voucher from the Capuchin centre on baby formula. Martin Cuffe, a recovering gambling addict, at the Capuchin centre in Dublin on Friday.

Photograph: Bryan O’Brien / The Irish TimesPowering transport and heating with electricity instead of fossil fuel could save the Republic €2.8 billion a year, experts say. Electrifying heating and transport would lessen Irish reliance on imported fossil fuels, which provide 80 per cent of energy here, according to an agency report on the Republic published on Thursday. “Replacing oil- and gas-based boilers and vehicles with electric alternatives could cut direct fossil fuel imports by 38 per cent and lower annual import bills by €2.8 billion,” the agency calculates. This would continue to leave the Republic exposed to volatility in supplies of the fuel and its price. The Climate Action Plan wants to replace fossil fuels with electricity, generated mostly from renewables, to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Judicial reviews have got a “bad rap” in recent debates surrounding delays to big infrastructure projects, the president of the High Court has said. Mr Justice Barniville was speaking to The Irish Times in advance of the end of the legal term on Friday. Noting the possibility of legal challenges against the Government’s plan, Mr Justice Barniville said he could not address the specifics of the proposals. Mr Justice Barniville said he hopes to assign at least one more judge to the court next year when more High Court judges are appointed. Mr Justice Barniville stressed that judges are not immune from criticism – but personalised attacks, either online or offline, are not acceptable.

The Wood Quay site would then be redeveloped for more than 500 public homes, the council said. In a letter to councillors on Friday afternoon Mr Shakespeare said the acquisition would “enable the delivery of a new Civic Offices and up to 300 public homes on the Camden Yard site”. Retrofitting the existing Civic Offices at Wood Quay to meet climate commitments “is currently estimated to require €350 –€400 million. Relocating from Wood Quay would unlock the potential for in excess of 500 public homes on the current Civic Offices site, while enabling modern, sustainable workplaces for staff and improved public services for citizens,” he said. “Developing modern, energy‑efficient accommodation at Camden Yard would significantly reduce our operational emissions while freeing the Wood Quay site for much‑needed public housing,” his letter states.

Government Chief Whip Mary Butler, with Senator Mark Daly, is one of four super junior ministers attending Cabinet. Photograph: Sam Boal/CollinsThe High Court has dismissed challenges brought by two Opposition TDs that claimed attendance of “super junior” ministers at meetings of the Government was unconstitutional. It also found that decisions taken by Cabinet are ultimately controlled by the 15 members and the attendance of super junior ministers does not invalidate such decisions. Because there is no constitutional regulation of who attends Cabinet meetings, that was an issue exclusively for the Government, he argued. Ministers of State attending Cabinet, or super junior ministers, are appointed by the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach.

Orban and two other populist leaders, Slovakia’s Robert Fico and new Czech Republic prime minister Andrej Babis, opted out of the loan plan. [ Ukraine deal: EU leaders agree €90bn loan after frozen Russian assets plan failsOpens in new window ]A previous 26-1 divide in the room on Ukraine may become 24-3. The original proposal was to use €210 billion of Russian state assets, frozen in Europe by economic sanctions, to finance a €90 billion loan to Ukraine. That option, where the EU would borrow €90 billion on the markets, had been ruled out weeks ago. The summit broke up with an agreement for a €90 billion loan to fund Ukraine for the next two years.

Doctors say some are now at risk of death as those on hunger strike the longest near the end of their eighth week refusing food. Memories of the 1981 IRA hunger strikes are being stirred in Britain. One of the eight is said to have been on only intermittent hunger strike due his diabetes. That the UK prisoners are being refused bail in cases where they are not up on charges of violence would make it worse. Pro-Palestinian protesters, and the right-wing counter protesters that like to goad them, frequently take to Britain’s streets as it is.

Cairn Homes has secured permission from Dublin City Council for its 510-apartment plan on the former RTÉ site at Montrose in Donnybrook. Dublin City Council has given the green light to home builder, Cairn Homes, for its revised €295 million apartment scheme on former RTÉ lands at Montrose, Donnybrook in Dublin 4. Cairn Homes Montrose Ltd previously secured planning permission from An Coimisiún Pleanála for 608 units at the site in July 2023. The new scheme omits all ‘build to rent’ apartments that had featured in that scheme. Among 19 conditions attached to the permission, the city council has ordered Cairn to pay €5.43 million towards the provision of public infrastructure.

The extension of the Luas line to Finglas in north Dublin, the first expansion of the tram system since 2017, is facing new delays following a court challenge to the project. The line would also provide interchanges with rail services at Broombridge, which is also on the planned DART+ West line between Dublin city and Maynooth. The Green line began operations from Sandyford in to St Stephen’s Green 21 years ago. An additional southside stop was opened in 2010, bringing the line to Brides Glen, south of Cherrywood. The more significant cross-city extension from St Stephen’s Green to Broombridge began services in 2017 and was designed to provide for a link to Finglas.

Bloomfield hospital is the only multidisciplinary residential centre for people with Huntington’s disease who require complex care. Photograph: Bryan O’BrienA charity representing people with Huntington’s disease has said it is “worried and saddened” by mistreatment findings at a south Dublin hospital that cares for patients with the condition. On Wednesday The Irish Times reported on the findings of an independent investigation into Bloomfield hospital in Rathfarnham, which identified mistreatment of residents. Bloomfield hospital, which cares for patients with enduring mental health conditions as well as neuropsychiatric disorders, is the only multidisciplinary residential centre for people with Huntington’s disease who require complex care. In a statement the board of the Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI) said it “is worried and saddened by serious concerns made in relation to Bloomfield Hospital”.

A surfer walks past floral tributes left at the promenade of Bondi Beach in Sydney to honour victims of the shooting that took place there on December 14th. My kids had done their junior life-saving programmes, known as “Nippers” at the North Bondi surf club. A poster of 10-year-old Matilda, who was killed in the Bondi Beach shooting. Peter Meagher was a third-generation member of the Randwick rugby club, which is situated only a few kilometres from Bondi. Alfie Orchard and his partner Amy Schanschieff embrace while gathered to mourn at Bondi Pavilion at Bondi Beach.

Russian president Vladimir Putin offered no compromise on his terms for ending the ‍war in Ukraine on Friday and accused the European Union of attempting “daylight robbery” of Russian assets. Mr Putin set out the Kremlin’s stance on the war in the opening moments of his annual end-of-year press conference, a marathon event that typically runs for some four hours. The ‍EU leaders said they reserved the right to use Russian assets to repay the loan if Moscow fails to pay war reparations to Ukraine. Mr Putin said the bloc had backed away from the original scheme because it would have faced serious repercussions, and it had damaged its status as a safe place to store assets. Attendees had to undergo a Covid test – still routine for meetings involving Mr Putin (73) several years after the end of the pandemic.