Photograph: RIP.ieThe spate of deaths has brought road safety into sharp focus. Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney insists road safety is a priority for Government and across the political spectrum. Sam Waide, chief executive of the RSA, says it remains “unwavering” in its commitment to preventing collisions and improving road safety. Prof Caulfield says “fully implementing” the speed limit review would also help improve road safety. The 2023 speed limit review made recommendations to lower limits for road safety, which have led to new rules taking effect this year.

The photograph of Verona Murphy with Sinn Féin politicians was later deletedAn interesting day in pictures for Sinn Féin on Tuesday. Later in the day, Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin proudly squired controversial punk-rap duo Bob Vylan around Leinster House before their concert in Vicar Street, Dublin. They were photographed with a number of politicians and staff in Leinster House 2000 annexe. Photograph: Kieran Frost/RedfernsIn Leinster House, a number of TDs and senators were surprised but thrilled when told of the rappers’ presence in the building. As ructions continued over who made the arrangements for the committee meetings, the Chief Whip lost her patience with Pearse.

Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne warns of ‘direct threat’ to Baltic nations after briefings in region. There are constant cyber attacks, Mr Byrne was told. Thomas Byrne, Minister of State for European Affairs. “I’ve told them about the investments we are making,” Mr Byrne said. “They see this very much as threats to European infrastructure.”Mr Byrne stressed how supportive the Baltic republics had been to Ireland during Brexit.

Last September, German chancellor Friedrich Merz stood in a synagogue and wept. German chancellor Friedrich Merz at Berlin's Neue Wache memorial during commemorations to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the second World War on May 8th. He was the maternal grandfather of Friedrich Merz, who grew up in the house with his family until he was 10. In May 1933 the Nazi party, swamped with new membership applications, imposed a moratorium until it could clear the backlog. In interviews, Friedrich Merz has said he was inspired to study law from studying his father’s case files.

Kashmir sapphire in a sapphire and diamond ring (€100,000-€150,000)Adam’s director of jewellery, Claire Mestrallet, is also very excited by the inclusion of another Kashmir sapphire in a sapphire and diamond ring (€100,000-€150,000). This will be the fourth Kashmir sapphire for sale at Adam’s in 2025; the first sold for a record €660,000 in May, and another two Kashmir sapphire brooches sold in September for €1.36 million. Mestrallet says that each Kashmir sapphire has been a “discovery”. When she suspected she had another Kashmir sapphire set in to a ring by French jeweller Boucheron, her fellow directors and even the laboratory technicians doubted her instincts. “When the lady brought me in her jewellery for sale, I thought it was a Kashmir sapphire, but I didn’t say anything.

John Banville’s latest novel is Venetian VespersSebastian BarryI’ve been working all year so I haven’t been able to catch up with so many enticing new novels. The most powerful Irish novel was Roisín O’Donnell’s Nesting, a scorching indictment of both toxic masculinity and Ireland’s housing crisis. Edel Coffey’s latest book is In Her Place[ Julia Kelly: ‘My mum died swimming in the Galápagos at 71. Sinéad Gleeson’s latest book is Hagstone. My favourite Irish novel was The Gorgeous Inertia of the Earth by Adrian Duncan.

Earlier this year, taxi drivers in Paris and other major cities set fires, blocked airports and attacked vehicles. Their frustration centred on what they saw as unfair competition from a cheaper ride-hailing service that undercut licensed operators. Many believe it is the first step toward a price war that the current regulatory framework was designed to prevent. But the dispute shows that even within Ireland’s tighter rules, Uber’s attempts at disruption are still contentious. The coming weeks will test whether regulators believe the existing framework is robust enough to withstand these new pressures.

One hundred years ago this week, the Irish government entered crisis talks with its British counterpart over the unresolved question of the Border. The Boundary Commission, created under the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, had finished its long-delayed work. Many nationalists had believed the commission would transfer substantial areas of Northern Ireland. The assumption was that a truncated Northern state would soon prove unworkable and that unity would inevitably follow. A newly assertive and sometimes irredentist Irish nationalism has begun to surface, dismissive of the other traditions on the island.

The mean number of eggs laid by Irish mute swans is five-six, although they have been known to lay up to 11. The young stay with their parents until next spring when they will have acquired their adult white plumage. They will then be driven away by their formerly loving parents. Michael Walsh, DublinA gall caused by a gall miteThis is a gall caused by a gall mite Aceria fraxinivora. Then the heron flew around the cormorant until it went back to its own side of the weir.

Almost six in 10 of those with a smart meter are “unaware” they need to move to a smart meter price plan to get the benefit of it, according to Electric Ireland’s Sustainability Index. While 63 per cent of those surveyed said they have a smart meter, only three in five of those respondents said they had moved to a smart meter plan, according to the survey. First step: Set up smart meter accountThe first step to using your smart meter to find savings is to create an account at esbnetworks.ie. Once you’ve created an account, you’ll have direct access to your usage data, as stored by your smart meter. Step three: Find the right tariffThe best tariff for you might be a smart tariff; a day/night rate, or a fixed 24-hour rate – you can use your individualised smart meter data to find out.

Noel Twomey (64) of Knocknaheeny, Cork, last November pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to his wife. Photograph: Cork Courts LimitedA 64-year-old man who poured a kettle of boiling water over his sleeping wife and attacked her with a claw hammer is to be given “one last chance” to obtain a psychiatric report before his sentencing hearing. Defence barrister Seamus Roche SC, said that significant efforts had been made to secure a private psychiatric report for his client. Judge Dermot Sheehan directed that the prison psychiatric service prepare a report in advance of a sentencing hearing on February 16th, 2026. Judge Sheehan said that the offence carries a headline sentence of 10 to 15 years, with Twomey facing “a substantial custodial sentence no matter what”.

URC: Dragons 10 Leinster 24Another day, another officiating controversy. Alex Soroka’s early score came with a level of ease that bordered on pitiful, from a Dragons perspective. A third threatened a score after a Boyle burst only for Dragons to isolate the prop and turn him over. Scoring sequence – 4 mins: Soroka try 0-5; 31: Screech try, de Beer con 7-5; Half-time 7-5; 44: Kenny try, Byrne con 7-12; 47: A O’Brien pen 10-12; 59: Kenny try 10-17; 77: Snyman try, Byrne con 10-24. LEINSTER: J O’Brien; J Kenny, H Cooney, C Frawley, J Larmour; H Byrne, F Gunne; J Boyle, G McCarthy, T Clarkson; B Deeny, D Mangan; A Soroka, S Penny, M Deegan (capt).

Security risks are behind the need for 40 additional car spaces for US government cars and embassy staff at the former Jury’s Hotel site in Ballsbridge, consultants for the US embassy in Ireland have said. The US is seeking a five-year temporary planning permission for the surface car park at the former Jury’s Hotel site to accommodate 14 US government cars and 26 embassy staff cars. Arup say the embassy site car park has reached its functionalcapacity. The documentation lists the government assigned cars as including three BMW X5s assigned to the ambassador. The submission adds “the current Embassy site cannot accommodate these requirements, and there is no scope for expansion”.

Jordan Coghlan, playing for old club Terenure against Clontarf last March, runs into contact. Lansdowne, in fourth on 20 points, host fifth-placed Ballynahinch, a point behind. Division 1B: Blackrock College v UCC, Stradbrook; City of Armagh v Naas, Palace Grounds; Garryowen v Dublin University, Dooradoyle; Highfield v Old Wesley, Woodleigh Park; Queen’s v Instonians, Dub Lane. Division 2B: Sligo v UL Bohemian, Hamilton Park, 2pm; Clogher Valley v Navan, The Cran; Galwegians v Enniscorthy, Crowley Park; Malone v Buccaneers, Gibson Park; Rainey v Skerries, Hatrick Park. Division 2C: Ballyclare v Dolphin, The Cloughan; Bective Rangers v Malahide, Energia Park; Bruff v Belfast Harlequins, Kilballyowen Park; Midleton v Clonmel, Towns Park; Monkstown v Thomond, Park Avenue.

The mother of a 14-year-old boy missing from Navan, Co Meath, has made an emotional appeal for help finding him. Benjamin Spot was last seen on his bicycle in Market Square, heading towards Kentstown Road or the Ramparts area of Navan, at about 5.55pm on Wednesday, November 19th. The missing teen is described as being about 1.55 metres (5ft 1in) in height, with blond hair and blue eyes. She said she is convinced he is alive and possibly staying with somebody outside of the Navan area. The Garda on Thursday renewed its appeal for anyone with information on Benjamin’s whereabouts to contact Navan Garda station on 046 9036100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.