The Confidential Recipient for Vulnerable Persons has communicated her serious concern to the HSE CEO about the role’s “continued independence”, it has emerged through parliamentary questions (PQs). The new reporting line has prompted concern from the Confidential Recipient about an inherent conflict of interest. The HSE also stated the delegation that established the Confidential Recipient was “no longer valid” as it was issued by a former HSE Director General to a previous Confidential Recipient. The delegation also outlines that any dispute as to whether a function has been delegated to the Confidential Recipient will be decided by the Director General. ‘Very independent’The late Ms Leigh Gath, a disability activist and Thalidomide survivor, was the first Confidential Recipient.

Alan Craughwell, founder of AssistiV Ireland and director of Mixed-Ability Sports Ireland, on how tech helps break down barriers to workMy older brothers Ollie and Eamon went on to work in the Co Galway firm set up by my late dad. I would have done summer work with him in the mid-Nineties, but I had no aptitude for plumbing. You need a mechanical mind.

Doctor Foster's return has been confirmed by the BBC for a third and final series. The thriller TV show, created, developed and written by Mike Bartlett, first hit our screens on BBC One in 2015. Doctor Foster stars Suranne Jones as protagonist Gemma Foster, Bertie Carvel as Simon, Tom Taylor as Tom - and they are all reprising their roles for the third season. 'We needed space from the first two series, and we needed Tom - Gemma and Simon’s runaway son - to return as an adult with questions. She said: 'I love Gemma Foster.

Westmeath workers to benefit as Lidl announces €11m investment in payrisesMore than 460 employees across three stores and Regional Distribution Centre (Mullingar) in Westmeath are set for a significant pay boost as part of an €11million national investment by retail giant Lidl. All employees will feel the benefit of this increase in their wages, with the increase effective from March 1. This latest investment will see all of Lidl’s 5,500 employees in Ireland benefitting from an average increase of 4 per cent to their ‘Total Rewards’ package. With this latest pay increase, Lidl Ireland has moved its minimum wage for employees to €15.40 and top-rate wage for colleagues to €17.90 – matching the recommended €15.40 Living Wage rate for 2026. Commenting on the announcement, Chief People Officer at Lidl Ireland & Northern Ireland Maeve McCleane said: “At Lidl, we believe that supporting our colleagues is the foundation of our success.

The 26-year-old is the subject of links with moves to Arsenal and Chelsea amid growing uncertainty over his future at Atletico Madrid. ‌Alvarez arrived at Atletico in 2024 following two years at Manchester City, where he collected six major honours. Arsenal and Chelsea remain long-standing admirers of Alvarez and may launch a bid should he become available at a reasonable price. ‌View 2 Images Diego Simeone could lose Julian Alvarez this summer (Image: Angel Martinez - UEFA, UEFA via Getty Images)FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! He has two clubs interested in him: Arsenal and Chelsea, who are already known to be interested, and Barcelona.

Emile Smith Rowe shows true Arsenal feelings as he reacts to Tottenham derby on Fulham busFormer Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe watched the Gunners beat Tottenham 4-1 in the north London derby from Fulham's team bus, where he mocked ex-Spurs team-mate Ryan SessegnonView 3 Images Emile Smith Rowe celebrated after Viktor Gyokeres scored for Arsenal against Tottenham (Image: Credit: Alex Iwobi YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDtsjAjDMD8)Former Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe joined a contingent of ex-Gunners at Fulham to witness their comfortable 4-1 triumph over Tottenham in the North London Derby at the weekend. ‌Smith Rowe then joined in and attempted to tease Sessegnon, saying: "Sess." View 3 Images Emile Smith Rowe celebrated Arsenal scoring against Tottenham to mock Ryan Sessegnon on the Fulham team bus (Image: Credit: Alex Iwobi YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDtsjAjDMD8)Sessegnon retaliated after Kolo Muani levelled the score, declaring: "Alex, get this. ‌Smith Rowe spun around and imitated the Gyokeres celebration, covering his mouth with his hands to ridicule his teammate, after the Gunners' second goal was scored. Smith Rowe ultimately made 115 appearances for Arsenal, netting 18 goals and providing 13 assists during that period.

In mid-February 2022, as Russian troops gathered on Ukraine’s borders, Ksenia Samotiy urged her family to leave. Three days before the invasion began, her parents decided her mother would take Ksenia and her two younger siblings out of the country “until things settled”. In a recent Sunday Independent article, she wrote that her “family exists now as a map rather than a household”. Coffee shops full, students gathered outside lecture halls, but also funeral processions that quietly stop traffic and a cemetery that has run out of space for the war . Today on The Indo Daily, Fionnán Sheahan speaks to Ksenia Samotiy about fleeing Ukraine, building a life in Ireland, and returning home to a country still at war.

Applications to the Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme will close in August. The scheme, administered by the Victims’ Payments Board, can award payments ranging from £2,494 to £12,471 per annum to those eligible. The board has paid out more than £123 million to victims to date. Former Northern Ireland secretary Lord Hain encouraged potential victims to make applications. He added: “We are grateful to Lord Hain for helping raise awareness that the scheme is set to close for applications on August 30 2026 and we urge families, friends and those who may know victims of the Troubles to encourage them to apply.

Updated Feb. 25, 2026, 10:16 a.m. ETAs we said before, February might be the busiest month of the year for events in the Sarasota area, but March will give it a real run for its money. Sarasota County Fair makes its return along with other annual events such as Sarasota Jazz Festival and My Hometown Fest. There'll also be numerous St. Patrick's Day events, many of which will take place at the area's Irish bars. Then there'll be plenty of the concerts, comedy shows, stage productions and other events our area hosts year-round.

Gloucestershire pair scoop £1M each in EuroMillions UK Millionaire MakerOne winner purchased her ticket after getting a new phone for ChristmasView Image National Lottery EuroMillions tickets. (Image: PA)Two people from Gloucestershire have won £1,000,000 each after their tickets were selected in the UK Millionaire Maker raffle within the last four months. ‌The wins, from their EuroMillions tickets, created two new millionaires in October and December, respectively. ‌The woman was a lucky winner after getting a new phone for Christmas, and then played after updating the National Lottery app the next day. "It's an incredible feeling, and I'm looking forward to making the most of my retirement and creating wonderful memories with my family.”Andy Carter, Senior Winners' Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, congratulated both Gloucestershire winners and said: “How wonderful to see our two Gloucestershire winners celebrating £1M prizes!

U2 released a short documentary by Ukrainian film-maker Ilya Mikhaylus on Tuesday to accompany Yours Eternally, a track from their latest EP Days of Ash. Yours Eternally, the closing track on Days of Ash, sees Ed Sheeran and Ukrainian singer Taras Topolia join Bono and The Edge on vocals. It was at the metro station that Bono was introduced to Ukranian musician Topolia by Ed Sheeran. According to U2, Topolia is the inspiration for Yours Eternally, a song “written in the form of a letter from a soldier on active duty”. Directed by Mikhaylus and produced by Pyotr Verzilov, the short film follows the soldiers of the Khartiya corps, focusing heavily on soldier Alina Shukh.

Omar Berrada drops transfer hint as Man Utd's financial position becomes clearManchester United have summer transfer plans and CEO Omar Berrada has spoken about the club's financial situation and approach moving forward after the second quarter financial resultsView Image CEO Omar Berrada has spoken about Manchester United's financial results (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)Manchester United chief Omar Berrada has hinted the club's transfer spending is not over as they take a 'football-first approach'. Berrada has spoken out following the announcement of the Red Devils' second-quarter financial results. ‌United confirmed an operating profit of £32.6million in the first 6 months of the financial year, compared to a £3.9million operating loss previously. Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.

Offaly footballer Cormac Egan is in favour of an August All-Ireland final because the championship is “over before it gets going”. As Congress vote on a proposal to stage the All-Ireland SFC final in August from 2027, Egan said: “It is quite a tough one. “But I think an All-Ireland final should be in August or September time. “These kind of group games in the Tailteann last year were kind of a little bit dragged on a little bit. In his annual report in December, Dublin GAA chief executive Finbarr O’Mahony mentioned Dublin GAA had applied for planning permission in November 2024.

Real Madrid and Benfica lock horns again tonight but football is the furthest thing from everyone's mind. Vinicius Jr promptly told the referee of the allegations and left the field, refusing to return. It was the response to the allegations made by Vinicius Jr that has enraged and saddened much of the football world since last week, particularly that of Mourinho. 'So for him to come out and say “Oh yeah, Vinicius Jr shouldn’t have celebrated the way he did”, that was a clumsy, clumsy comment from Jose Mourinho. All eyes will be on the Benfica boss and Vinicius Jr tonight.

New food waste collections in six areas of Plymouth within daysThe service will be rolled out to all areas of the city by the end of the yearView Image Cllr Tom Briars-Delve with the new food waste vehicles that will be begin rounds from Monday March 2 (Image: Plymouth City Council)Food waste collections will start in six areas of Plymouth from next Monday (March 2). ‌Food waste collections for households in England are becoming mandatory this year and Plymouth City Council hopes the move will boost its current recycling rate which is around 37 per cent. This has included ten new vehicles, food waste containers, staffing and an infrastructure upgrade of the council’s Prince Rock depot. The average recycling rate across Devon is 55 per cent with many local authorities already running a food waste collection. Article continues belowThe council says the food waste collection service has been designed to align with existing collection days to avoid disruption to current waste services.