During his tenure at Facebook Ireland, the social media giant expanded its Irish headcount from 300 to 3,000, with an additional 6,000 or so contractors. “I think it’s safe to say it gave us a bit of the ick when we saw Zuckerberg, Bezos and all these guys kind of cosy up to Trump,” he says. Webdoctor’s customer base, on the other hand, is “predominantly” Irish, Lambe says. Looking beyond the next three years of Trump, Lambe – a former president of the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland – says there is a troubling trend emerging. “I do think Irish influence in the US and Washington is unquestionably diminishing,” he says.

The salary of the chief executive of the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook was increased in breach of the public pay scales. Earlier this year, The Irish Times revealed that the salary for the chief executive of St John’s Hospital in Limerick was increased to a higher pay bracket, which has resulted in significant tensions between the hospital board and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The hospital is considered “H1” under the consolidated public pay scales approved by the Department of Health and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. However, the hospital recruited its chief executive on a general manager (GM) salary of €105,604. In response to queries, Donnybrook hospital’s chief executive Ms Hogan said the board made “every effort” to appoint a chief executive in accordance with public pay policy.

Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Soucek celebrates scoring during the World Cup Group L qualifier against Gibraltar in Olomuc. Nedved has a decision to make before hosting the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup playoff semi-final on March 26th. “We lost in Armenia and almost fired the coach,” noted the Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson. Czech Republic's interim head coach Jaroslav Köstl gestures during the qualifier against Gibraltar in Olomuc. If Ireland escape Prague they will almost certainly face Denmark at the Aviva Stadium.

Then Northern Ireland deputy first minister Michelle O'Neill apologised for the hurt caused by her attendance at the funeral of Bobby Storey during a period of Covid-19 restrictions. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire“Deep tensions” over Brexit hampered the pandemic response in Northern Ireland and contributed to a disconnect between the approaches taken by the governments in Dublin and Westminster, the UK’s Covid-19 Inquiry has found. “No steps were taken to prevent this group from entering Northern Ireland and travelling on to the Republic of Ireland,” the report states. It states Ms O’Neill’s attendance at the Storey funeral and her initial failure to apologise “contributed to tensions” in the executive. Ms O’Neill told the inquiry that the Republic’s decision “was not good enough” as it took Northern Ireland by surprise.

The ESRI study found that children being looked after by relatives or siblings read less for pleasure. Photograph: Alamy/PASome children who are looked after by their relatives, rather than attending afterschool clubs, have lower reading and vocabulary scores, according to new research from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). However, the report noted that any differences found were small and the type of afterschool care received is much less of an influence than family or school factors. The study draws on two cohorts of the Growing Up in Ireland longitudinal study, covering children born a decade apart – in 1998 and 2008. Over the decade observed, the cost of afterschool care for parents has increased at a rate higher than inflation, particularly for those using childminders and afterschool clubs.

Tulfarris, Old Bray Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18€1.295m, Sherry FitzGeraldThis spacious detached home comes to the market in the sought-after leafy suburb of Foxrock. Extending to 230sq m (2,476sq ft), it has three reception rooms and a conservatory, as well as a living space off the kitchen. It has a large garden extending to about 40m with mature plants. Extending to 80sq m (861sq ft), it features a livingroom to the front which opens into the kitchen/dining area to the rear. Ber C1On view: By appointment at dng.ieMidterrace Georgian home in Stoneybatter82 Aughrim St, Stoneybatter, Dublin 7€785,000, Citywide Real EstateThis rare late-Georgian offering in Stoneybatter comes to market on a terrace of three homes.

Ministers Helen McEntee (left) and Hildegarde Naughton have little chance of being afforded a grace period in their new roles. Simon Harris, Helen McEntee and Hildegarde Naughton are all responsible for shepherding new departments which, in their own ways, all bear responsibility for some of the biggest political challenges that this Government faces. In the minds of the public, the Bill has become a proxy for how the Irish Government has responded to the genocide in Gaza. Bread and butter issues for parents like school running costs and “voluntary” contributions will also command some of her attention. It will be a difficult, demanding and maybe determining issue for Ireland’s newest Cabinet Minister.

Endometriosis 'feels like a knife-fight is going on inside you quite often', Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan told the Dáil. Photograph: Fennell PhotographySome medical professionals have suggested to teenage girls they should have a baby to “sort your endometriosis problem”, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has told the Dáil. The Minister said she had met teenagers where “professionals in the medical system” suggested having a baby “because that would release the symptoms of endometriosis”. But “I have listened to women of different ages, including teenagers, who have been told, go and have a baby. The more we try to explain what pain women have been going through, it will be better understood.

A European monitoring body said the virus was appearing “three to four weeks earlier” than in recent flu seasons. Photograph: Getty ImagesThere have been six flu deaths in Ireland this winter season so far, as the European infectious diseases watchdog warned that the virus has arrived “much earlier” this year. The rise comes as a European monitoring body said the virus was appearing “three to four weeks earlier” than in recent flu seasons. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which primarily affects young children, is increasing but also remains at low levels. Photograph: Jean-Francois Monie/Getty Images[ Dr Muiris Houston: An early and potentially severe flu season is here.

Former chief executive of the Peter McVerry Trust Francis Doherty arriving at Leinster House on Thursday. The charity was historically “rife with conflicts of interest”, Tony O’Brien, the chairperson of the homeless charity, told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The committee also heard the charity spent money on an enclosure for two peacocks at a period property it purchased in Co Kildare. He succeeded Mr Doyle, who was the chief executive for 18 years. The trust was established in the 1980s by Jesuit priest Fr Peter McVerry and provides affordable housing and services to thousands of tenants and homeless people.

The US added 119,000 jobs in September but unemployment reached its highest level in four years, in figures that will complicate the Federal Reserve’s decision on whether to cut interest rates next month. The unemployment rate rose from 4.3 per cent in August to 4.4 per cent in September, the highest level since 2021. US President Donald Trump has long campaigned for the Fed to cut rates. The unemployment rate and hiring figures come from separate surveys carried out by the BLS, one tracking households and the other businesses. The BLS said on Wednesday that it would not release a jobs report for October as the shutdown had stopped it from collecting data for the month.

Photograph: EPATens of thousands of Palestinian civilians still face “significant risk” of starvation in Gaza, despite an increase in humanitarian aid since a fragile ceasefire was brokered, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee has said. Ireland is absolutely committed to that,” Ms McEntee said. “That’s very much on the table and I think that’s where it needs to remain,” Ms McEntee said. Ms McEntee, who was speaking before her first meeting of EU foreign ministers, said the Government was committed to passing the Occupied Territories Bill. “It’s not down to my personal opinion here, this is about what’s possible, what’s not, what’s workable here and what’s not,” Ms McEntee said.

Photograph: Jane Barlow/PAGary “Mani” Mounfield, best known as a founding member and bassist of the Stone Roses, has died aged 63. Stone Roses bassist and music legend Gary 'Mani' Mounfield dies aged 63 https://t.co/mW6jt3aSjS pic.twitter.com/gumTp8ynQ5 — The Bolton News (@TheBoltonNews) November 20, 2025Mani was born on November 16th, 1962, in Crumpsall. “We were light years ahead of our time, and the Stone Roses album will always remain light years ahead of the new so-called supergroups. Primal Scream are as good at bullshit detection as the Stone Roses ever were.”He remained a member of Primal Scream until the Roses reformed from 2011 to 2017. Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Gary 'Mani' Mounfield dies aged 63 https://t.co/3zbR51h2bu https://t.co/3zbR51h2bu — Edinburgh Live (@EdinburghLive_) November 20, 2025He was also a member of the bassist supergroup Freebass alongside the Smiths’ Andy Rourke and New Order’s Peter Hook, with singer Gary Briggs of Haven.

Photograph: UK ministry of defence/PAThe new Minsiter for Defence, Helen McEntee, has been briefed by the Defence Forces Chief of Staff on the movement’s of a Russian spy ship operating off Scotland. It is understood the Defence Forces are preparing to deploy a naval ship to monitor a Russian surveillance vessel should it move closer to Irish waters. Britain has also warned Russia that it is prepared to take military options should the spy ship sail further south. Britain’s authorities are sharing detailed information with the Naval Service on the Yantar’s position and course, said sources. A Defence Forces spokesman said the organisation does not comment on “specific operational matters” but that it continuously monitors the EEZ.

The political ghost of Liz Truss was summoned in Leinster House yesterday, writes Miriam Lord. Meanwhile, Ivan Yates was dominating proceedings at the media committee yesterday evening. Leaders’ Questions is at midday, followed as usual by Other Members’ Questions and Questions on Policy or Legislation. Away from Leinster House, Helen McEntee is in Brussels attending her first meeting of EU foreign ministers. There’s a protest at Leinster House by workers campaigning on family reunion rights.