Photograph: Oireahtas TVOpposition parties will seek to put pressure on the Government to include a ban on trade in services in the planned Occupied Territories legislation. The motion also calls on the Government’s planned legislation to include a ban on trade in services as well as in goods. There has been doubt raised that the Government’s legislation will include a trade ban on services. The current Coalition has promised to progress legislation prohibiting goods from Occupied Palestinian Territories. Campaigners want services included in the Bill, citing some online platforms that have a presence in the Occupied Territories.

Photograph: iStock stockRevolut is now expected to hold off its eagerly anticipated Irish mortgages launch until 2026, even though it has been quietly testing its planned offering with staff in the Republic in recent months. Executives from the neobank told The Irish Times in April that they were planning for an Irish launch in the fourth quarter of this year. A spokesman for Revolut declined to comment when asked about the timing of the mortgages launch in the Republic. Revolut’s more than three million customers in Ireland will present a big opportunity to market its mortgage offering. Sources cautioned that Revolut’s mortgage distribution and product in Lithuania should not be seen as a precedent for its Irish offering.

Autumn Nations Series: Ireland v Australia, Aviva Stadium, Saturday, 8.10pm – Live on RTÉ 2 & TNT Sports 1The footballers have put it up to them now and how, both players and fans alike. Granted the stakes of world ranking points and a better seeding for next month’s World Cup draw aren’t as high. Last five meetings – 2018: Australia 18 Ireland 9; Australia 21 Ireland 26; Australia 16 Ireland 20. Five-game form guide – Ireland: Won 22-17 v Italy (a); Won 34-5 v Georgia (a); Won 106-7 v Portugal (a); Lost v New Zealand 13-23 (Chicago); Won 41-10 v Japan (h). Australia: Lost 24-33 v New Zealand (a); Lost 14-28 v New Zealand (h); Won 19-15 v Japan (a); Lost 7-25 v England (h); Lost 19-26 v Italy (a).

That recommendation was put on hold pending the outcome of the appeal, though Mr O’Callaghan has been suspended since 2018 over a separate matter. In upholding the tribunal’s finding of conflict of interest, Mr Justice O’Higgins said that any solicitor acting for both parties “does so at his peril”. He also allowed the appeal on the grounds that Mr O’Callaghan continued to act for the purchaser and a complaint over the adequacy of service provided. However, Mr Justice O’Higgins said he was “deeply unimpressed” that Mr O’Callaghan did not advise Nirvanna and Mr Fleming to get independent legal advice. Mr O’Callaghan has been suspended since 2018 on foot of a separate Law Society investigation into matters at his practice.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell goes up against Australia counterpart Joe Schmidt once again at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening. Gain-line theory powered the Wallabies’ attack for 90 years. Despite Suaalii’s obvious skills, Australia have continuously failed to involve him in any set-play attack. Schmidt’s attacking set-play plan has to be: “Give the ball to Joseph.”Both teams are out of form. Following a promising run of form earlier in the year, Joe Schmidt's Australia have lost their way recently.

The potential sale of PTSB shows the State stepping away from the financial sector, 17 years after the financial crash started. (Photo: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)Recent weeks have seen a procession of events that reminded us of the financial crash of 2008. Ireland’s economic history over the past 50 years has been a roller-coaster of ups and downs, but the crash was a defining moment. There will be ups and downs caused by the international economic cycle, but building resilience to handle these is vital. But the fact that we are, 17 years on, still undoing the mess shows the value of preparing for the next shock.

Concerns are mounting that markets are now overvalued. Photograph: Alex Kraus/BloombergIt’s hardly great timing for the 750,000 or so workers in the Republic about to be swept into the State’s new automatic-enrolment pension scheme, as concerns mount that markets are well into bubble territory. Retail investors have grown to account for 20-30 per cent of Wall Street trading volumes, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. JP Morgan analysts noted this week that retail investors are dialling back risky stock bets. The average annual return of the S&P 500 since its inception in 1957 is a little over 10 per cent.

Tempers have eased and tensions have diminished a bit in Fianna Fáil this week as the party awaits a report on its disastrous presidential election campaign. So what actually is the state of play now within the party – and what is the future for Martin’s leadership? But even beyond that, issues about Martin’s future, how the party is run and what it can achieve in Government, will continue. There is one further element in the mix: few of Martin’s TDs believe that he will fight another general election. But, as Martin’s loyalists have noted, neither has O’Callaghan been going out of his way to support his leader.

The Department of Finance had proposed tech companies be made to vet those who post adverts promoting financial investment schemes on social media platforms. Officials in the Department of Enterprise raised “serious concerns” about a Department of Finance proposal for new rules limiting who can promote financial investment opportunities online, internal emails show. Internal emails show the Department of Enterprise told finance colleagues they had a “major issue” with their proposal to tackle the problem. In an earlier email, Department of Enterprise officials said they opposed reforms that would create uncertainty for businesses. The wider update of EU financial regulations, through which Irish finance officials proposed the tougher rules cracking down on online scams, is still being debated in Brussels.

The Department of Public Expenditure has been criticised over the hurdles large projects have had to clear. Chambers appeared to be on the same page and indicated that revisions were being planned to the rules governing large public projects. The Irish Times reported earlier this month that Ministers were looking at emergency planning powers which would enable the Government to bypass existing laws and requirements for critical national infrastructure projects. The public spending rules were introduced in 2012 but have been changed a number of times since then. “The main problem doesn’t lie with the guidelines; the problem is with delivery of projects,” said Ferris.

Several speeding drivers avoided a mandatory two-year driving ban when District Court judge Andrew Cody reduced their dangerous driving charges to careless driving after they made donations to charity ranging from several hundred euro to €20,000. Two of those cases involved drivers separately detected speeding at more than 200km/h on a motorway. Prof Tom O’Malley, a sentencing law expert, said he “disparages” decisions enabling some speeding drivers to avoid a mandatory two-year driving ban by making donations to charity. In deciding whether to reduce a dangerous driving charge to one of careless driving, a judge has to adjudicate on the facts, said Mr O’Malley. If a judge believes dangerous driving has been made out on the evidence, a conviction on that charge should follow, he said.

Black and Irish was started in 2020.”Leon Diop, the founder of Black and Irish. They produce books (Black & Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes cowritten by Diop and Briana Fitzsimons), podcasts (a new iteration of the Black & Irish podcast is being launched in the new year) and an awards gala (also to return in 2026). [After Black and Irish] I began receiving messages from people saying, ‘Leon, I used to say some horrible things. “What the far right want to do is turn this into an immigrant problem. They just don’t like black and brown people.

The Belfast-born flautist James Galway will be honoured in his native city on Saturday. Galway, however, wants the trove to be shared with his home city: “That would be my dream,” he says. James Galway at Ulster University. James Galway at Ulster University's Belfast campus, as he is to receive an honorary doctorate from the university. Despite their ignorance, Lipschitz let them return every week, playing a few classical records each time, educating them about music, Galway remembers fondly.

European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath attends a press conference on the European Democracy Shield and the EU Strategy for Civil Society following the weekly college meeting of the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, 12 November 2025. National intelligence agencies across the EU are to be encouraged to share information more urgently and transparently on attempts by Russia to influence elections and distort public debate. It requires a response that is measured and robust, particularly where digital regulation intersects with national and European security. Europe’s answer must include deeper security cooperation, enhanced intelligence exchange and a coherent digital strategy. That means stronger regulatory enforcement, greater investment in intelligence and infrastructure resilience, and a long-overdue strengthening of national security capabilities.

Illustrated page from the 1512 edition of a Book of Hours written in Latin and French (€5,000-€10,000). Purcell auctioneer's book auctionAnother highlight is a 1512 edition of a book of hours written in Latin and French (€5,000-€10,000). The two volumes of Christian Art in Ancient Ireland (Saorstat Eireann, 1932) compiled by the German archaeologist, Adolf Mahr (€80-€160) is another fascinating book in the Purcell auction. Finally, Christmas present hunters will no doubt find some potential purchases at the R. J Keighery auction in Waterford city on Monday, November 17th. Purcellauctioneers.ie; deburcararebooks.com; gormleysauctions.com; https://antiquesireland.ieA Waterford Crystal chess set in a mahogany case (€3,000-€5,000) at Keighery's auction in Waterford City on Monday, November 17