The BYD Dolphin Surf lands in Ireland with a price tag of just under €18,000 in its basic, small-battery formBYD Dolphin Surf      Year : 2025 Fuel : Electric Verdict : BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort. Considering that this was a car that was then striking deep and abiding fear into the hearts of European car makers, it didn’t seem so threatening. The suspension retune has clearly worked too, as the Dolphin Surf feels confident, if not exactly engaging, on Irish roads. [ Hyundai’s new €18,995 electric car is set to cause quite a stirOpens in new window ]Which is perhaps a touch less terrifying for European car makers. Lowdown: BYD Dolphin Surf ComfortPower: 115kW e-motor developing 156hp and 220Nm of torque, powering the front wheels via a single-speed automatic transmission.

Its arrival marks an escalation in the military build-up between the United States and Venezuela. US president Donald Trump has sought to justify the massive military build-up as part of his “war on drugs”, targeting traffickers allegedly smuggling narcotics through Caribbean and Pacific waters. That campaign has included air strikes on boats that have so far killed at least 76 people in South American waters since September. Analysts see the military build-up as a way to pressure Nicolas Maduro to step down. Many analysts see the attacks on boats and the growing military build-up as a way to pressure Mr Maduro to step down after stealing last year’s election.

Vista had told investors in the firm’s funds that its workforce would fall significantly as a result in the coming years. Illustration: iStockPrivate equity group Vista Equity Partners has told investors that it plans to cut its workforce significantly, using artificial intelligence (AI) tools either to replace operational roles, some junior analysts and investor relations workers, or expand without hiring new staff. Vista had told investors in the firm’s funds that its workforce would fall significantly as a result in the coming years, the people said. Vista wants its portfolio companies to build so-called AI agents that can automate tasks with minimal human intervention. Such changes could help offset pressure on revenues for software companies if AI enables their customers to reduce staff numbers.

In recognition of all of this and more, Tadhg Beirne has been named the Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland men’s player of the year for 2024/25. Beirne’s remarkable output saw him play 33 games for Munster, Ireland and the British & Irish Lions, accumulating a whopping 2,544 minutes playing time in total. Ireland’s unconvincing Japan job Listen | 37:21“It was a season full of ups and downs, like any season,” said Beirne, who was made Munster captain before the early-season departure of head coach Graham Rowntree. Tadhg Beirne with the Qatar Airways series trophy after the Lions' series win over Australia. Photograph: James Crombie/InphoA second-time tourist, Beirne was named Player of the Series following the Lions’ victorious tour of Australia.

October 2025, Dublin City UniversityThirty-two years later, I’m back in a university hall, this time the Helix Theatre in Dublin City University. He graduated with an honours degree at the ripe young age of 82 – first up on stage that afternoon – “very appropriate to be the first to receive his parchment”, I said to my brother. As a young fella, I equated a solid education, including university, as a means to get a job, any job, at a time when the unemployment rate was 25 per cent for young men. James O'Reilly, with his sons, outside the Helix Theatre in DCU. Maybe not education to position yourself to financially capitalise on the qualification, but learning for the pure fun of it.

It was a day for pomp and circumstance at Dublin Castle, where the entire political establishment gathered to mark the occasion of the 15th presidential inauguration since 1938. The new President carried off the day with confidence and panache. She spoke about the importance of neutrality and her desire to see Ireland lead “diplomatic solutions” as an alternative to war. She lamented the shortcomings of public services, and repeated her pledge to make Irish a working language in the Áras. Hostilities resume in the DáilAfter a day off for the presidential festivities, the Dáil returns this afternoon to resume hostilities.

'Gambling for me was a way to earn more money and make me feel better about myself. But what began as a bit of fun, spun out of control, resulting in him stealing €1.75 million from his employer An Post to fuel his gambling addiction over a 10 year period. And that buzz was something I had never felt before. He underwent treatment for gambling addiction and then decided he wanted to help people who were struggling in the same way he had been. He regularly visits schools to give educational talks, he has released a memoir as a cautionary tale around the dangers of gambling and is now a registered counsellor.

Up to a quarter of teenagers who seek treatment for addiction in Dublin and Wicklow have ADHD, a psychiatrist has saidUp to a quarter of teenagers who seek treatment for addiction in Dublin and Wicklow have ADHD, the clinical lead for these programmes has said. A further 20 per cent of young people seek treatment for HHC, which until recently was a legally available semi-synthetic cannabinoid. Prof Smyth, who is a clinical professor in Trinity College Dublin, said ADHD has long been recognised as a “risk factor” for development of addiction and “we certainly see that”. “Between 20 and 25 per cent of the young people who attend our service have either a past diagnosis of ADHD or a current diagnosis of ADHD. [ Increasing number of men seeking treatment for addiction to porn, says UCD professorOpens in new window ]“They just make the current environment more tolerable.

As many as 27,000 social and affordable homes could be delivered per year under the funding available for the housing plan. Photograph: iStockThe Government will publish its long-awaited new housing plan this week aimed at tackling the housing crisis. So we’re getting a new housing plan? As many as 12,000 social homes and 15,000 affordable housing units could be delivered per year, on average, under the funding available for the housing plan. [ Housing plan aims to deliver 90,000 ‘starter homes’ over five yearsOpens in new window ]What else do we know?

Anyway, the conversations with neighbours are concluded, the trawls of the property price register and estate agent websites are complete. The question of how truthful we are when it comes to valuing our houses for the tax man is an interesting one. Something in the region of 60,000 residential properties were sold in 2021, according to the Residential Property Price Register. Nationally, the median price was €280,000 which chimes a little better with the Residential Property Price Register and the Revenue’s LPT bands. All meant to be funded from the local property tax.

Photograph: Tolga Akmen/EPAThe rental supply crisis is set to worsen as Ireland’s “starved” housing stock dips below 2,000, its lowest in more than three years. Following a rebound in housing stock in the aftermath of the pandemic, a return to the tightening of supply in the past year has seen housing availability hit just 44 per cent of the stock seen across 2015 to 2019. The lack of available housing has precipitated further rent inflation, with the average monthly rent of a two-bedroom apartment reaching €2,080 in the past three months. Thus, upward pressure on rents is likely to remain.”He further noted that the “sharp fall” in the housing stock will increase rents moving forward and described the market as “starved of supply”. “While it will take years, significant amounts of new rental supply – all around the country – are required to change conditions in the rental market.”Dublin, however, is experiencing less rental price inflation than the rest of the country.

Irish businesses expect the new generation of AI technology to drive productivity and reshape the workplace, a new survey has found, but they are still some way from fully capitalising on the developments. The survey, by PwC, said AI agents - AI that can autonomously carry out tasks on a user’s behalf - could also help reduce costs, but further investment is needed if Irish companies want to keep up with their US peers. The survey looked at the trends in AI agents across Irish organisations, comparing the results to a similar US study. It found adoption and trust in the technology is lower in Ireland than in the US, offering what PwC described as a “pivotal opportunity” for Irish companies. Among the barriers to adoption are data issues and integrating AI agents with legacy systems“Organisations should broaden their mindset from seeing AI as an efficiency driver to a reinvention enabler,” Mr Lee said.

Ireland backs coach Andrew Goodman and Australia head coach Joe Schmidt ahead of last year's Test between Ireland and Australia at the Aviva Stadium. Australia head coach Joe Schmidt returns to Ireland – the place where he threw down roots and made his name as an international coach. Andrew Goodman, the Irish backs coach and former Tasman Mako captain,faces the man who first drew him away from New Zealand to come halfway around the world to Leinster. Goodman was teaching physical education for six months of the year at Nelson College and also playing with Tasman. Ireland backs coach Andrew Goodman hopes to see an improvement in Saturday's performance against Australia.

EU commissioner Michael McGrath has said he does not anticipate that Taoiseach Micheál Martin will be stepping down from his role “any time soon”. Mr Martin will face further criticism from backbench TDs and Senators over Fianna Fáil’s failed presidential campaign and the performance in Government. Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Mr McGrath said it had been “a very difficult few weeks for him [Martin] and indeed for his family”. “I think he will know himself when it is time to depart and I don’t anticipate that will be any time soon,” said Mr McGrath. Photograph: Sam Boal/CollinsReflecting on the election on the day of Catherine Connolly’s inauguration, Mr McGrath expressed regret that “what transpired resulted in a very limited choice for voters”.

Details relating to the Government's new housing plan will be published on Thursday. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA WireThe Government’s new housing plan, to be called Delivering Homes, Building Communities, will aim to deliver 90,000 “starter homes” over the next five years. The new plan, to be brought to Cabinet by Minister for Housing James Browne on Wednesday, will be published on Thursday. As many as 12,000 social homes and 15,000 affordable housing units could be delivered per year, on average, under the funding available for the housing plan. It was previously announced that €3.5 billion has been earmarked in the NDP for equity investment in energy projects, with ESB Networks and EirGrid to help deliver electricity infrastructure to support housing development.