‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried’: Richard Boyd Barrett to step back from politics after cancer diagnosis
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Richard Boyd Barrett has announced that he has cancer and will be stepping back from political life for several months as he undergoes treatment. Mr Boyd Barrett told RTÉ’s Claire Byrne on Monday morning that he has been diagnosed with throat cancer and expected to begin a course of treatment next week. He had been told that eight or nine of every 10 patients with this type of cancer recover, he said. [ ‘We are out to provoke’ - Richard Boyd Barrett on policies, politics and trusting Sinn FéinOpens in new window ]Mr Boyd Barrett said that he had noticed a lump on his neck in October during the general election campaign and had it investigated before Christmas. Mr Boyd Barrett said that he expected to step back from his work as a TD for several months.
Source:The Irish Times
April 07, 2025 16:00 UTC
The Irish Times view on China and Taiwan: Beijing lays down a marker
The latest large-scale Chinese military and coastguard exercises around Taiwan mark a significant escalation in its bullying of the independent island which Beijing regards as a province which must be “reunified” with the mainland. Last week China sent 76 aircraft and over 20 navy and coastguard ships, including the Shandong carrier group, to positions around Taiwan in exercises that included simulated landings and attacks on infrastructure. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) said its forces were practising “seizing comprehensive control, strikes on sea and land targets and blockade operations”. He has taken steps to strengthen Taiwan’s defence posture, holding the country’s most serious civil defence mobilisation drills in decades. READ MORECritics of the US administration warn that its policy of “strategic ambiguity” in defence of Taiwan, an unwillingness to say what it would do if China invades, may under President Trump, be emboldening Beijing.
Source:The Irish Times
April 07, 2025 07:16 UTC
Pope Francis’s synodal reforms: Vatican II for slow learners
Pope Francis is pushed in his wheelchair after leading the Angelus prayer on St Peter's square in Rome, on Sunday. Part of the reason, I suspect, is what the famous Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin once called “the slow work of God”. Bishops have received a curt letter from Rome telling them that they need to get their act together in responding to the synodal reforms – effectively Vatican II for slow learners. The clear message from Pope Francis is that bishops cannot choose not to be synodal. Dioceses, bishops’ conferences and parishes, hoping that the demand to receive and embed synodality would go away, are beginning to realise that there’s no opt-out clause.
Source:The Irish Times
April 06, 2025 19:21 UTC
GAA Sunday as it happened: Cork land a first hurling league title in 27 years
HALF-TIME: Cork 3-16 Tipperary 0-12: A fairly swashbuckling performance from Cork has them well on top, the game fast turning into damage limitation for Tipp. Cork 2-14 Tipperary 0-10: The gap is up to 10 points after 28 minutes as Patrick Horgan adds another free for Cork. Cork starting team ahead of Allianz Hurling League Division 1A Final pic.twitter.com/CeRcmWbpKm — Cork GAA (@OfficialCorkGAA) April 6, 2025Sean Moran also has a teaser for us ahead of the Allianz Hurling League final between Cork and Tipperary, which has a 4.0 throw-in. Bright but chilly afternoon in a packed SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh for the first league final between Cork and Tipperary since 1960. It was a six point game in the 20th minute but Meath turned the screw in the closing stages of the first half.
Source:The Irish Times
April 06, 2025 19:10 UTC
Global markets in turmoil as Trump tariffs wipe $2.5trillion off Wall Street
World leaders from Brussels to Beijing rounded on Mr Trump. READ MOREWhile Mr Trump timed his Wednesday evening Rose Garden address to avoid live tickers of crashing stock markets, that fate arrived when Asian exchanges opened hours later. Apple and Nvidia, two of the US’s largest companies by market value, lost a combined $470bn in value by midday. Commodities fell sharply, including a 7 per cent plunge in oil prices, reflecting growing concerns over the global economic outlook. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Mr Trump said: “I think it’s going very well.
Source:The Irish Times
April 04, 2025 18:29 UTC
For Ireland, Trump’s tariffs are very bad news – The Irish Times
What do Trump's tariffs mean for Ireland: US president appears on a television screen at the stock market in Frankfurt, Germany . US president Donald Trump unveiled his plans for introducing tariffs including charging the EU a 20% tariff. It is not clear, at this stage, how much Mr Trump will be open to negotiation with the EU or anyone else. But the view in Brussels – and among many other erstwhile allies – is that Mr Trump is a bully who will only respond to strength and will further punish weakness. Cliff Taylor, Managing Editor of The Irish Times, looks at Donald Trump's tariffs and the impacts they may have on people's lives.
Source:The Irish Times
April 03, 2025 18:00 UTC
Trump’s tariffs: what do they mean for Ireland and the economy here?
The impact of Donald Trump’s tariffs on Ireland – and the trade war that may well follow – will take some time to play out. These are tariffs which are separate from the reciprocal tariffs announced on Wednesday and aimed at key sectors. Cliff Taylor, Managing Editor of The Irish Times, looks at Donald Trump's tariffs and the impacts they may have on people's lives. EU tariffs would increase the price of imports in the sectors covered, hitting consumers and businesses importing products. This could create complications for the Windsor Framework rules governing the movement of goods into the Northern Irish market and for cross-border trade.
Source:The Irish Times
April 03, 2025 17:33 UTC
Ireland fears EU response to US tariffs could hit tech sector
US President Donald Trump is set to proceed with his proclaimed “Liberation Day” by announcing sweeping tariffs. Photograph: Andrew Harnik/Getty ImagesAs the EU braces for the announcement of tariffs by the Trump administration today, fears are growing in the Irish Government about possible EU retaliation against US tech companies based in Ireland. Senior Government sources acknowledge that the potential EU measures would cause difficulties for Ireland, which is home to many of the US tech companies’ European headquarters, and where they pay tax on much of their EU business. A string of economic studies have shown that Ireland is the EU state most exposed in the event of such as trade war. A particular concern in Dublin is that the EU could decide to hit the activities of big US tech companies operating in the US.
Source:The Irish Times
April 02, 2025 18:31 UTC
Barry Heneghan moves Dáil seat away from Michael Lowry to emphasise his ‘independent’ status
Barry Heneghan, the Independent TD for Dublin Bay North, has moved his seat in the Dáil away from that of Tipperary Independent TD Michael Lowry. Both TDs are members of an Independent technical group composed of three Government-supporting TDs and two in Opposition. Mr Heneghan said he would continue to support the Government and try to deliver results for his constituents. “I also want to restate clearly: I am an Independent TD, and I intend to act accordingly. I didn’t.”Independent TD for Dublin Bay North Barry Heneghan (left) pictured in the Dáil on March 25th during chaotic scenes beside Independent TD Michael Lowry (centre) and Green Party leader Roderic O'Gorman.
Source:The Irish Times
April 01, 2025 17:09 UTC
Coy Donald Trump ‘not joking’ about third term: ‘There are methods’
“I don’t know who told you about 10 or 15 countries. Meaning they will be kinder than those countries were to the United States of America over the decades. But I just don’t want the credit for the second one because Biden did such a bad job. “I don’t think he is going to go back on his word. We’re gonna see if we can get something done and if not, it’s going to be a bad situation, very, very bad.”
Source:The Irish Times
March 31, 2025 18:04 UTC
Conor McGregor presidential bid: All but one of 188 councillors would not vote for MMA fighter, survey shows
Photograph: X/POTUSLocal councillors are bracing for an onslaught of pressure to support mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter Conor McGregor as he prepares a run for the Irish presidency. All but one said they would vote no if McGregor sought a nomination from their local authority. Councillors expressed concern that local authority members would come under external pressure, including social media campaigns, to nominate McGregor. Many councillors said that while they expected external interventions regarding Mr McGregor’s nomination, it would have no impact on their vote. Many councillors said McGregor had no chance of being nominated, a view shared by most political observers.
Source:The Irish Times
March 29, 2025 15:02 UTC
Children are missing school at an alarming rate. What is going on?
READ MORE“Or if a young person is finding homework difficult, we might go through it with them, or quietly advise the teacher to forget about homework for that day, just so the young person will come to class. Photograph: iStockOne practical intervention that is helping many children is iScoil , which is allowing children to complete their education without being in a traditional school setting. “Getting to know the young person is our job, and once we’ve done that, there’s so much we can do. “Twenty years on, the issues are still the same, and every child or young person has a different reason for non-attendance. The agency points to its role in actively advocating for specialist services, particularly for Traveller and Roma children, children in State care, children seeking asylum and homeless children.
Source:The Irish Times
March 25, 2025 09:01 UTC
The Irish Times view on the threat of Trump’s tariffs: Ireland prepares for the unknown
This means planning for how to react is difficult for Ireland – and for the EU as a whole. Ireland, as a small trading nation heavily reliant on US trade and investment, is particularly exposed. Senior Government Ministers have been correct to try to prepare the public and businesses for the prospect of significant economic cost. Central to this will be whether we are facing a short if disruptive period of trade tensions, or something more prolonged and fundamental. A worrying period lies ahead and it is difficult to see the economy emerging without some significant damage.
Source:The Irish Times
March 24, 2025 08:25 UTC
Paul O’Connell set to be Ireland interim head coach for summer Tests
Paul O’Connell is set to assume the role of Ireland interim head coach for the summer Tests against Georgia and Portugal in the likely event of Simon Easterby becoming part of the British & Irish Lions coaching ticket for their upcoming tour. Easterby was Ireland’s interim head coach for the Six Nations while Farrell was on a sabbatical due to his role as Lions head coach. It now seems highly likely that O’Connell – a three-time Lions’ tourist who captained the squad on their 2009 tour to South Africa – will take over as Ireland interim head coach for the games against Georgia in Tbilisi and Portugal in Lisbon. There has also been speculation linking Johnny Sexton with a role on the Lions’ coaching ticket. The fixture between Ireland and Portugal was confirmed by the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby last October.
Source:The Irish Times
March 23, 2025 17:15 UTC
US secretary of commerce says Ireland’s ‘tax scam’ has ‘gotta end’
US secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick has renewed his attack on Ireland, calling the country his favourite “tax scam”. Mr Lutnick erroneously claimed that Ireland had a $60 billion (€55.4 billion) surplus last year. In fact the budget surplus was €25 billion ($27 billion), which included a once-off €14 billion Apple payment. READ MOREUS Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick has called Ireland a 'tax scam' on the All-In Podcast. Meanwhile, the Government is likely to provide some support to businesses hit by a trade war between the EU and the US, but will rule out Covid-style funding packages, it is understood.
Source:The Irish Times
March 22, 2025 12:29 UTC