Emergency brake proposed to guard against EU-Mercosur deal harming Irish farmers
Protesting farmers in Athy, Co Kildare, in February 2024 showing solidarity with EU-wide protests over the EU-Mercosur trade deal. Irish farmers are opposed to the trade deal, fearing Argentinian beef could undercut the demand for Irish beef elsewhere in Europe. France had been leading the effort to kill the trade deal amid pressure from its farming lobby and left-wing opposition parties. The commission has set out new measures to safeguard European farmers in a bid to alleviate concerns about the deal. The Irish Farmers’ Association said the Government must not “renege” on election promises to oppose the trade deal.
Source:The Irish Times
September 03, 2025 22:01 UTC
Presidential election: Heather Humphreys hoping for ‘good clean campaign’
Heather Humphreys: 'It’s only when we have a united people that I believe we can have a United Ireland.' Photograph: Bryan O’BrienThe Fine Gael candidate in the presidential election Heather Humphreys has said she hopes that the race for the Áras will be “a good clean” campaign, but she had discussed the matter with her family and the attacks she is likely to face. I’m a very proud Ulster woman, I’m very proud Irish woman and I’m proud republican in the spirit of liberty, equality and fraternity. And it’s only when we have a united people that I believe we can have a United Ireland. “I’m a very proud Ulster woman, I’m very proud Irish woman and I’m proud republican in the spirit of liberty, equality and fraternity.
Source:The Irish Times
September 03, 2025 21:48 UTC
High energy costs threaten EU's semiconductor industry, warns Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen that Europe risks losing its semiconductor chipmakers due to high energy costs. Martin appealed for interim measures to address the issue and keep chip manufacturers in mind as the EU pivots towards environmentally-friendly energy sources. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen that Europe risks losing its semiconductor chipmakers due to high energy costs. However, the high energy costs pose a significant challenge to this plan.In a separate development, the U.S. government has agreed to fund Intel Corp. with $5.7 billion to bolster domestic chip production. As Europe and the U.S. pivot towards more environmentally-friendly energy sources, the industry must adapt to higher energy costs and ensure its competitiveness.References:[1] https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2025/09/02/chipmakers-need-help-with-high-energy-costs-taoiseach-told-von-der-leyen/[2] https://www.webpronews.com/trump-admin-funds-intel-5-7b-takes-10-stake-for-us-chip-production/[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/evn-ag-strategic-resilience-growth-energy-transition-challenges-2508/
Source:The Irish Times
September 02, 2025 10:44 UTC
British commentators telling off Irish artists such as Sally Rooney or Kneecap is galling – The Irish Times
The position many Irish artists are holding on Palestine is lauded at home and abroad. That Irish artists are framed as troublesome (or having “form”), is highly irritating to those who hold them in reverence. Irish emigrants leaning into Irish identity is not a new phenomenon. It is happening because Irish artists are at the forefront of Palestinian solidarity in culture and Irish culture is thrilling audiences across music, literature, fashion, cinema, television, and activism. Calling out “the Brits” – a briefly relegated term that has bounded back into contemporary Irish discourse, especially since Brexit – for attempts at taking Irish artists to task, is becoming more common.
Source:The Irish Times
September 01, 2025 21:36 UTC
Electric Picnic 2025 highs and lows: Chappell Roan hits like a typhoon, €20 burgers like a lead balloon
Here’s our pick of some pluses and minuses of Electric Picnic 2025. An absolute Electric Picnic highlight. [ Kneecap review: Rap trio give a performance for the ages at Electric PicnicOpens in new window ]Kneecap bring the crowds out at Electric Picnic despite the rain. Electric Picnic 2025: Lewis Capaldi on Saturday. Plenty of festivalgoers who had reserved pitches in one of the specialist areas, such as the Gaeltacht, Eco or gender-inclusive Glitterball campsites, were annoyed when Electric Picnic opened them up as overflow sites.
Source:The Irish Times
September 01, 2025 15:02 UTC
Ireland 43 Spain 27 FT: Irish side score seven tries in victory - as it happened
Ireland 43 Spain 2275 mins: A chance for Spain as they win a penalty and then kick to the corner. Ireland 36 Spain 2256 mins: Try for Ireland! Ireland 29 Spain 1742 mins: Try for Spain. Ireland 12 Spain 016 mins: Good defence by Ireland turning the ball over, Scuffil-McCabe making an impact. Ireland 7 Spain 06 mins: Good defensive effort from Spain so far as Ireland are struggling to break them down.
Source:The Irish Times
September 01, 2025 01:35 UTC
‘Sick and inhumane’: student who got maximum Leaving Cert points loses out on course over random selection
Photograph: Andy GibsonA Dublin student who achieved eight H1s and anticipated “no problem” in securing their first choice has said they are devastated after losing out to the “sick, inhumane” random selection process. The student had hoped to study management science and information systems studies at Trinity College Dublin, a highly sought-after course and one of just two nationwide that required both maximum points and random selection. In total, places on 25 level-eight courses in high demand nationwide were allocated using random selection. “Knowing that all these years of intense, hard work were shattered by an outdated, cruel and completely unfair place-allocation system was simply heartbreaking. What was all the hard work to achieve high results for?”The chances of being offered the course on a subsequent round of offers were “slim”, they said.
Source:The Irish Times
August 31, 2025 21:30 UTC
Richest 10% of Irish households hold nearly half the wealth
The wealthiest 10 per cent of households owned €645.3 billion of total household wealth in first quarter. Illustration: Paul ScottThe richest 10 per cent of households in the Republic hold almost half the wealth, new figures show. The Central Bank’s latest household wealth data indicates that the total net wealth of households here rose to a record €1.25 trillion in the first quarter of 2025, up €6.3 billion on the previous quarter. The figures showed that the wealthiest 10 per cent of households held €645 billion or 48.6 per cent of the total. The latest figures showed housing wealth - property - reached €855 billion in the first quarter, representing 68.5 per cent of total household wealth.
Source:The Irish Times
August 29, 2025 14:10 UTC
Ukraine Supreme Court to Hear CRH Ownership Challenge in September
A Ukrainian court has set September 11th as the start date for a challenge to CRH's ownership of a cement business in Ukraine. Local building materials player Kovalska is disputing the Anti-Monopolies Committee of Ukraine's decision to allow CRH buy Dyckerhoff, citing concerns over competition. CRH counters that the takeover met all conditions set by the AMCU and complied with the law and international best practice. A Ukrainian court has set September 11th as the start date for a challenge to CRH's ownership of a cement business in Ukraine. The company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $114.64 [2].References:[1] https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/08/29/ukraine-court-sets-date-for-crh-challenge/[2] https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/filing-hsbc-holdings-plc-purchases-226602-shares-of-crh-plc-crh-2025-08-23/
Source:The Irish Times
August 29, 2025 11:43 UTC
Finally! Central Dublin section of Royal Canal Greenway confirmed to open in 11 days adding to an emerging 40km network of cycle routes
Subscribe todayDublin City Council’s central section of the Royal Canal Greenway is to open in under two weeks’ time, approximately two months behind schedule. Dublin City Council’s Royal Canal Greenway Phase 3 runs from Glasnevin and Phibsborough to North Strand Road, where it links to the Clontarf to City Centre route and Phases 1 and 2 of the canal route, and onto the central section of the Grand Canal Route. Dublin City Council apologises for any inconvenience caused to the public by this delay.”The opening of the long-awaited 2.1km long Phase 3 will add to a growing network of around 40km of segregated and low-traffic cycle routes in Dublin City. Cllr Feljin Jose (Green Party) said: “This greenway connects with the new Clontarf to City Centre scheme, the Liffey Cycle Route and the Grand Canal Greenway. The Royal Canal Greenway route is open between the River Shannon at Cloondara, west of Longford town, to Leixlip near the Kildare/Dublin county border.
Source:The Irish Times
August 28, 2025 11:18 UTC
Residents flee as Israeli tanks close in on Gaza City
Israeli military pressed operations around Gaza City as President Donald Trump prepared to host a White House meeting on postwar plans for the shattered Palestinian territory. Israel has said it is preparing to launch a new offensive in Gaza City, which it describes as Hamas’s last bastion. Thousands have already left, but church leaders in the city said on Wednesday they were staying put, as leaving Gaza City and “trying to flee to the south would be nothing less than a death sentence”. Israeli soldiers prepare tanks last week on the the Gaza border, when it launched a ground offensive in an effort to capture and occupy all of Gaza City. Gaza health authorities said Israeli fire had killed at least 20 people, including a four-year-old girl, across the enclave.
Source:The Irish Times
August 27, 2025 20:56 UTC