Ireland and Spain could recognise Palestinian state on May 21: Report
Dublin: Ireland, Spain and a number of other European Union member states are considering recognising a Palestinian state on May 21, according to a report by Ireland's national broadcaster. RTE News on Wednesday evening said contacts between Dublin and Madrid, and between Slovenia and Malta, had intensified with a view to the countries jointly recognising Palestinian statehood. According to the report, the countries have been waiting for a vote by the United Nations General Assembly on May 10 which could lead to the recognition of Palestinians as qualified to become a full UN member.
Source:The Herald
May 09, 2024 14:12 UTC
Amazon.ie online shopping site to launch next year
The launch of an Irish Amazon.ie store has been in development since the tech and retail giant established its first Irish ‘fulfilment centre’ in Dublin in 2022, with hundreds of thousands of products stocked. Amazon says that the launch of Amazon.ie will allow for quicker delivery and returns, helped by a five-year agreement struck between An Post and Amazon last year aimed at more efficient deliveries and returns. However, the company has yet to say whether Irish ‘Amazon Prime’ members, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands will move over to Amazon.ie as their primary account or remain with Amazon.co.uk. It has also to confirm what the price of an Amazon Prime account in Ireland might be. At present, Amazon Prime, which facilitates free delivery on many products and entitles users to unlimited free photo storage online, costs £8.95 (€10.39) per month.
Source:Irish Independent
May 09, 2024 12:10 UTC
Prices continue to rise but rate of increases eases off
The rate that prices of groceries, energy costs, petrol and other household goods and services are rising has eased, but prices continue to rise. It is the sixth consecutive month where the inflation rate was lower than 5pc, the CSO said. However, experts have pointed out that a fall in the rate of inflation does not mean prices are coming down. A 17pc surge in the cost of package holidays was largely behind the rise in prices in the last year. The figures mean prices continued to rise last month, but the rate of increase is easing, according to a measure of inflation used across the Eurozone.
Source:Irish Independent
May 09, 2024 11:12 UTC
Diamonds are forever: Shirley Bassey to auction ‘meaningful’ jewels – including one from Elton John
Shirley Bassey's aquamarine, sapphire, diamond and gemset set, which is estimated to sell for between €60,000 and €70,000 at Sotheby's, Paris, on October 10. Photo: PALegenddary Diamonds Are Forever singer Shirley Bassey is to auction some of her “meaningful” jewels, including a diamond ring gifted to her by Elton John. “However, I quickly graduated to my lifelong passion for diamonds which preceded the recording of Diamonds Are Forever. There is also a yellow diamond ring, which could fetch between €165,000 and €200,000, and an aquamarine, sapphire, diamond and gem set estimated to sell for between €60,000 and €70,000. Highlights from the collection will be exhibited at Sotheby's London from May 24-29 before it exhibits in Paris from October 4 prior to the live auction, taking place at Sotheby's Paris on October 10.
Source:Irish Independent
May 09, 2024 11:11 UTC
‘Exhausting nightmare’: No shortage of Qantas qualms for Crikey readers
Qantas made no response to my complaint so I sacked them in 2022 and told them why. I would not fly Qantas until huge changes are made in Qantas culture. The second time was organising my elderly parents from Merimbula to Albury via Sydney, with mobility assistance requested. The four-hour layover in Sydney ended up being seven hours, while Qantas left my parents to their own devices in Sydney Airport. With less than two hours’ notice, Qantas cancelled my flight, booking me in for the same flight the following day.
Source:The Irish Times
May 09, 2024 09:11 UTC
Treat mom to Mother’s Day high tea Sunday
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Source:The Herald
May 09, 2024 08:02 UTC
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1,059-acre forestry portfolio offers sustainable investment at €7.5m
Investors looking for a secure and stable return while meeting their ESG (environmental, social and governance) goals will be interested in the sale of a substantial forestry portfolio distributed across eight counties. The portfolio, which comprises 428.7 hectares (1,059 acres), is being offered to the market by agent Lisney at a guide price of €7.5 million for the entire portfolio. The portfolio comprises 11 distinct plots with three in Wicklow, two in Kildare, one each in Louth, Westmeath, Donegal, Galway, Cork and Waterford. READ MOREThe sale of portfolio underscores the growing importance of the forestry sector with recent trends emphasising the urgent need for expanded forest cover and sustainable management practices. This investment is supported by favourable market dynamics and government policies promoting forestry investment in Ireland.”
Source:The Irish Times
May 09, 2024 04:33 UTC
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Asylum seekers transferred out of Citywest and Crooksling ahead of expected Grand Canal clearance
More than 100 male asylum seekers were being transferred out of accommodation in Citywest and Crooksling, in southwest Dublin, in an apparent move to free up space for others currently in tents along the Grand Canal. He believed there had been a “tacit acceptance by many State agencies that the situation on Mount Street could just continue”. St Brigids Home in Crooksling, Co Dublin, where asylum seekers camping at Mount Street were relocated to last week. But insisting that he had taken charge of the situation Mr Harris said “I’m telling you now that we will deal with the Grand Canal. As of Tuesday there were 1,710 asylum seekers awaiting an offer of accommodation, according to the Department of Children and Integration.
Source:The Irish Times
May 08, 2024 21:27 UTC
Banks should be forced to disclose why they debank small businesses, MPs say
The Treasury Committee is calling on the Financial Conduct Authority to force banks to be more transparent over decisions to debank small businesses. It comes as more than 140,000 small businesses have been de-banked by major lenders in the past year, often immediately and with no explanation. MPs on the Treasury Committee have condemned the unfair debanking of legitimate small businesses. Small business owners left in the dark over debankingThe Federation for Small Businesses said the FCA should demand more information from banks to establish the main underlying reasons for closures. 'We're pleased that the Treasury Committee's report has acknowledged the power imbalance between a small business customer and its bank.
Source:Daily Mail
May 08, 2024 19:33 UTC
Israeli election candidate for Dún Laoghaire was deselected over Gaza stance, says Soc Dems deputy leader
A Social Democrats local election candidate was deselected due to her stance on Gaza, the party’s deputy leader has said. Asked whether Israeli business consultant Orli Degani’s religion or nationality have anything to do with her being deselected as a candidate in Dún Laoghaire, Cian O’Callaghan TD said “absolutely not”.
Source:Irish Independent
May 08, 2024 19:26 UTC
Playing politics with hate crime legislation is ‘reckless and dangerous’
Playing politics with the Hate Crime Bill is “reckless and dangerous”, a campaign group has warned, as new figures show a rise in hate crimes. The Coalition Against Hate Crime, a group of 23 civil society organisation, is calling on the Government to recommit to the Hate Crime Bill. “Those who are opposing it and questioning it, are the people who don’t experience hate crime and hate speech,” Mr Collins added. “When a Traveller or any other member of a vulnerable group experiences hate speech, and in particular hate crime, if a Traveller experiences hate crime in Donegal, that will send a shiver down the spine of Travellers in Dublin because it’s an attack on the community.”He added: “We do not have any robust, effective legislation to deal with victims of hate speech and hate crime. She also said that without hate crime legislation, Ireland has been unable to address hate crime in the criminal justice system.
Source:Irish Examiner
May 08, 2024 19:12 UTC
Direct Line customers faced higher prices in the first quarter
Direct Line Group saw own-brand motor customer numbers fall in its first quarter, as price hikes drove some policyowners away but delivered double-digit premium growth. 'Strip out the relatively new partnership with Motabilty, and Direct Line saw 434,000 motor customers walk out the door. Direct Line said motor volumes came in lower, as expected, amid 'continued repricing of the motor book', while policies for its home own brands, Motability and Direct Line, saw 'modest growth'. Britzman of Hargreaves, added: 'There’s still a long way to go if Direct Line wants to return a stable dividend and restore investor confidence. But there’s a lot to do if Direct Line wants to challenge some of the best operators in the sector.
Source:Daily Mail
May 08, 2024 18:41 UTC
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Limerick council hopeful defects from Fianna Fail to Independent Ireland over ‘ongoing games’
A FIRST-time candidate in this summer’s local election has defected from Fianna Fail to Richard O’Donoghue’s new Independent Ireland party. Esther Aherne, a health and safety officer based in Patrickswell has accused Fianna Fail of “ongoing games” and "mismanagement" of her campaign. Ms Aherne was the first candidate on the Fianna Fail ticket for Limerick City West last December, and started canvassing before Christmas. Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins did not return a request for comment. Independent Ireland general secretary Mr O'Donoghue, a former Fianna Fail member, said: "She’s a fantastic candidate with fantastic energy.
Source:Irish Independent
May 08, 2024 16:12 UTC
Man accused of using ‘forged documents’ in bid to buy Stobart Air
Mr Scales has been accused of using two forged documents in his efforts to buy Stobart Air. The documents purported to show that the Isle of Man government was prepared to underwrite a £13m (€15m) loan that would be used to acquire Stobart Air. In 2020, as the Covid pandemic ravaged the world’s airline industry, Stobart Air went into a tailspin, burning through millions of euro in cash. That meant Stobart Air wouldn’t have what was effectively at the time its only source of revenue. But in April 2021, Esken announced that it had agreed to sell Stobart Air to Mr Scales’ Ettyl for a nominal £2.
Source:Irish Independent
May 08, 2024 15:37 UTC