Ireland’s new apartment guidelines to be referred to European court after challenge
The High Court will refer to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) legal questions arising in a challenge taken against the Government’s apartment standards guidelines. In a judgment on Wednesday, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys said he proposed referring to the court questions relating to the interpretation of the EU’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive, a key issue in the challenge to the guidelines. They claim the guidelines should have been subjected to a strategic environmental assessment. The apartment guidelines, published by Minister for Housing James Browne in July, introduced changes aimed at bridging a “viability gap” that the Government said has stymied apartment building. Last month, the court was informed that the Government intends to replace the guidelines with a national planning statement, which will be subjected to an environmental assessment.
Source:The Irish Times
December 18, 2025 10:44 UTC
Dáil votes by narrow margin not to restore abortion Bill that ends three-day wait for termination
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill was among TDs who voted in favour of the legislation being restored to the order paper. Photograph: Sam Boal/CollinsThe Dáil has voted by 73 to 71 not to restore a Private Member’s Bill on abortion to the order paper after it fell with the dissolution of the last Dáil. It must be restored to the order paper to allow it to be further debated by the new Dáil. Party colleague Paul Murphy on Wednesday night unsuccessfully sought to have the legislation restored to the order paper. In a first electronic vote TDs opposed the legislation by 72 votes to 70.
Source:The Irish Times
December 18, 2025 04:43 UTC
Government U-turn on reforming Road Safety Authority criticised in Dáil
An external review of the Road Safety Authority suggested splitting it into two agencies, one for road safety and another for operational activities such as the NCT. Photograph: Dara Mac DónaillThe Government’s U-turn on its decision to split up the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has been criticised, as the Dáil heard Ireland is one of the few European countries where road deaths are increasing. An independent external review of the RSA by Indecon Economic Consultants recommended it be reformed by separating the authority into two agencies. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said to Mr Lawlor he favoured the retention of the Road Safety Authority, describing it as the “pre-eminent authority to deal with road safety”. He paid tribute to former transport minister Noel Dempsey and broadcaster Gay Byrne who chaired the RSA.
Source:The Irish Times
December 18, 2025 02:10 UTC
Owners of Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre make new redevelopment bid
The St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre at the top of Grafton Street in Dublin. The owners are making a renewed bid to redevelop the landmark shopping centre.Photograph: iStockThe owners of Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre in Dublin are making a renewed bid to redevelop the landmark shopping centre. DTDL’s efforts to demolish much of the existing shopping centre and redevelop date back three years to December 2022. The notice states that there is a general increase in height across the development over the existing shopping centre and multistorey car park. It states that the maximum height increase over the existing shopping centre is 13.27m where the height would rise from 25.5m to a proposed 38.77m.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 23:35 UTC
Tech stocks slump on AI debt fears
Photograph: Roman NurutdinovTech stocks tumbled on Wall Street as renewed fears about AI backers’ debts gripped investors, while European markets had a more mixed day. DublinInsulation and building materials group Kingspan fell 1.86 per cent to €73.95. Dealers noted that rivals such as Denmark’s Rockwool also slipped on Wednesday while building materials shares struggled. In the same industry, ingredients and convenience foods group Kerry edged up 0.6 per cent to €76.60 following after its shares slipped last week. LondonIrish building materials giant CRH shed 3.2 per cent to close at 9,184 pence sterling as investors turned against its industry on Wednesday.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 22:52 UTC
The slow march to lower tackle heights in rugby appears unlikely to stop
The slow march to lower tackle heights across the whole sport appears unlikely to stop. After the tournament’s opening weekend, following a number of controversial incidents including high tackles, World Rugby publicly criticised their own officials. Plenty would counter by saying that World Rugby caved to coaches who were unwilling to sufficiently change player behaviour. Away from the evidence of past behaviour, some have been outspoken on their lack of support for sternum tackles. World Rugby bringing in a lower tackle height to next year’s Under-20 Worlds is a significant step for three reasons.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 22:49 UTC
Putin predicts European ‘swine’ backing Ukraine will lose power
Mr Putin said Russia was open to resuming diplomacy with the continent “if not with the current politicians, then when the political elites in Europe are replaced”. “The goals of the special military operation will be achieved unconditionally,” Mr Putin said, using a euphemism for the war. But Mr Zelenskiy admitted the US and Ukraine remained divided on territorial concessions that Putin has demanded from Kyiv as a condition to end his invasion. US officials said Mr Trump believes he could convince Mr Putin to accept a ceasefire but have not revealed details of the security guarantees for Ukraine in the plan. Andrei Belousov, Russia’s defence minister, told Mr Putin that the ministry’s “key task for the coming year is to maintain and increase the current pace of advance”.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 19:17 UTC
Micheál Martin says he will not put down motion of confidence in himself
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will not put down a motion of confidence in his leadership of Fianna Fáil and says the controversy over the party’s disastrous presidential election has “dragged on too long”. There was no public record to confirm such a dispute and only “the primary sources” could provide that information, Mr Martin said. “Jim Gavin was adamant on the issue.”However, he insisted that “Jim Gavin came to the table with significant strengths.”Mr Martin said polling had been done on potential candidates. Mr Martin disputed the timeline for the declaration of interest by MEP Billy Kelleher in running. There had not been any indication of such interest in a WhatsApp message from Mr Kelleher on August 14th, Mr Martin said.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 18:05 UTC
We often say we could get knocked over by a car tomorrow, but never really expect it – The Irish Times
We’ve been on two outings so far, both times to the Glass Mask Theatre on Dawson Street in Dublin. If you haven’t been and you enjoy theatre, I can highly recommend that place as a great night out. Jennifer turned out to be a good person to talk to about death. “You said you could walk out of there, and get knocked over by a car,” I reminded her. I mean, we often say we could get knocked over by a car or a bus tomorrow, but we never really expect it to happen.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 18:01 UTC
Irish mortgage arrears fall again to lowest level since 2009
That had been the lowest level since the outset of the Irish property crash in 2009. Around 36,106 of these were in arrears, the Central Bank said, a fall of 3.3 per cent from the second quarter of the year. Arrears in the investment mortgage sector were up 2.5 per cent over the quarter but down 21 per cent year-on-year. Listen | 41:32The decline in mortgage arrears has been helped by the strength of the Irish economy in recent years and rising house prices. “The Irish economy has been beset with challenges since the global financial crisis.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 17:03 UTC
From TY project to €200,000 turnover: how a Dublin teenager built a global haircare brand
Gavin Hefferon, founder of Poseidon Hair: ‘Every day, lads were asking how to get more volume and movement in their hair’In 2019, Gavin Hefferon was a transition year student at St Andrew’s College in Dublin. Six years later, that sea salt spray remains the biggest-selling product in his company’s Poseidon Hair range. As a young teenager, Hefferon developed a strong interest in hair styling and video creation, and it was only a matter of time before the two came together. “I quickly discovered I was better at sales than studying,” says Hefferon, whose business turned over €272,000 last year. Pending a funding round of €150,000, Hefferon plans to hire a chief marketing officer while also increasing production and broadening the company’s sales channels.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 16:55 UTC
Man dies following Temple Bar incident on Sunday morning
Gardaí detained a man in Temple Bar and sought assistance from a nearby ambulance crew Photograph: Bryan O’BrienA man in his 40s has died following an incident in Temple Bar early on Sunday morning. Gardaí said they subsequently sought assistance from a nearby ambulance crew as the man appeared “unwell”. The man was taken to hospital where he was later pronounced dead, a Garda statement on Wednesday said. A Garda investigation is being led by a senior investigating officer based at the incident room in Pearse Street Garda station. Anyone with information is asked to contact Pearse Street Garda station on (01) 666 9000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 16:48 UTC
Ireland’s faltering switch to clean energy laid bare by increase in oil and gas use
Data centres are responsible for 88 per cent of the total growth in Ireland's electricity demand over the past 10 years. File photograph: GoogleOil and gas consumption increased in Ireland last year amid the country’s sluggish switch from fossil fuels to clean energy. The rise was modest – 2.7 per cent for oil and 3 per cent for gas – but signals significant challenges for the country in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) warned the reduction was happening “at a rate that is short of what is needed”. Data centres are responsible for 88 per cent of the total growth in electricity demand over the past 10 years.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 16:31 UTC
House price inflation at 7.3% in October as demand outstrips supply
The latest residential property price index indicated that house prices in Dublin rose by 5.4 per cent rose in annual terms. House prices rose by 7.3 per cent in the 12 months to October as demand for homes continued to outstrip supply. The latest residential property price index, compiled by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), indicated that house prices in Dublin rose by 5.4 per cent rose in annual terms in October while those outside Dublin rose by 8.9 per cent. The median price or middle value of a dwelling purchased in the 12 months to October was €381,000. The highest median price paid for properties was in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown at €675,000 while the lowest median price was €190,000 in Donegal.
Source:The Irish Times
December 17, 2025 15:55 UTC