Keyword "helen-mcentee" - List of latest news (804 results)

13:47 Helen McEntee to announce more measures to encourage teachers abroad to return to Ireland

Education Minister Helen McEntee has vowed to outline more measures that will encourage teachers to return to Ireland in a bid to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis.

13:34 TUI to ballot for industrial action if Leaving Cert reform talks ‘fail to deliver acceptable outcome’

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) will ballot for industrial action if talks on Leaving Cert reform “fail to deliver an acceptable outcome”.

01:22 Helen McEntee announces ‘largest national conversation on education in the State’s history’

National Convention planned to explore how nation can secure ‘best outcomes in world’ for students

22/04 Reducing class sizes ‘absolutely achievable’ despite spending pressures - McEntee

Minister for Education heckled over ‘underfunding’ of primary schools at INTO annual congress

22/04 No other OECD country spends a lower proportion of GDP on education than Ireland. Why?

In an uncertain world, we need to give our students the best chance of reaching their potential

22/04 Government pledge to lower class sizes in doubt due to ‘overspending’

More than 50,000 pupils are in ‘supersized’ classes with 30 children or more

22/04 ‘Chronic underfunding’ means schools rely on parents to help keep lights on, teachers warn

Members attending the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) annual congress have called for primary school capitation rates to be revised upwards to the same level of voluntary secondary schools.

22/04 More students to get higher Junior Cycle grades under reforms

Move follows criticism from students and teachers over ‘harsh’ scoring system

21/04 Sharp rise in assaults at schools pushing teachers to ‘breaking point’

Almost 60 per cent of educators experienced physical aggression, with rates highest in special schools

21/04 Staff shortages, contentious reforms and chronic underfunding set to dominate teachers’ Easter conferences

Helen McEntee faces a daunting challenge convincing delegates the Government can tackle urgent issues facing schools

21/04 ‘You don’t really live’: Long-distance commuting teachers priced out of Dublin

The housing crisis is resulting in acute teacher shortages, say teachers’ unions, whose annual conferences get under way this week. Is there any solution in sight?

21/04 New teachers will be fast-tracked into permanent posts to tackle staffing ‘crisis’

Helen McEntee says move will give certainty to new entrants when applying for mortgages

19/04 Expansion of therapy services in special schools to start in autumn

Programme will coincide with the establishment of a national therapy service in education, Minister says

15/04 Leaving Cert reforms are being ‘rushed’ before schools have capacity, teachers warn

Asti says half of schools do not have sufficient lab facilities for new science courses

14/04 Leaving Cert 2025 students will lose out due to grade deflation, but by how much?

Students will be competing for college places against applicants with bumper grades from previous years

14/04 The Irish Independent’s View: Leaving Cert grades inflation shouldn’t give an unfair advantage

Turning off the tap is far more difficult than turning it on. So it goes for supports added during a time of crisis. When the emergency ends, it’s hard to tell those who became dependent on the help that it’s all back to normal.

11/04 Hot school meals: High fat, salt and sugar products to be removed from scheme

Review of the scheme’s nutritional standards to be conducted by Department of Health dietician

11/04 Department of Education announces nearly 400 new special school classes for upcoming academic year

The Minister for Education Helen McEntee has confirmed that there will be 399 new special education classes for the 2025/2026 school year.

11/04 Asylum system overhaul: What is changing beyond all the talk of reform?

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has signalled a new Bill will be the most significant reform of the asylum system in the State’s history

11/04 Expert to review nutritional value of hot school meals provided by Government

The Government is to review the nutritional value of thousands of hot meals that are being provided to schoolchildren around the country daily.

10/04 Media regulator made ‘big mistake’ in not tackling algorithms in online safety code, Dáil hears

Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore warns of ‘endless, relentless toxic feeds’ to children ‘in doom loop’

10/04 Minister knew last year about reports of unnecessary paediatric surgeries, Dáil hears

Pearse Doherty claims thousands of children could be affected as parents speak of procedures a decade ago

08/04 Leaving Cert reforms to press ahead this year despite union opposition

Changes in the ‘best interests’ of thousands of students, says Minister for Education Helen McEntee

02/04 ‘These children are being denied their constitutional rights’: Parents hold Dáil sleepout over lack of school places

Helen McEntee says she will not hesitate to use legal powers to force schools to open special classes if necessary

27/03 Smartphone bans in isolation fail to equip children for healthy use of tech, international study concludes 

‘Schools, teachers and parents require training and guidance to help them support children’s healthy use of technology’

27/03 Almost all Irish primary schools employed unqualified substitutes in last academic year

Principal says staff shortages placing ‘immense pressure’ on schools

24/03 Education Minister Helen McEntee to begin plans for mandatory student teacher placements in special education settings

The Teaching Council is to be asked to begin working on plans to introduce mandatory assessed placements for student teachers in special education settings.

24/03 Teacher training to include mandatory placements in special education

Move comes after threefold increase in prevalence of autism in the last 10 years

19/03 Oral exams for Leaving Cert English: How will they work?

Oral presentations are increasingly being used at third level in response to AI – and secondary schools are set to follow suit

19/03 Leaving Cert students to face oral exams in English under sweeping changes

Draft plan would see candidates quizzed on plays or books at end of fifth year

17/03 Grind schools remain the great injustice of Ireland’s education system

Unthinkable: How fair are the State exams if some students can buy an advantage in the form of specialised tuition?

15/03 Q&A: Why are teachers worried about AI and the Leaving Cert?

Teachers' union seeks legal indemnity to protect members who must authenticate students' work

07/03 As Fergus Finlay and Tom Clonan’s spat escalates, Sarah McInerney relishes the radio gold

Radio: The whiff of cordite in the RTÉ studio is strong enough to warrant a UN peacekeeping mandate of its own

07/03 Warm winds of co-operation blow through British-Irish relations

The two governments on message as joint initiatives on everything from wind energy, to security abound at convivial UK-Ireland summit

03/03 Dublin principals ‘delighted’ with added supports from Deis-plus scheme

Principals who have spent years campaigning for targeted supports for schools with the highest levels of disadvantage in Dublin, are “delighted” to see their calls are finally being listened to.

03/03 Schools in poorest areas to get extra support under ‘Deis-plus’ scheme

McEntee plans to tackle drop-off in school attendance with supports for at-risk pupils

01/03 ‘Why must we fight for our children’s basic rights?’ – Parents sleep out over lack of school places for pupils with special needs

McEntee says department doing ‘everything possible’ to help

27/02 State loses appeal to High Court finding designation of UK as ‘safe third country’ was unlawful

Judge says legislative changes since the ruling raised questions of mootness

24/02 Two issues on Helen McEntee’s desk will provide an early clue to her ambitions as Minister for Education

How she proposes to address them – and the extent of her resolve and ambition in managing her new portfolio – will become clear over the coming months

23/02 Fianna Fáil ‘seating females and good-looking men to fore on Dáil benches’, say party TDs

The front-row government Dáil seats have been assigned to “female and good-looking male” Fianna Fáil TDs, their party colleagues have remarked.

23/02 Twelve people removed from State so far this year in enforced deportations

A dozen enforced deportations have taken place so far this year, according to the Department of Justice. In advance of the operations, the Department of Justice liaised with the relevant receiving state authorities on the readmission of their citizens.

22/02 Can Jim O’Callaghan live up to his brand as the law and order politician?

In Justice, political ambition quickly collides with political reality

20/02 Creeslough:‘I simply would never be able to go there again,’ says woman who lost sister and nephew in explosion

Families who lost loved ones received letters on Thursday telling them of decision to grant permission for new service station on blast site

20/02 HSE management backs down over unilateral roster changes for thousands of healthcare staff

Senior Minister earlier said Government ‘expects and insists’ that HSE should work within agreements

16/02 Man (34) killed in Dublin stabbing is named as asylum seeker from Nigeria

Minister for Justice says those responsible for fatal attack on South Anne Street will be tracked down

16/02 Minister for Justice: fatal stabbing incident in Dublin on Sunday is ‘shocking’ and ‘unacceptable’

Jim O’Callaghan says those responsible will be tracked down and brought to justice

16/02 Fatal stabbing incident in Dublin ‘shocking’ and ‘unacceptable’, Jim O’Callaghan says

Minister for Justice says those responsible for fatal attack on South Anne Street will be tracked down

14/02 Justine McCarthy: When the institutions of the land imply women are inferior, it’s hard not to doubt yourself

It is a fundamental paradox of women’s second-class status that, amid all the talk of toxic masculinity, nobody ever mentions the toxic femininity that gives it life support

13/02 School meals to be made available during summer in bid to tackle ‘holiday hunger’

Many pupils taking part in summer programme will have access to ‘nutritious’ lunches

12/02 Protest at Dáil gates for Synge Street Gaelcholáiste

Students call on Minister for Education Helen McEntee to provide a timeline for promised Gaelcholáiste

09/02 Breda O’Brien: Big tech is bullying teachers into premature adoption of AI. We need to slow down

Most of the Irish debate concerns potential for cheating in the assessment components of new senior cycle. Why are widespread calls for a delay being ignored?

06/02 ‘We’ve lost 11 days of school ... attendance has collapsed‘: Principals on the enduring effects of Storm Éowyn

While power has been restored to most schools, teachers feel children’s needs have not been prioritised

05/02 McEntee to push ahead with €9m smartphone pouches plan despite study casting doubt over their merits

New research found banning phones in schools is not linked to pupils getting higher grades or having better mental health

04/02 Ireland to set up new trade advisory bodies amid Trump EU tariff threats

Cabinet expected to approve new ‘resilience plan’ for ESB to ensure the State’s energy grid is better equipped to withstand extreme weather events

28/01 Micheál Martin and Simon Harris set to name junior ministers, but selection unlikely to alter gender imbalance in the Cabinet

Government leaders decide on junior minister appointments this week, but the names are unlikely to assuage doubts after accusations of misogyny when the Cabinet was announced last week.

27/01 Ireland saw record number of asylum applicants in 2024

New fast-tracking measures introduced in mid-year for applicants from Nigeria and Jordan significantly reduced numbers applying from those countries

25/01 ‘It’s 2025 - not the Stone Age’: Government to face extra pressure to promote female TDs as junior ministers

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said there were the same number of Ministers with the name James as there were women

24/01 Fresh faces join old hands – who are the ministers in Micheál Martin’s newly assembled Cabinet?

?Micheal Martin has named his Cabinet for the 34th Dáil. Here are the key players in top jobs in the new Government.

24/01 Micheál Martin’s jobs for the boys – no female TDs promoted by Taoiseach as just three given senior cabinet posts

Taoiseach Micheál Martin did not promote any of his female TDs to senior cabinet jobs when announcing his new Government.

23/01 Who’s in the Cabinet? All the Ministers appointed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and their roles

Simon Harris takes Foreign Affairs, while Helen McEntee moves to Education, making way for Jim O’Callaghan at Justice

22/01 Live updates: Dáil and vote for taoiseach suspended until tomorrow morning amid chaotic scenes

What was essentially a pro forma day has descended into a fiasco

22/01 Dáil live updates: New taoiseach and ministers to be elected today

Micheál Martin to lead new government and will named his cabinet this afternoon

22/01 A fresh look for the new coalition as almost all departments to change ministers

Fianna Fáil’s Mary Butler and Fine Gael’s Martin Heydon are among TDs tipped for promotion

21/01 Ireland’s next Cabinet: Who are the frontrunners and how do they rank?

Who is likely to end up where after the confabulations are done and dusted?

18/01 Bashed tables, dad dancing and pizza: how the deal for a new government was done

The bulk of the six-week negotiations happened between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil, but the Regional Independent Group played a vital role in forming the new government

15/01 Michael Healy-Rae set for junior ministry as Simon Harris to take on Donald Trump trade threats in beefed-up Foreign Affairs role

Simon Harris will be given a tough new role heading up the next ­government’s response to US ­president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to trade and foreign investment.

15/01 Simon Harris to take on Donald Trump trade threats in beefed-up new Foreign Affairs role, as Healy-Rae deal struck

Simon Harris will be given a tough new role heading up the next ­government’s response to US ­president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to trade and foreign investment.

15/01 Simon Harris to take on Donald Trump trade threats in beefed-up new Foreign Affairs role, while Healy-Rae deal hangs in balance

Simon Harris will be given a tough new role heading up the next ­government’s response to US ­president-elect Donald Trump’s threat to trade and foreign investment.

14/01 Ministers, super juniors and chief whips - what jobs are filled in the cabinet?

Explainer: decisions about government policy and proposals for legislation are made at cabinet meetings

14/01 Plan to cut Vat rate to 9pc for hospitality and services sector as deal to form new government reached

The draft programme for government commits to reintroducing the lower 9pc Vat rate for the food, hospitality and services sector - but not until later in the year.

14/01 Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Regional Independents reach deal for government

The Regional Independent group has secured two ‘super junior’ ministries and two other junior ministries.

14/01 Simon Harris’s big idea of a ‘minister for infrastructure’ ditched as coalition deal close to completion

Simon Harris’s plan for a ‘minister for infrastructure’ has been ditched in a compromise deal during talks to form a coalition.

14/01 ‘It has been intense’: Inside the room of Government formation

Across the different parties and groups, more than 20 negotiators have been working hard to hammer out a deal

13/01 The Irish Independent’s View: One hand on parish pump won’t serve national interest

The race is on to finalise the next programme for government. The Dáil is due to meet again on Wednesday, January 22, to hold a vote on the election of a taoiseach. All going ­according to plan, Micheál Martin will be elected as taoiseach and he will then announce the cabinet that evening.

10/01 Intensive government talks to start on Saturday with aim of forming coalition of FF, FG and two Independent groups

Regional Independent group and two Healy-Rae brothers set to join new government if negotiations are successful

04/01 Letters: Oh, to have been a bohemian in those carefree Dublin days

Sir – What a riveting entertaining and well written piece by Liam Collins (‘Countess Joan proved there was sex in Ireland before the Late Late’, December 29).

03/01 Fears over impact of Occupied Territories Bill on US companies in Ireland ahead of renewed government-formation talks

The Occupied Territories Bill will be a priority piece of legislation when the new government is formed, but there are concerns among senior ministers about how the reform may affect US companies’ operations in Ireland.

02/01 ‘The records sought do not exist’: ‘Golden visas’ granted under €1.25bn scheme but no list of investment beneficiaries

Lack of even a basic list raises questions about how the scheme was monitored

31/12 Provisions of new hate crime law come into effect on Tuesday

Harsher sentencing will be imposed if the demonstration of hatred towards a protected group is proven

30/12 Immigration during 2024: The year in numbers

Daily arrivals have dropped, but the number of asylum applications has increased significantly

28/12 Miriam Lord’s review of the year: Long-awaited election brings more of the same

We saw shock resignations, ruptured relations and an over-eager new Taoiseach in a year of change but a future of more of the same

27/12 The year in policing: how did Garda Commissioner Drew Harris respond to the biggest challenges of 2024?

Far-right-inspired violence and continued sluggish efforts to grow the Garda force dominated Harris’s final full year in charge

26/12 Minister says he faced ‘extraordinary’ lobbying over legislation to reform rules on gambling

Bookmakers told Government about concerns some pubs were permitting black-market betting

22/12 Interpol issues yellow notice for two Irish boys kept in Egypt by their father for almost three years

Mandy Kelly, from Dundalk, said her estranged husband, the children’s father, refused to let the boys return from a family holiday in Cairo in 2022

19/12 Cabinet shake-up: Helen McEntee to Enterprise and Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for Health among the early tips

A major shake-up of government departments is on the cards and could result in Jennifer Carroll MacNeill becoming the new Health Minister.

16/12 Government warned pension tax regime would hit staff further down seniority ranks

Controversy over tax bills on retirement shone light on value of pensions for senior figures in public service in comparison with private sector, where average pension pot is just over €80,565

16/12 Garda attacked in Dublin remains critically injured as second suspect arrested

Two officers attacked are members of Dublin Armed Support Unit

16/12 Is Ireland’s Policing Authority about to wither on the vine of legislative inertia?

There is now a troubling narrative that too much oversight is bad for policing. This can take the form of special pleading by vested interests and must be viewed with deep scepticism

12/12 Pause on Syrian asylum claims to be reviewed in coming weeks, says Helen McEntee

Minister for Justice says fall of Assad regime ‘really positive’ but it is not clear what will happen next in Syria

11/12 ‘We’ll meet big three, but with no intention of going into government’ – Ivana Bacik rules Labour out of coalition

Labour leader Ivana Bacik is recorded as telling her party’s ruling body that she has no intention of going in to government with Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil and would only speak to them as a courtesy.

10/12 Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to begin formal government coalition talks on Wednesday

Labour and Regional Independent group to decide on pursuing negotiations with two outgoing ruling parties

10/12 Syria ‘not considered safe’, campaigners warn, amid pause on asylum decisions

Helen McEntee is due to discuss asylum issue at EU meeting on Thursday following ousting of Assad in Syria

06/12 Fianna Fáil faces Fine Gael down over taoiseach rotation split, as party looks to press home TD advantage

Tánaiste Micheál Martin is preparing to play hardball with Fine Gael over the post of rotating taoiseach and policies to be acted on by the new government.

06/12 Fianna Fáil faces Fine Gael down over taoiseach rotation, as party looks to press home TD advantage

Tánaiste Micheál Martin is preparing to play hardball with Fine Gael over the post of rotating taoiseach and policies to be acted on by the new government.

05/12 Hundreds detained in Northern Ireland trying to travel into Britain after crossing Irish Border

Gangs charging €8,000 for illegal travel packages that avoid crossing Channel on small boats

05/12 Ceann Comhairle choice means Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will need one more Independent for coalition

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will be scrambling for even more Independents to prop up their expected coalition after it emerged Seán Ó Fearghaíl is on course to be voted back in as the Ceann Comhairle in two weeks’ time.

04/12 ‘No stone will be left unturned’: Missing Persons Day marked by hundreds in Croke Park

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris tells families of commitment to bringing them closure while Minister for Justice Helen McEntee speaks of improved unidentified human remains database

03/12 Unlikely a new government will be in place before Christmas, says Micheál Martin

Fianna Fáil leader says there is an urgency to assembling a coalition because of ‘pressing issues internationally’ after general election

28/11 Three main parties deadlocked, but the Fine Gael slip continues

The three main parties are deadlocked as the country heads towards the polls, with Fianna Fáil holding the most slender of leads over Fine Gael and Sinn Féin.

27/11 Fine Gael’s Hildegarde Naughton under pressure to address actions she took in wake of Patsy O’Brien scandal

Government chief whip Hildegarde Naughton is coming under pressure to publicly address the actions she took when she learnt about former Fine Gael ­councillor Patsy O’Brien sending pornographic material to a party member.

23/11 Minister for Justice praises Nikita Hand’s bravery after victory in civil action against Conor McGregor

Dublin woman was awarded almost €250,000 in damages after High Court jury found that she was raped by Conor McGregor in a Dublin hotel

20/11 Kathy Sheridan: Angry flea circus buzzing around ‘woke’ Helen McEntee goes beyond the usual political sniping

Willie O’Dea called her 'the worst minister for justice in the history of the State' while Jim O’Callaghan said she had copied his ideas

19/11 Under-fire Fine Gael candidate John McGahon dodges media on canvass trail

Fine Gael candidate John McGahon was unavailable to the media yesterday as rival parties raised questions over his role in a street fight in 2018.

18/11 Junior minister’s remarks on McEntee’s maternity leave replacements ‘completely misinterpreted’, says Tánaiste

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael embroiled in election campaign row over law and order

18/11 Simon Harris ‘wrong’ to back John McGahon after Fine Gael senator’s pub assault case, say political rivals

?Taoiseach Simon Harris’s decision to stand by pub-assault senator John ­McGahon as an election candidate has been branded “wrong” by opposition politicians, who say his candidacy is an issue for Fine Gael.

17/11 ‘It’s depressing that families have little option but to go to court’ – call to ‘do right thing’, as leave granted for review into Dublin-Monaghan bombings

The High Court has granted leave for a judicial review brought against the Irish authorities over an alleged failure to provide information about the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974 to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI).

16/11 Prison inmate suspected of making hoax bomb threat against Justice Minister Helen McEntee through Samaritans

A hoax bomb threat that targeted the home of Justice Minister Helen McEntee in late September is suspected of originating in a Dublin jail.

16/11 Fine Gael to court grey vote with slew of promises

Party’s general election manifesto to provide ‘older persons’ guarantee’ including extending free TV licences and payments for heating bills

16/11 Editorial: Parties will have to rethink strategies in trying to woo voters

“Before a cat will condescend to treat you as a trusted friend, some little token of esteem is needed, like a dish of cream,” TS Eliot wrote.

12/11 Sharp exchanges between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil dominate election debates

Fine Gael is expected to pledge to cut inheritance tax substantially when it unveils its manifesto at the weekend

12/11 Gloves are off in campaign as coalition partners attack each other’s election promises

The battle to lead the next coalition government has escalated, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael taking aim at each other’s election promises.

08/11 Publicans pushed back against plans to include sexual harassment as grounds for rejecting licences

A publicans’ group raised concerns about sexual harassment being used as a reason to reject licence renewals.

07/11 McEntee says gardaí facing increasing ‘challenging behaviours’ in Dublin city centre

More than 12,000 people have been arrested in centre capital since January, Minister for Justice says

05/11 Gardaí hope DNA will help identify man whose body was recovered from river Lee in Cork 25 years ago

Man's remains exhumed to allow DNA samples to be taken for comparison with missing persons databases

30/10 ‘We need answers’: Creeslough families meet Ministers to push for public inquiry

Helen McEntee, Charlie McConalogue and Eamon Ryan bring families ‘step closer’ to truth

30/10 Letters: While huffy soccer players moan about ‘disrespect’, desperate people are being denied food aid

In a world full of individual rights, but collective collapse, soccer is the perfect vehicle to showcase bloated arrogance.

29/10 Abandoned in Lebanon: How Ireland offered Syrian refugees a route to safety, then left them in a war zone

Two years ago about 375 Syrians were interviewed in Lebanon by Irish officials and told they would be resettled in Ireland before 2024. They’re still waiting - amid bombs, deprivation and discrimination. Sally Hayden spoke to some of those people, who feel trapped, scared and forgotten

28/10 Creeslough families to meet McEntee to discuss call for independent inquiry into explosion

Ten people died in incident at Applegreen service station in Donegal village in October 2022

28/10 Number of deportation orders up by 140% over past year - report

Helen McEntee to update Government on impact of accelerated processing measures for international protection applicants

28/10 Over 70pc drop in asylum-seeker applications from countries that were on State’s original ‘safe’ list

There has been a decrease of over 70pc in asylum-seeker applications from the first list of countries designated as “safe” by the Department of Justice.

27/10 The Irish Times view on organised crime: the net closes

Recent events illustrate the transnational nature of the problem, and the necessity for governments across the world to co-operate against it

25/10 Editorial: Kyran Durnin mystery raises worrying questions about child protection in Ireland

“It is a horrifying case and there are many unanswered questions,” Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Caoilfhionn Gallagher said. She was referring to the harrowing disappearance of Kyran Durnin, the eight-year-old boy from Drogheda, Co Louth, whom gardaí believe may have been killed up to two years ago.

24/10 Kyran Durnin case ‘indicative of real problems’ with State’s child-protection systems, rapporteur says

Case of missing Drogheda boy (8) raises concerns that need to be answered independently of Tusla, says Special Rapporteur on Child Protection

24/10 Ireland Passes Hate Crime Legislation with Redefinition of Gender

The Irish parliament passed hate crime legislation on Wednesday evening, which includes within it a self-identifying definition of gender.

24/10 Kyran Durnin: People will be held accountable over case of missing boy, says McEntee

Minister urges anyone with information about Drogheda boy (8) to come forward

24/10 Cab seizes more than €116m in assets over 12 years, with €64.4m transferred to exchequer

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín raises concern over ‘time lag’ between seizure and arrival in State coffers

24/10 Hate crime law among five Bills rushed through Dáil in six hours

Defamation Bill and Mental Health Bill will not be completed before general election but nine pieces of legislation set to be passed

24/10 New blow for renters as plan to crack down on Airbnb use is delayed again

Renters are facing a new blow because the Government’s long-promised crackdown on Airbnbs and other short-term lets will not be implemented before the general election.

23/10 Twenty new judges to be appointed following introduction of legislation

Six are to be assigned each to the District Court, Circuit Court and High Court, with two additional judges to go to the Court of Appeal

22/10 Moynalty Horse Chase: ‘I wouldn’t vote for Sinn Féin. They are too inexperienced’

Those who turned out for a local football fundraiser in north county Meath are expecting the present Government to be re-elected

22/10 Saoirse Brady: Dangerous overcrowding in our prisons doesn’t just pose a risk to inmates – it threatens public safety too

Ireland’s prison system is at a breaking point, in fact I would say it’s broken. With the number of people in custody far exceeding the capacity our prisons can safely handle, the dangers of overcrowding have escalated to unprecedented levels.

21/10 Two new average speed camera systems to go live in Cavan and Mayo this weekend

Drivers found to have travelled between two points on a road too quickly to receive three penalty points and fine of up to €160

21/10 Why Republic-UAE extradition deal does not necessarily mean end for the Kinahans

Experiences endured by Dutch and South African authorities provide cautionary tales when dealing with UAE

21/10 McEntee in UAE to sign extradition agreement following arrest of Kinahan figure McGovern

Minister travels to Abu Dhabi days after new legal arrangements between UAE and Ireland are agreed

20/10 Gardaí expect new developments in hunt for body of missing Kyran Durnin (8)

The investigation into the suspected murder of eight-year-old Drogheda boy Kyran Durnin will “develop at pace” in the coming days, following a number of developments “behind the scenes”.

18/10 Minister for Justice vows anyone responsible for failing to protect Kyran Durnin (8) will be held accountable

Gardaí formally opened a murder investigation after stating they have found no evidence the child is still alive

18/10 Extradition treaty with Dubai approved, targeted at prosecuting Kinahan leadership

Deal will strategically strengthen Ireland against ‘transnational’ crime, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee says

16/10 Controversial hate speech provisions removed from criminal justice legislation as Bill passed in Seanad

New laws stalled in Upper House after criticism by backbenchers, Senators, free speech groups and tech billionaire Elon Musk

16/10 Prison overcrowding crisis is forcing policy makers to turn to increasingly radical solutions

Report from the Prison Overcrowding Response Group paints a stark picture of Ireland’s penal institutions

16/10 Early release of sex and high-risk offenders suggested as solution to overcrowded jails

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee rejects proposals by officials but looks at other measures to free up prison capacity

15/10 Cabinet to appoint new deputy garda commissioner and make free HRT treatment available from January

?Justice Minister Helen ­McEntee will ask the Government to appoint a new deputy garda ­commissioner today.

15/10 New Garda deputy commissioner to be appointed

Minister for Justice to ask Cabinet to approve appointment of new deputy commissioner for ‘policing and security’ following open competition

14/10 Israel guilty of war crimes over Gaza airstrikes, says Tánaiste Micheál Martin

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has described Israeli strikes in Gaza as a “war crime”, saying that people are being forced from their homeland.

13/10 Letters: As election time looms, pensioners will not forget Budget 2025

Sir – An analysis by the ESRI has suggested that Budget 2025 will have little or no effect in reducing overall poverty or child poverty.

12/10 Number of Nigerian asylum seekers falls dramatically under fast-track system

Past four months has seen a significant increase in the number of Jordanians seeking international protection in Ireland

11/10 No outright ban on wearing face coverings at protests under new laws

Gardaí will decide whether a person is wearing a face covering in public to intimidate others or conceal identity in an effort to evade justice

11/10 ‘One-stop shops’ for legal services ‘should not obscure’ contribution of independent barristers - Bar council chair

New senior counsel appointments increase numbers at Inner Bar to 389, of whom one in five are women

10/10 Showdown on gender definition in hate crime Bill looms

Government plans to push through remaining stages of legislation without hate speech elements against backdrop of dispute over meaning of terms used

09/10 Cab unable to access seized Bitcoin worth €350 million

Criminal Assets Bureau seized virtual currency from former Dublin beekeeper who grew cannabis crops for years, without drawing Garda attention, until caught by chance

09/10 Helen McEntee secures Cabinet approval for new programme to ensure children’s views are heard in Irish court system

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has secured Cabinet approval for a new pilot programme to ensure the voices and views of children are heard in the Irish court system.

08/10 McDonald claims ‘very senior members’ of Coalition wrote character references for ‘convicted rapists and child abusers’

Sinn Féin leader was speaking after Government calls for Dáil statements from McDonald about press officer controversy

08/10 Criminal Assets Bureau records significant year of activities amid expansion plans

Minister for Justice set to brief Cabinet on bureau’s progress and plans to increase intelligence-gathering and enforcement capacities by 45 per cent over next two years

05/10 Taoiseach says Fine Gael ‘in mourning’ following death of councillor John Naughten

Brother of former minister Denis Naughten had been due to contend the next General Election for the party

03/10 European Commission raps Ireland over racism and xenophobia laws

Infringement procedure initiated by way of letter to the Government, but case could up in Court of Justice of the European Union

03/10 ‘Fearless and dedicated’: Former Garda John O’Driscoll was a true patriot and family man, funeral hears

The former Garda commissioner was ‘loving, caring and generous’, mourners told

01/10 Budget 2025: social welfare hikes, ‘mansion tax’ and cheaper car insurance, here’s everything you need to know

The coalition has made its multi-billion-euro pitch to voters ahead of the general election – with an €8.3bn Budget comprising €1.4bn in tax cuts and €6.9bn in new spending.

01/10 Letters: Israel has right to defend itself from attacks by Iran-backed terrorists

It is remarkable that many in the West ignore the fact that Hezbollah, an uninvolved party to October 7, attacked Israel in solidarity with Hamas, but spout liberal nonsense when Israel targets its leadership and destroys the cache of rockets and launchers that Hezbollah has hidden within civilian infrastructure.

30/09 Sharp drop in number of prisoners being approved for enhanced remission

Prison officials increasingly using other forms of early or temporary release to ease record overcrowding

30/09 Ahead of the Government’s last Budget before the general election, here’s everything we know about where spending will focus

The coalition makes its multi-billion-euro pitch tomorrow to voters ahead of the general election. The Government promised an €8.3bn Budget comprising €1.4bn in tax cuts and €6.9bn in new spending.

27/09 Number of prosecutions for hate crime remains low despite surge in attacks

The latest figures underscore the difficulty in bringing prosecutions under 1989 legislation

25/09 The Irish Times view on the hate crime Bill: a salutary lesson

The Bill became a lightning rod for the debates over limits on free speech

25/09 Garda inquiry into Creeslough tragedy has to take precedence, says Minister

Helen McEntee says Government is open to listening to the families of those who died in Co Donegal explosion

25/09 Hate crime Bill to retain special protections for transgender and non-binary people

Elements relating to hate speech to be shelved but gender definitions to remain despite opposition including by Michael McDowell questioning idea of legislating for ‘multiplicity of subjective genders’

25/09 Hundreds of inmates sleeping on mattresses on ground due to overcrowding in Irish prisons, figures show

Irish prisons are overcrowded by almost 500 people, new figures released by the Justice Minister Helen McEntee show.

23/09 Anti-stalking protection orders: ‘There are a lot of people who have been waiting a long time for this’

New civil orders restraining stalking behaviours can now be sought in at District Court level

21/09 Irish Government Drops Draconian Hate Speech Legislation After Backlash

The government of Ireland has abandoned plans to implement controversial new hate speech laws following widespread backlash.

21/09 Plan to introduce hate speech laws has been dropped, Minister for Justice confirms

Helen McEntee has insisted she will press ahead with the hate crime part of the criminal justice legislation

21/09 New eGates at Dublin Airport to be rolled out to speed up checks electronically

New upgraded eGates will be rolled out at Dublin Airport to enable passengers to clear immigration electronically.

21/09 Stripping back of hate crime legislation was inevitable but marks a dark day for targeted communities

Politically, the move forward will inevitably be construed as a clearing of the decks in advance of an election

21/09 Plans to introduce hate speech laws dropped, as poll shows voters favour return of FG-FF government

Planned hate speech laws were criticised by Government backbenchers, free speech groups and Elon Musk

18/09 Legal profession must change workplace culture to improve diversity, report says

Young legal professionals almost exclusively ‘white Irish’ and large majority from higher socio-economic background

17/09 One-dimensional policy

Root cause of domestic violence must be investigated

16/09 Justice Minister to seek Cabinet approval on balaclava ban at protests ‘in coming weeks’

Justice Minister Helen McEntree has said she will "do what she can" to prevent people from intimidating others during protests as she spoke about a balaclava ban.

16/09 Airlines and ferry firms fined more than €5m since 2019 for passengers lacking documentation

In the first eight months of 2024, 1,590 arrivals in Republic found to have no valid travel papers

16/09 Level of driving test no-shows a huge road-safety concern as deaths rise

Ireland faces a worrying increase in the number of motorists failing to show up for scheduled driving tests amid fears the number of “no shows” could soar above 8,000 this year.

12/09 Asylum-seekers to be asked to contribute financially for supports under new government plans

Asylum-seekers will have to make a financial contribution towards the cost of their accommodation and other services provided by the State under plans being considered by the Government.

12/09 New €6.5m domestic violence refuge for women and children opens in Wexford

Town is first of 18 ‘priority locations’ as part of Government’s plan to double number of units nationwide

11/09 Fine Gael shifts to backing public childcare model as Harris dampens November election speculation

Taoiseach signals move away from reliance on private sector care while insisting Coalition Government will last full term

09/09 Garda numbers fall as dozens of successful candidates choose not to take up their places

Dozens of successful candidates in each intake have not taken up their places over the past two years

06/09 Coalition mulls time limit on abuse inquiry to speed redress package for survivors

Government seeking to balance establishment of full commission of investigation with not unduly delaying redress payments to survivors

06/09 Editorial: Church must face its reckoning over vile sex abuse of children

Societal shock is useless unless it stimulates the right response. Over three decades we have heard deeply disturbing reports about repulsive abuse by members of the Catholic church.

04/09 Race for deputy Garda commissioner role heats up after initial process met cool response from candidates

At least five of eight serving assistant commissioners now seeking role following pledge to change how large pension pots are taxed

02/09 ‘I tried to get help for my son after a manic episode. Instead he got a criminal record’

Almost 8 per cent of male remand prisoners have current or recent psychotic symptoms, 10 times the community rate

01/09 Character references for sex offenders must now be given on oath under new law

Complainants in sexual assault cases will now also receive anonymity during the court process

29/08 Several senior gardaí apply for deputy commissioner role, ending pensions impasse

Recruitment process had been delayed by concerns over tax liabilities

28/08 Sharp rise in early release of inmates due to prison overcrowding

There has been a 60% increase in grants of temporary release since the eligbility rules were relaxed last year

27/08 Letters: Calling a general election in November would further erode the trust of voters

Multiple media articles have speculated about a potential general election in November, despite the Government’s insistence that the Coalition intends to serve its full term until March 2025.

26/08 Hate crime legislation to be completed during Government’s term, say Harris and O’Gorman

Attacks on asylum seekers sleeping in tents on the street ‘an incredibly serious situation’, Green Party leader says

20/08 Letters: Ireland needs an intelligence agency that is separate from An Garda Síochána

The increased threat assessment made by the Garda Commissioner to the Justice Minister should worry all of us who believe in social and democratic norms.

19/08 Opinion: We owe it to the victims of sexual crime to improve how courts deal with their cases

Trials of sexual offences can take many years to reach a conclusion, potentially re-traumatising victims

16/08 Sentry praised for ‘swift and decisive response’ to stabbing in Galway

Five warning shots were fired in the air before the teenager was tackled

16/08 Five motorists fined by gardaí for driving in cycle lanes over four years

Green TD says lack of enforcement creates culture where drivers feel they can ‘infringe with impunity’

16/08 We had to balance proposed hate-speech laws with freedom of speech, says Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald

Sinn Féin had a “real dilemma” deciding whether to support proposed hate-speech laws, according to party leader Mary Lou McDonald.

16/08 Councillors raise concerns over plans to house 1,000 asylum-seekers at Thornton Hall site

Local councillors have raised concerns over plans to house up to 1,000 male asylum-seekers at a site previously earmarked for a “super prison” in north Co Dublin.

15/08 McEntee rejects call for inquiry into murder of ex-Sinn Féin official and British agent

Denis Donaldson was shot dead by the Real IRA at an isolated cottage near Glenties, Co Donegal, in April 2006

12/08 Fines for breaches of passport rules to jump sharply

Changes include enhanced measures to target those who destroy documents in flight in order to claim asylum

11/08 Irish druid who once called Hitler a genius withdraws from Galway event

Plus: Kneecap film flummoxes and impresses US critics; the falling rate for Fair City photos; and Helen McEntee promises to drain the swamp

09/08 Department of Justice says no talks on Garda Commissioner contract extension have taken place

Drew Harris to remain in role until next summer but would face an application process for a second extension due to his age

09/08 Stardust: Cabinet meeting to sign off on €24m redress package for families of victims

Forty-eight people died in a fire in the Stardust nightclub in north Dublin in February 1981

08/08 Planned reform of defamation law ‘undemocratic’, says retired judge

Claims in support of abolition involve ‘factual and legal dishonesty’ says judge who presided over defamation cases

08/08 Editorial: Time to get serious about punishing social media firms for enabling troublemakers

If we arrive at a point where the prefix “anti” is added to “social media”, organisations running the platforms will have no one to blame but themselves.

08/08 Letters: Cut off the snake’s head and we will kill online serpent sowing division

The out-of-control, anarchical far-right mobs currently smashing their way through the cities of England are despicable.

07/08 Wearing balaclava on bike different to ‘outside a person’s home with banners’ – Minister

Helen McEntee says there will be no ‘loopholes’ in proposed ban on facial coverings used to ‘intimidate’

07/08 Helen McEntee: Social media platforms must take down threats immediately

Threat posted on Instagram against Simon Harris and his wife and children was ‘absolutely appalling’, Minister says

07/08 Judges could recommend minimum sentences of 30 years or more for worst crimes under proposals

Parole Board will retain ultimate responsibility for deciding release date despite proposed reforms

07/08 Banning balaclavas is not the answer

Knee-jerk response to violent disorder

05/08 Jordan set to become country with the highest number of asylum applicants in State

Only 150 applications received from Nigeria in June, compared with an average of 650 per month in first quarter of 2024

05/08 Balaclavas to be banned when used to ‘intimidate’ under new plans

Helen McEntee seeking legal advice on proposal following rise in protests at politicians’ homes and wider unrest

05/08 Edotorial: Helen McEntee’s balaclava ban is fine in theory, but difficult in practice

Philadelphia City Council cited crime as the reason for a ban on the wearing of ski masks or balaclavas in public spaces late last year, but civil rights campaigners and young people soon objected to the new regulation – and the new rules are not being enforced.

05/08 Editorial: Helen McEntee’s balaclava ban is fine in theory, but difficult in practice

Philadelphia City Council cited crime as the reason for a ban on the wearing of ski masks or balaclavas in public spaces late last year, but civil rights campaigners and young people soon objected to the new regulation – and the new rules are not being enforced.

01/08 Drew Harris concedes body-worn cameras open to potential abuse by rogue gardaí

As system is introduced in Limerick, commissioner says devices were very effective in policing recent disorder in Coolock

30/07 Letters: Catholic Church will not change until it admits all men are fallible, even clerics

The programme Bishop Casey’s ­Buried Secrets, presented little new on the culpability of the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church internationally when it comes to clerical abuse of their self-exalted position.

29/07 Deirdre Malone: New legislation has serious risks for naturalised citizens

In six weeks, an individual could be stripped of their citizenship with no recourse

29/07 Asylum seekers from Jordan to have their applications processed faster

Move follows similar measure to accelerate processing of applicants from Nigeria as Government strives to tackle refugee accommodation crisis

26/07 McEntee vows to reform taxi licensing system in wake of Shorten rape sentencing

Minister for Justice promises to reform system ‘as soon as possible’ following jailing of Dublin man for 17 years for rape of two women in his taxi

25/07 Judge justified in concluding child’s rights not properly considered by Minister for Justice, Supreme Court rules

The five-judge court dismissed the appeal by Helen McEntee in relation to deportation case involving child’s father

25/07 Abolition of juries for High Court defamation actions among reforms in proposed law

Defamation Bill will also include protections against so-called Slapp cases, and measures to reduce legal costs for those involved

22/07 Children who offend could see sentences deferred to give them chance to address behaviour

New measures are detailed in a draft memo to Cabinet by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee

20/07 Ciaran O'Connor: ‘Coolock says no and we mean it’: How disinformation lit a torch in the north Dublin suburb

If you are convinced your community is being ‘invaded’, it becomes easier to justify violence. Disinformation is an accelerant that incites hate and fuels extremism

17/07 New process to strip Irish citizenship is passed by Oireachtas

Minister for Justice says new procedure ‘just and fair’ in process used less than 10 times since 1956

17/07 Thirty large sites identified for use as asylum-seeker accommodation centres

Majority of the 30 large buildings sourced by the Government to house asylum seekers expected to be large former commercial or office units

16/07 Coolock: Garda public order units clear protesters for second night at site earmarked for asylum seekers

Garda Public Order units have cleared protesters in Coolock who had blocked the Malahide road outside a site earmarked to house asylum seekers.

16/07 Gardaí and Minister in dispute over deployment of Public Order Unit during Coolock unrest

Garda Representative Association concerned over ‘delay that endangered members', but McEntee satisfied with response

11/07 ‘IRA pipe bomb maker’ arrested after garda operation in Dublin

A suspected IRA pipe bomb maker remains in custody after being arrested in a garda operation in west Dublin.

10/07 State to provide assistance for UK’s Omagh bombing inquiry

Atrocity in 1998 saw 29 people, including a woman pregnant with twins, killed by a Real IRA bomb

09/07 Gsoc’s Emily Logan to become first Police Ombdusman later this year

Logan, a former chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, was also Ireland’s first Ombudsman for Children

08/07 Minister accepts compensation proposals for catastrophically injured plaintiffs

Minister to introduce regulations aimed at ensuring payments meet lifetime care needs

04/07 Gardaí detain five people living illegally in State as part of new operation

Operation Fern stablished in response to expected large increase in deportation orders against failed asylum seekers

04/07 Legislation preventing protests and ‘incidents of intimidation’ outside homes of politicians passed by Seanad

McEntee says there is right to peaceful protest but protests outside homes ‘has moved into a more sinister and worrying route’

04/07 Miriam Lord: Fascinating turnabout as Mary Lou McDonald scoffs at Fine Gael’s claim to be party of law and order

Simon Harris leaps to defence of Helen McEntee after Peader Tóibín decries ‘cynical nonsense’

04/07 More than 40 Garda members convicted or given probation over last decade

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee sayas ‘vast majority’ of the 14,000 members of An Garda Síochána ‘uphold the values of the organisation and serve the State with integrity each and every day’

01/07 Five more countries to be designated ‘safe’ under Ireland’s asylum system

Five more countries will be designated as “safe” places of origin under plans by Justice Minister Helen McEntee that may reduce the number of asylum-seeker applications.

01/07 Seven in 10 fatal crashes occur on rural roads with speed limit of 80km as research indicates motorways are five times safer

Seven in every 10 fatal traffic collisions happen on rural roads with a speed limit of 80kmh or higher.

30/06 Letters: Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh’s melodic voice captured the magic of Sunday games

Sir — I have been moved to verse by the sad passing of Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh.

30/06 Department of Justice said charter planes not needed for deportations as they worked on tender to hire aircraft

Officials at the Department of Justice said there was no need for charter planes to deport asylum-­seekers even as they were working on a tender process to hire aircraft for mass removal operations.

28/06 Gardaí suspect bomb threat to Taoiseach’s home came from prisoner

Phone call on Wednesday evening was made to a Samaritans helpline, and the organisation immediately raised the alarm

28/06 Editorial: Deplorable threats to politicians should be an outrage to us all

Taoiseach Simon Harris has rightly queried how appropriate the use of the words “hoax” and “protest” are in the context of sinister threats to him and his family.

27/06 Natasha O’Brien says she is willing to meet with McEntee to discuss violence in Ireland

O’Brien, who was beaten unconscious by soldier Cathal Crotty, says she ‘wouldn’t need to speak out’ if Minister for Justice was doing job ‘correctly’

27/06 Rape survivor’s counselling notes no longer admissible as evidence from next year

Helen McEntee said she wants the situation where notes from victims’ counselling sessions can be sought by defence teams in rape or sexual assault cases, ‘changed’

27/06 What is the EU Migration and Asylum Pact pact and why has it been so controversial?

Agreement is standardised immigration control system across member states including tougher borders and holding centres for migrants

26/06 Minister Helen McEntee offers to work with soldier assault victim Natasha O’Brien to make women feel safer

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has offered to work with Natasha O'Brien to ensure changes are enacted to make women feel safer within Irish society.

25/06 Directing an illegal organisation should be permanently classed as a crime, Dáil told

Currently, offence is dealt with via emergency terrorism and criminal gang law, which must be renewed annually

24/06 Hundreds of senior civil servants have pensions valued at €2m or more, submissions to review group say

Groups seek Government to change standard fund threshold arrangements which could see them face additional taxation on retirement

23/06 Gardaí formally apologised to Justice Minister Helen McEntee over inflated staffing data fiasco?

An Garda Síochána made a formal apology to Justice Minister Helen McEntee after providing incorrect data about policing that massively inflated the number of officers serving in her constituency.

22/06 ‘Here is home for me’: Newly conferred citizens on what being Irish means to them

At a ceremony in Dublin’s Convention Centre, Ashok Prasad Yadav and her partner Kiran Barwisal share what becoming two of Ireland’s 5,400 newest citizens means to them.

21/06 ‘At some point, it just felt like home’: Ireland’s newest citizens

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Convention Centre on Thursday afternoon for photographs and celebrations

20/06 Cycle of ‘brutal violence’ by children groomed by criminal gang in Dublin 15, Dáil hears

TD appeals for urgent intervention and ‘influx’ of community gardaí as people forced to move from the area because of threats and intimidation

20/06 Confusion over new protections for student renters as clock ticks down to new academic year

UL student told he would lose his deposit and be held liable for rent if he vacated property after finishing his studies for the year

19/06 ‘Super exploitation’ as 15,000 young people legally paid less than minimum wage, Dáil hears

Around 15,000 young people are legally paid less than the State minimum wage in what was described as the “super exploitation” of young workers, the Dáil has heard.

18/06 Nine counties have no refuge for women, children suffering domestic violence - SF leader

Taoiseach says domestic abuse has become ‘absolute priority’ since Minister for Justice Helen McEntee addressed issue