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Ireland

Aughinish Alumina: Rusal Ownership Claim Based on 'Presumptions', Company Argues in Court

Lawyers for Aughinish Alumina have argued in court that a Swedish tax authority finding that sanctioned oligarch Oleg Deripaska retains effective control of the Limerick refinery's parent company is based on 'presumptions' rather than established fact, as the Irish government faces mounting pressure to act against the plant's Russian ownership.

Conor Brennan26 Aug 2026👁 3

Ireland

Oireachtas Forecast to Be More Than €24m in the Red by 2027 as Costs Spiral

The Houses of the Oireachtas are forecast to be more than €24 million in deficit by 2027, according to internal projections, as the cost of running Ireland's parliament continues to rise faster than its allocated budget. The shortfall has prompted questions about financial governance at Leinster House and calls for a comprehensive review of Oireachtas expenditure.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Ireland

Boston Scientific Lays Groundwork to Shift $15bn from Irish Operation in Major Restructuring

Boston Scientific has completed a balance sheet reorganisation that lays the groundwork to shift $15 billion from its Irish operation to parent companies in the Netherlands and the United States, company filings published this week reveal. The move comes as the medical device giant faces a global restructuring that has already triggered a collective redundancy notification in Ireland.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Ireland

Teenager Killed in Hit-and-Run in Kells as Gardaí Appeal for Witnesses

A male cyclist in his late teens has been killed in a hit-and-run collision in the Nugentstown area of Kells, County Meath, after a van struck him and the driver fled the scene. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and for anyone with dash cam footage from the area between 7:30pm and 8:30pm on Tuesday evening to come forward.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Ireland

Fiscal Watchdog Warns Budget 2027 Package Will Be Larger Than Announced as Spending Overruns Become Routine

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council has issued its annual pre-budget warning, cautioning that the government's actual spending for 2027 is likely to significantly exceed the figures announced on Budget Day on 6 October. The council highlighted that spending overruns have become routine, averaging more than €2 billion above budget-day plans per year over the past decade.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Ireland

Scouting Ireland's Future 'Threatened' by Mounting Costs of Historic Abuse Cases in Legacy Groups

Scouting Ireland has warned that its future is threatened by the mounting costs of historic child sexual abuse cases in its legacy organisations, with a legal provision of €11.9 million now set aside to address liabilities. The organisation, which has approximately 36,000 members, faces difficulties securing insurance for legacy claims and has seen its auditors raise going-concern concerns.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Ireland

Ireland Net Migration Falls 19% as Ukraine War Peak Recedes and Emigration Rises

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that net migration to Ireland has fallen by 19% compared to the previous year, continuing a steady decline from the peak driven by the arrival of Ukrainian refugees following Russia's 2022 invasion. While Ireland continues to record positive net migration, the rate of growth has slowed significantly from the highs of 2022 to 2024.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Ireland

Hosepipe Ban Extended Until End of September for 13 Counties as Drought Conditions Persist

Uisce Éireann has extended the hosepipe ban until the end of September for 13 counties — including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford — while lifting restrictions in the remaining 13 counties from Wednesday. The extension reflects continued pressure on water sources in the east and south of the country following a prolonged period of hot, dry weather.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Ireland

Walk Marks 30 Years Since Fiona Pender's Disappearance as Gardaí Renew Appeal for Information

A memorial walk was held in Tullamore, County Offaly, on Sunday to mark the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Fiona Pender, who was 25 years old and seven months pregnant when she was last seen on 23 August 1996. Gardaí have renewed their appeal for information, with the case now classified as a murder inquiry.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026

Ireland

NI Secretary Chris Bryant Makes First Official Dublin Visit, Pledging Commitment to Good Friday Agreement and Legacy Reform

Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant has made his first official visit to Dublin since his appointment in July, meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee and Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan to discuss economic growth, joint security, and legacy matters. Bryant described the Irish-UK relationship as 'fundamental to our shared security and prosperity'.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026

Ireland

Wrong-Way Driving 'Out of Control' as 32% Rise in Incidents Detected and Garda Pursuit Training Accelerated

Ireland has recorded a 32% rise in detected wrong-way motorway driving incidents in 2026, with the Garda Commissioner warning that reckless drivers are speeding the wrong way down motorways for 'social media likes'. The M9 crash that killed five teenagers last week has intensified calls for legislative action and accelerated Garda pursuit training.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026

Ireland

Rent Surge Was a 'One-Off': Daft Report Shows Irish Rental Inflation Slowing After Record Q1 Spike

The latest Daft.ie rental report shows that the record 4.4% quarterly surge in Irish rents in early 2026 — triggered by new government regulations allowing landlords to reset rents to market levels — was a 'one-off' correction, with inflation slowing to 1.4% in Q2. Average rents for a two-bedroom apartment have reached €2,204 per month.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026