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Politics

Troubles Legacy Families Hit Back at NI Secretary's Claim Bill Has Been 'Misunderstood'

Families bereaved during the Troubles have pushed back sharply against Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant's suggestion that opposition to the government's legacy legislation stems from a 'misunderstanding' of its purpose, with victims' representatives insisting they understand the bill all too well — and that it fails to deliver justice.

Conor Brennan26 Aug 2026👁 3

Politics

People Before Profit Faces Internal Revolt as Members Resign Over 'Hegemonic' Leadership

A group of members has resigned from an internal People Before Profit faction, citing what they describe as 'hegemonic' leadership practices within the party. The resignations are the latest in a series of internal tensions that have seen the Irish left-wing party navigate factional disputes and ideological realignments over the past two years.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Politics

Irish FA Withdraws Support for FIFA President Infantino Ahead of 2027 Election

The Irish Football Association has withdrawn its support for FIFA President Gianni Infantino, declaring it is 'time for change' in world football's governing body and confirming it will not vote for his re-election at the 2027 FIFA Congress. The decision makes the IFA one of the first European football associations to publicly break with Infantino ahead of the election.

Conor Brennan

5 min read26 Aug 2026

Politics

Ireland's Human Rights Record 'Stalled or Regressed', Rights Groups Tell UN in Geneva

The Free Legal Advice Centres and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties have told the United Nations in Geneva that Ireland's human rights record has 'stalled if not regressed' in the five years since its last review, raising concerns about access to justice, proposed judicial review changes, and the failure to progress an Equality Bill.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Politics

Oberstown Workers to Begin 48-Hour Strike as Fórsa Escalates Dispute Over Staffing Levels

Staff at Oberstown Children Detention Campus, represented by Fórsa, are to begin a 48-hour strike from 31 August as the dispute over staffing levels escalates. Management has warned that the withdrawal of frontline care staff poses an unacceptable risk to the safety of children and staff, while the union argues that chronic understaffing is itself the primary safety concern.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Politics

Aer Lingus and Pilots End Job Cuts Talks Abruptly as Redundancy Dispute Deepens

Talks between Aer Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots' Association have ended abruptly over the airline's plan to cut up to 70 pilot positions as part of a wider 500-job redundancy programme. The breakdown follows the IAG European Works Council's demand that the consultation process be paused, a request Aer Lingus has rejected.

Conor Brennan

5 min read25 Aug 2026

Politics

Oberstown Staffing Dispute: Director Calls for 'Ceasefire' as Industrial Action Continues at Children's Detention Campus

The director of Oberstown Children Detention Campus has called for a 'ceasefire' in the ongoing staffing dispute with Fórsa trade union, as weekly 10-hour work stoppages continue over safe staffing levels. The union argues that under-staffing compromises the safety of both workers and residents, while management says physical interventions have fallen 40% year-on-year.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026

Politics

Budget 2027: Ministers Told to Find Savings as Government Warns of Tighter Fiscal Space Ahead of October

Government ministers have been told to identify savings within their own departmental budgets as the October 6 Budget 2027 approaches, with Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers warning that the available resources for new spending are more constrained than in previous years. The total budgetary package stands at €8.5 billion.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026

Politics

Call to Investigate 'Orchestrated' Barrage of Hate Messages Targeting Indian Community in Ireland

The Ireland India Council has called for a formal investigation into what it describes as an 'orchestrated' campaign of threatening messages targeting the Indian community in Ireland, with the co-chair estimating that 90-95% of the threats originated from the United States. The call comes as the Irish Examiner reports on the scale and coordination of the harassment.

Conor Brennan

5 min read24 Aug 2026

Politics

TikTok Declines Oireachtas Invite to Discuss Dangerous Driving Videos as Garda Commissioner Speaks Out

TikTok has declined an invitation to appear before an Oireachtas committee to discuss content on its platform that glorifies dangerous and illegal driving, as the Garda Commissioner warns that reckless drivers are speeding the wrong way down motorways for 'social media likes'. The refusal has prompted calls for stronger regulation of social media platforms in Ireland.

Conor Brennan

5 min read23 Aug 2026

Politics

Palestinian Student Visa Refusals Condemned as 'Indefensible' by Irish University Leaders

More than half of 59 Palestinian students awarded scholarships to Irish universities have been refused entry visas by the Department of Justice, with refusal letters citing requirements that advocates say are impossible to meet given the ongoing conflict in Gaza. University leaders, opposition politicians, and human rights groups have condemned the decisions as 'indefensible'.

Conor Brennan

5 min read23 Aug 2026

Politics

Stormont's New Health Minister Robbie Butler Faces Mounting Pressure Over FND Services and Waiting Lists

Northern Ireland's new Health Minister Robbie Butler is facing immediate pressure from patient advocates, opposition MLAs, and healthcare professionals over the absence of dedicated services for Functional Neurological Disorder and the ongoing waiting list crisis, with Assembly elections due in May 2027 leaving a narrow window for meaningful reform.

Conor Brennan

5 min read23 Aug 2026