Ten days into Ireland’s Council of the EU presidency and we’ve had the first Father Ted reference in Brussels. Simon Harris was the culprit. “Is there anything to be said for another paper? Is there anything to be said for another meeting? Is there anything to be said for another discussion? No, there’s something to […]
Continue ReadingThe Government should recuse itself from negotiating legislation that touches on digital policy and corporate tax in Brussels during its Council of the EU presidency, given its “questionable track record” and cosy relationship with tech multinationals, a group of 50 academics has said. In an open letter they have questioned the Government’s ability to act […]
Continue ReadingMinister of State for Road Transport Seán Canney has told the Road Safety Authority (RSA) he was concerned about its “lack of visibility” following a series of road deaths late last year. The regulator for utilities has imposed a €31 million penalty on Uisce Éireann for failing to meet performance targets, relating to leakages and […]
Continue ReadingMEPs will vote next week on a resolution calling for a ban on Irish alumina exports to Russia. It comes as the Government finalises an investigation into the Aughinish Alumina plant in Co Limerick which exports half of its product to Russia where it is smelted into aluminium. According to an Irish Times investigation, these […]
Continue ReadingTrade in goods between the European Union and the US reached a record €875 billion last year despite tariffs, but the figures mask significant economic damage, notably to Germany’s auto sector, a study published on Friday found. The research by the German Economic Institute, or IW, found a 7.7 per cent rise in EU exports […]
Continue ReadingThe idea of banning exports of alumina to Russia has been pitched in confidential discussions at European Union (EU) level for more than a year and a half by the Estonian government, without success. The Irish Government is coming under serious pressure on the international stage to clarify Aughinish Alumina’s role supplying key raw materials […]
Continue ReadingLanding a deal on a controversial overhaul of Europe’s capital market rules will require all countries “giving a bit” in negotiations, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has said. For the past decade finance ministers have been debating internal EU reforms that would make it easier for investment funding to move around the 27-state […]
Continue ReadingEurope’s top court on Thursday dismissed Alphabet unit Google’s fight against a record fine imposed by EU antitrust regulators eight years ago for using its Android mobile operating system to block rivals. The European Commission had originally handed out a €4.34 billion fine to Google in 2018 for its agreements which forced phone manufacturers to […]
Continue ReadingRiad Bouchaker (52) has been found guilty of the attempted murder of three young children at Dublin’s Parnell Square in November 2023. Our legal affairs correspondent Mary Carolan recounts the events which left a child with life-altering injuries. After authorities in Sweden froze the assets of a company owned by Rusal, which owns the Co […]
Continue ReadingIt’s a particular and familiar type of dread. You’re waiting at the airport gate and word comes through of a 30-minute delay to take-off. On its own not a huge inconvenience, but you quickly start wondering whether it’s a precursor to a longer holdup, or the flight being cancelled. It was a situation I found […]
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