Turf ban: Green Party defends ‘workable’ and ‘life-saving’ proposals
Green Party politicians have hit back at critics of plans to curtail the commercial sale of turf, calling it a “life-saving” measure.
The leader of the Green Party said on Tuesday that the proposal, which has attracted the ire of some backbench TDs and rural communities, was “workable”.
Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Eamon Ryan said: “It is a workable, proper good legal approach.
“Ignoring air pollution, ignoring the fact it is killing our people, I don’t think that’s an option or solution.”
Irish support for Ukrainians ‘could cost €3 billion in 2023’
The Taoiseach has said his Government will do “everything we possibly can” to provide for Ukrainian refugees arriving in Ireland.
It came as Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath said the Government is preparing to spend around €3 billion in 2023 on welcoming and supporting those arriving from the war-torn country.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin, speaking on his way to a Cabinet meeting set to be dominated by the war in Ukraine, said he had met refugees over the weekend.
“Their gratitude to the kindness of the people of Ireland was heartfelt,” he said.
“This is a horrific war that is having a terrible toll on families and, in a shared humanity, we must do everything we possibly can within our energies and with our resources to do what we can."
Lifeboats sent to ferry with ‘mechanical issue’ in Irish Sea
A P&O ferry travelling between Cairnryan and Larne is adrift off the Co Antrim coast.
The European Causeway is currently 8km off the coast of Larne, according to tracking website Marine Traffic.
The website states the vessel’s automatic identification system status is set to “not under command” which is reserved for use when a vessel is “unable to manoeuvre as required by these rules and is therefore unable to keep out of the way of another vessel”.
A RNLI spokesperson said that three lifeboats had been sent to the scene.
Mary Lou McDonald in legal action against RTÉ
The leader of Sinn Féin has initiated legal action against national broadcaster RTÉ.
Mary Lou McDonald has begun legal proceedings against RTÉ in the High Court.
It is not yet confirmed what the legal proceedings specifically relate to.
A spokesperson for Sinn Féin said: “This is now a matter in litigation before the courts, and it would be inappropriate to comment.”
Ms McDonald is being represented by McCartan and Burke solicitors.
PA news agency has contacted RTÉ for comment.
Dean McCarthy jailed for 15 years after leaving neighbour paralysed in attempted murder
A "danger to society" who led a campaign of abuse against his neighbour before leaving her permanently paralysed in an attempted gun murder that "obliterated" her life has been jailed for 15 years.
The Central Criminal Court has heard that Dean McCarthy (33) "burst into" Sinead Connolly's (34) home with a gun "in a rush of adrenaline" and repeatedly shot his neighbour - someone he has known since childhood - while her eight-year-old daughter hid under the kitchen table.
Sentencing McCarthy on Tuesday, Mr Justice Paul McDermott had set the headline sentence at 21 years in prison before considering the mitigating factors. He said the circumstances of the case were "shocking" and the consequences "devastating" for Ms Connolly and her daughter.
He added: "She sustained injuries which appear to doctors are unlikely to be reversible and that would change her life and that indeed is the case. She has suffered the most catastrophic injuries and almost died. Her life expectancy has been reduced and she has a permanent injury, that is the devastation caused by this case."
Dublin Airport urged to provide more information on parking prices
DAA must provide more transparency about the dramatic rise of car parking charges that has seen costs jump by up to 100 percent at Dublin Airport in recent weeks, according to a Senator.
Reports have said some passengers have seen parking charges rise by 100 per cent, with a week's parking rising from €49 in 2021 to €104.
Fine Gael Senator Emer Currie said: "Dublin Airport Authority said an increase in demand for parking, a decrease in the supply of parking spaces, the time of year and a new dynamic pricing model are responsible for increases in parking charges recently.
“The airport has flagged that these increases are set to continue, even at off-peak times, due to greater demand.
“I think we need to understand what other factors have led to increases of this scale, piling even more pressure on consumers and whether anything that can be done to address it."
