Green TD Neasa Hourigan set to vote against Government on NMH
The Government faces the renewed risk of losing a TD on Wednesday during a vote on the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital.
The prospect of TDs voting against the Government in the wake of Cabinet approval for the controversial move appeared to have receded as the Coalition indicated it would not oppose a Sinn Féin Dáil motion calling for public ownership of the site.
However, the Rural Independent Group opposed the Sinn Féin motion and called for a vote on Wednesday night. If 10 TDs call for a vote on Wednesday evening, the full house must vote on the Sinn Féin motion.
It raises fresh doubts over the future of Dublin Central Green Party TD Neasa Hourigan, who on Tuesday evening indicated that she will vote with the Opposition.
“Although the Sinn Féin motion is not binding, I will be supporting the motion in order to formally register my objection to the National Maternity Hospital proceeding in its current format.”
Her party colleague, Dublin South Central TD Patrick Costello, was also sharply critical of the Cabinet decision, but his voting intentions could not be ascertained on Tuesday evening.
Ryanair announces 200 new jobs for Shannon Airport in €10m investment
Ryanair will create 200 jobs with the opening of a heavy maintenance facility at Shannon Airport.
The facility was opened on Wednesday and is the result of a €10 million investment. The "high-skill" jobs it will create include licensed engineers, mechanics, and support staff.
It has been described as a "state-of-the-art" facility and will support the maintenance of Ryanair’s fleet.
The budget airline is set to grow to 600 aircraft by 2026 and it is Ryanair's first heavy maintenance facility in Ireland.
"This facility will create 200 high-skill jobs, demonstrating Ryanair’s continued growth and commitment to Ireland," said Neal McMahon, Ryanair director of operations.
"Ryanair creates opportunities for highly skilled engineering jobs, with our industry leading rosters and the youngest fleet in Europe. Shannon is an ideal location with opportunities to attract, train and employ local talent to support this new facility."
Varadkar: Ireland will be ‘the adults in the room’ during negotiations with UK
Ireland will be “the adults in the room” during any negotiations between the European Union and the UK over the Northern Ireland protocol, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said.
His comments come after Britain set out steps on Tuesday to try to break the deadlock with the European Union on trade with Northern Ireland, lining up a new law that would effectively override parts of a Brexit deal and further inflame ties with Brussels.
In a statement to parliament, British foreign secretary Liz Truss said planned legislation would ease the movement of goods, apply Britain's tax regime in Northern Ireland and hand London more say over the laws governing the region.
Mr Varadkar told Newstalk Breakfast on Wednesday that it was difficult to know if the UK government could be trusted and if it could honour any agreement or concessions made.
Ten men arrested over alleged match-fixing in League of Ireland
Ten men have been arrested by detectives investigating alleged football match-fixing in the League of Ireland.
Several residential properties have also been searched in a planned Garda operation.
The men, aged from their early 20s to their 60s, have been detained on suspicion of the offence of conspiracy to defraud contrary to common law.
The operation, titled Brookweed, focused on the Dublin metropolitan area and the Garda’s southern region, which comprises Cork, Kerry and Limerick.
Truss insists move to scrap parts of post-Brexit deal cannot be delayed
The British foreign secretary has defended controversial plans to scrap parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, insisting the action to address the “very severe” situation in the North cannot be delayed.
The EU has threatened to retaliate with “all measures at its disposal” if the UK proceeds with new legislation overwriting sections of the Northern Ireland Protocol, as announced on Tuesday.
Liz Truss told the UK House of Commons she intends to bring forward the Bill within weeks, in an effort to reduce “unnecessary bureaucracy” and protect the Good Friday Agreement.
Asked about the move on Wednesday, she said it would be “very positive” if the UK and EU could negotiate a solution in parallel to the Bill’s progression through Parliament, and write this into the legislation.
Gardaí investigate shooting near set of Liam Neeson movie
Gardaí are investigating a shooting incident close to the set of Liam Neeson's latest action movie which is being filmed in Co Donegal.
A person working on the set of the film 'In the Land of Saints and Sinners' is understood to have come close to being hit by a stray bullet on lands at Carrick.
It is believed the bullet was let off by hunters shooting deer in the early hours of Saturday morning last.
Filming of the movie was not ongoing at the time of the incident.
