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.
Ambassador meets Ukrainian refugees in 'emotional' Wexford visit
Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland Larysa Gerasko visited Gorey, Co Wexford, on Monday where she attended a civic reception and met refugees who are settling in to the area.
The ambassador visited the town after an invitation from local Senator Malcolm Byrne.
Ms Gerasko visited Loreto Primary School, where 15 Ukrainian students are now enrolled, and Gorey Community School, where there are five Ukrainian students.
She also visited Gorey Youth Needs Group, where a drop-in facility to help Ukrainian families settling in the area is held every Monday.
Mr Byrne told BreakingNews.ie: "There was a civic reception at the civic offices and library, which allowed the ambassador to speak about the situation in Ukraine and also to thank people for their support and solidarity.
"She spoke about Ireland's generosity, how friendly people have been, and particularly since the invasion about how the approach has been one of 'how can we help?'
"She did mention it was quite emotional, because she obviously has her role as a diplomat, but the ambassador has family in Ukraine, and she was sharing stories with the families who are here, it's horrible what is happening."
Taoiseach says 'pragmatic solution' can be found in turf ban row
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that he believes “a pragmatic solution” can be found to introduce regulations that will ban the commercial sale of turf.
Speaking on RTÉ radio on the way into this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Martin pointed out that Dublin had been a “very polluted city environment” in the 1990s, when “smoky coal was all over the place”.
Legislation to ban smoky coal had “a dramatic and transformative impact on the quality of the air that we breathe, and it saved many lives”, he said.
Eight men due in court over serious assault in Tipperary
Eight young men are due in court in Co Tipperary this morning, charged with serious assault.
A man in his late teens was assaulted at Upperchurch Village on the night of the 27th of June last year.
He was taken to Cork University Hospital and was treated for serious injuries.
Five men were initially arrested in July last year and were released without charge while 3 more men were arrested in July and August.
All eight men, aged between 18 and 20 years old have since been charged are due in Thurles District Court this morning.
Two men arrested as gardaí seize cocaine worth €157,500 in Cork
Gardaí have seized €157,500 worth of cocaine and arrested two men following two operations in Cork yesterday.
The operations were part of Operation Tara.
At approximately 6.45pm, gardaí stopped and conducted a search of a car on the Inniscarra Road, Ballincolling, Cork.
During the course of the search, €35,000 of cocaine was located in the vehicle. A man in his 20s was arrested as a result and is currently detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Gurranabraher Garda Station.
At approximately 9pm, in a separate operation, gardaí conducted a search at a residential property in Highfield Park, Ballincolling.
During this search, €122,500 worth of cocaine was discovered. A man in his 20s was arrested as a result and is currently detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Bridewell Garda station.
Elon Musk agrees $44 billion deal to purchase Twitter
Elon Musk clinched a deal to buy Twitter Inc for $44 billion cash on Monday in a transaction that will shift control of the social media platform populated by millions of users and global leaders to the world's richest person.
It is a seminal moment for the 16-year-old company that emerged as one of the world's most influential public squares and now faces a string of challenges.
Discussions over the deal, which last week appeared uncertain, accelerated over the weekend after Mr Musk wooed Twitter shareholders with financing details of his offer.
Under pressure, Twitter started negotiating with Mr Musk to buy the company at the proposed $54.20 per share price.
"Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated," Mr Musk said in a statement.
