Anti immigration protests in Belfast; Canadian PM's Mayo visit; relocating flood prone communities

Parnell Square stabbing trial; Ireland’s ageing population; Children’s reading and maths skills

The trial of Riad Bouchaker resumes today and the Central Criminal Court. He has pleaded not guilty to a number of charges relating to the stabbings in Parnell Square in 2023 in which several people, including children, were injured. Smaller pockets of protests occurred in Northern Ireland on Wednesday night following the knife attack on Steven Ogilvie in north Belfast on Monday. Around 200 people gathered in Newtownabbey, County Antrim, were a street sweeper was set on fire, and objects hurled at police. Independent Senator Tom Clonan has told the Oireachtas Health Committee his office is currently “inundated” with older people who are homeless. Irish children’s reading and maths skills have declined since the Covid-19 pandemic according to the latest Children’s School Lives study. Irish Rail officials have told an Oireachtas committee it wanted to terminate a contract with the firm behind a new IT management system as far back as last year. Ireland is releasing 10 days of its 90 day oil reserve as part of global aims to control rising fuel costs.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Anti immigration protests in Belfast; Canadian PM's Mayo visit; relocating flood prone communities

Hundreds of protesters gathered on the Newtownards Road in east Belfast where a bus was hijacked and set alight, stoking racial tensions after a horrific attack on a man in his 40s on Monday night. The government needs to start preparing to relocate communities away from areas where repeat flooding or coastal erosion can’t be stopped, according to the Climate Change Advisory Council. And the village of Aughagower in Co. Mayo is preparing for the visit of Canadian prime minister - and grandson of Irish emigrants - Mark Carney this weekend. His second cousin Rosaleen Heraty will meet him for the first time. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Sentencing of Sean McGovern; should Ireland consider nuclear energy?

Sean McGovern, a senior figure in the Kinahan cartel, has received what The Irish Times understands to be one of the longest gangland sentences in Irish history. There has been a rise in reports of wildlife habitat destruction, but according to new figures, prosecutions for it aren’t keeping up, according to the National Parks and Wildlife Service. An “exponential” rise in Irish language exemptions among school children could be “disastrous” for identity and education, according to a new study. Should Ireland consider overturning the ban on nuclear energy?  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Concerns over staffing in An Garda Síochána; the rise of ‘free births’ in Ireland

An Garda Síochána is facing what insiders are calling a “ticking time-bomb” of retirements as new projections show nearly 1,700 Garda members are due to retire over the next decade. Concerns have been raised over the number of landlords asking for sex in exchange for accommodation. A row has erupted over what’s believed to be the use of artificial intelligence in Irish politics after one TD submitted thousands of parliamentary questions this year which ministers say is draining resources. Sea swimmers in Dublin are being warned to stay out of the water at several of the city’s most popular bathing spots due to poor water quality. Doctors and midwives are raising alarm over the rise of so-called “free births,” where women give birth without any medical assistance. Presented by Andrew McNair. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Russian oligarch believed to control Aughinish Alumina; supermarket turf war

A confidential report by Swedish authorities claims the Russian billionaire, Oleg Deripaska, still controls the metals giant Rusal, which owns the Aughinish Alumina plant in County Limerick, despite sanctions meant to limit his power. Researchers at Maynooth University say the record for the hottest day ever in the month of May was smashed by more than 2 degrees, and it wouldn’t have happened without manmade global warming. The European Commission says peat cutting is taking place across parts of Ireland without planning permission, environmental assessments, or enforcement. A turf war is brewing between supermarket chains Lidl and Supervalue over planning permission for new stores. It’s day three of the state exams and The Irish Times speaks to one Leaving Certificate student and a careers consultant.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.