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

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.

Lidl warns government; Trump's UFC ring; Shergar; Rotunda row reaction

The planning system for commercial development is being exploited, sometimes for anticompetitive purposes through spurious objections, supermarket chain Lidl has said. There’s been a huge reaction [https://irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2026/06/04/in-support-of-the-rotundas-private-maternity-care/] from readers to Fintan O’Toole’s column this week which was about the row that’s kicked off between the Rotunda Hospital and the HSE and Department of Health. There could surely be no more appropriate or damning symbol of Donald Trump’s presidency than the sight of construction crews erecting a UFC cage on the White House lawn [https://irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/06/04/bobby-mcdonagh-like-the-eiffel-tower-trumps-cage-fight-plan-sums-up-his-presidency/] for his 80th birthday, writes Bobby McDonagh. Just about every time Séamas O’Reilly has heard Shergar mentioned [https://irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio/2026/06/04/im-not-saying-theyre-lying-but-why-would-it-take-312-fellas-to-lower-shergar-into-the-ground/] in casual conversation, it has been from the mouths of the many salty old dogs he’s met in Derry pubs who’ve claimed to know the precise location where the world’s most famous stallion might be found – specifically because they themselves buried him there. Presented by Aideen Finnegan. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.