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

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.

Car scrappage scheme; Rotunda Hospital; Leaving Cert; Space X; Big feet blues

People with petrol and diesel cars that are more than 13 years old are to be eligible for grants of €8,500 to purchase a new electric vehicle (EV) under a State scrappage scheme. The Rotunda [https://www.irishtimes.com/tags/rotunda-hospital] maternity hospital has been warned [https://irishtimes.com/politics/2026/06/03/rotunda-told-funding-could-be-pulled-over-public-only-consultants-providing-private-care/] it could have its funding pulled if it does not withdraw permission for consultants on public-only contracts to practise privately on its premises. 60,000 students will not only have to sit the first paper of the marathon Leaving Cert exams today, but also listen to an unknown quantity of people telling them they “did terribly, but turned out just fine!” Jen Hogan has some advice for students and parents alike. John McManus writes in his column today that if Elon Musk succeeds in listing SpaceX on the stock market [https://irishtimes.com/business/2026/06/03/heavily-in-debt-loss-making-with-eyes-on-sending-people-to-mars-why-would-anyone-invest-in-spacex/], “our pensions could be invested in this one-sided racket.” After a lifetime of being foot-shamed, Genevieve Carbery has ordered new shoes from Denmark: Duckfeet, size 8, and she is “finally liberated from the shame of the larger-footed woman [https://irishtimes.com/life-style/2026/06/03/after-a-lifetime-of-being-foot-shamed-i-order-new-shoes-online-duckfeet-size-8/].” Presented by Aideen Finnegan ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Jeffrey Donaldson trial; rise in arson attacks on council houses

The jury hearing the trail of former DUP leaderJeffrey Donaldson, 63, has been told he wrote a letter to one of the two alleged victims expressing “regret” and that he had sought God’s forgiveness. He denies 18 charges, include rape. Electric Ireland says prices will go up by 8 per cent, affecting around 1.1 million customers. New figures seen by The Irish Times reveal a sharp rise in arson attacks on council homes across Ireland. Health correspondent Shauna Bowers examines services for people with severe acquired brain injury.  ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.