Ireland

Ireland’s Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil agree blueprint for government

The leaders of Ireland's Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties on Tuesday agreed a joint policy "framework" as they seek to form a government following February's general election. Prime Minister…

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U2 gives €10m to support healthcare workers

U2 has given €10m to support healthcare workers during the coronavirus outbreak in Ireland. The band’s donation will be used to source and buy personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline…

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Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar answers to the call ‘Your Country Needs You’ and re-registers as medical practitioner

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has re-registered as a medical practitioner and will work one shift a week to help out during the coronavirus crisis, RTE reports. Mr Varadkar worked as a doctor for…

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Joint statement on the principles of the rule of law in times of Covid-19

Thirteen EU countries on Wednesday issued a joint statement calling for coronavirus emergency measures to be temporary and in line with rule of law principles. The move comes after Hungary’s…

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Irish private hospitals set to be treated as public

Private hospitals are set to be treated as public amid the coronavirus pandemic in Ireland, the Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar has announced. Euronews reports that the public-private agreement will see…

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Ireland put in lockdown, nation asked to ‘forego freedoms’

Ireland has been put under lockdown measures following three more coronavirus-related deaths. The Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said residents should stay home until at least 12 April unless they…

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Photo Story: Social Distancing in Ireland

A painted sign asking people to stay two-meters apart is seen in Saint Stephen's Green Dublin City, Ireland. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic the Irish government has closed all…

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Irish postal workers on the forefront in the battle against Covid-19

Ireland has found a readymade force in the fight against coronavirus: the postal service. Postal workers have volunteered to check in on elderly and vulnerable people during their rounds, a potentially…

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Ireland reports 10 coronavirus deaths to bring total to 19

Ireland reported 10 deaths from COVID-19 infections on Thursday, more than doubling the total number of fatalities to 19, Ireland’s Department of Health said. The country also reported an additional…

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Ireland tightens coronavirus restrictions, boosts rescue package

Ireland banned all non-essential travel within the country and shut non-essential retail on Tuesday to battle coronavirus as it significantly increased income support for those already left unemployed and workers…

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Ireland’s government considering plans to pay up to 75% of wages

Ireland's government is considering plans to pay up to 75% of the wages of thousands of staff temporarily laid off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the Irish Times…

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Which countries imposed lockdown?

Four European Union member states have imposed lockdowns to combat the spread of the potentially deadly COVID-19 virus while travellers hoping to get into the bloc are being turned away.…

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Ireland set to ban evictions and rent price increases

RTE News reports that the Government will announce a temporary ban on evictions, for an initial period of three months, while the Covid-19 crisis is ongoing. It's also understood that…

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Ireland’s call for retired medics to return to work gets huge response

Ireland’s health service was inundated by offers from former healthcare professionals prepared to return to frontline service to tackle the coronavirus outbreak, a day after the government made its call…

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US to add UK and Ireland to travel ban

The UK and Ireland are to be added to America's European travel ban over the coronavirus pandemic, government sources have told the Reuters news agency. The new restrictions are expected…

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Ireland to close Schools, colleges, childcare facilities over Covid-19

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said the country's schools, colleges and childcare facilities are to close in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. From 6pm today, schools, colleges and childcare…

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Irish Government cancels St Patrick’s parade

The Irish Government has made the decision to cancel the St. Patrick's Day parade to be held in Dublin on Tuesday 17 March. It is the single largest parade in…

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Ireland warned may see coronavirus outbreak like Italy and France, Wales confirms two new cases

The Irish Minister for Health Simon Harris has said there is a moderate-to-high risk that Ireland will follow a pattern seen in other EU countries in regard to the Covid-19…

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Prince William in Ireland on first senior UK royal visit since Brexit

Britain’s Prince William arrived in Dublin on Tuesday with his wife Kate in a show of friendship with a neighbour on the first official trip abroad by senior royals since…

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Ireland confirms first Covid-19 case – linked to Italy

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre was informed of the confirmed case of Covid-19 on Saturday. The case involves a male and is associated with travel from an affected area in…

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Irish Catholic Church records on baptisms and other sacraments may be inspected over GDPR concerns

The State’s data watchdog in Ireland may have to inspect Catholic Church records in its investigation into whether the church is legally obliged to delete records of people seeking to…

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Varadkar resigns as Irish Pm

Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar, the current Taoiseach, formally resigned as prime minister after the votes but will stay on as caretaker leader until a successor is chosen. The leaders…

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Ireland’s Fianna Fáil to try and form government without Sinn Féin

Ireland's center-right Fianna Fáil party will attempt to form a government without the left-wing nationalist Sinn Féin. The decision effectively leaves Ireland’s two dominant center-right parties - Fianna Fail and…

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British nationals working in Brussels snap up Irish passports

More than 50 British nationals working for the European Commission in Brussels have obtained Irish passports, which can help secure career progression, it has emerged. Data released by the commission…

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Fianna Fail largest party in Ireland’s parliament

Counting has been completed in all 39 Dáil constituencies in Election 2020 and the make-up of the next Dáil has been finalised. Fianna Fail will be the largest party in…

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The Irish ‘shock’ election – Analysis

The weekend's election in Ireland is being deemed as a seismic election, primarily because it has reshaped the traditional electoral landscape, with the left-wing nationalist party Sinn Féin surging into…

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Sinn Féin wins highest percentage of first preference votes in Ireland’s election

Irish nationalists Sinn Fein demanded on Sunday to be part of the next Irish government after the left-wing party secured the most votes in an election that leader Mary Lou…

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Exit poll predicts ‘tie’ between three main parties in Ireland

The three main political parties have tied in first preference votes, according to an exit poll for the Republic of Ireland's general election. The earliest indications from the poll suggest…

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Voting underway in Ireland

Voting is under way in the General Election with polling stations across the country remaining open until 10pm. (GMT) There are 515 candidates running in 39 constituencies while 3.4 million…

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Google under investigation over location tracking as Tinder faces data probe

Google and Tinder are facing regulatory investigations in the European Union over their use of users' personal data. The investigations were announced by the Irish Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) which…

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Final bids to sway voters ahead of Irish election

The leaders of Ireland's three main political parties have clashed in their final TV debate before voting in the general election takes place. Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) and leader of…

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Brexit will be an exercise in damage limitation – Barnier

The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday warned Britain that its departure from the bloc later this week would have “negative consequences” and only ever be an…

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Irish Prime Minister believes EU will have upper hand in trade talks with UK

The Irish prime minister has told BBC News he believes the EU will have the upper hand in the upcoming trade talks with the UK. Leo Varadkar compared the two…

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Photo Story: Greek president Prokopis Pavlopoulos in Ireland

Irish President Michael D. Higgins (L) and Irish First lady Sabina Higgins (R) look as Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos (2-L) signs a visitors book next to his wife Vlassia Pavlopoulou-Peltsemi…

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Ireland to hold snap general election on February 8

Ireland will hold a snap general election next month, the country's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar told his cabinet Tuesday morning. Irish media reported that the vote will be held on…

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Irish Brexit border issue could land UK in court, report finds

The Irish border could yet snag Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, with experts saying it will be impossible to deliver the computer systems for the special arrangements for Northern Ireland by…

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Ireland prepares for possible February election

Opposition parties are gearing up for a February general election after Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said yesterday that he had "made a decision" on the date and would clarify…

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Irish Coast Guard warns against relying exclusively on mobile phones while at sea

The Irish Coast Guard saved more than 370 lives this year, new figures show, as the organisation warns people against relying on mobile phones as their only means of communication…

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Irish PM says Scotland-Northern Ireland bridge ‘worth examining’

Ireland's premier Leo Varadkar has said he will not dismiss the idea of building a bridge between Northern Ireland and Scotland but insisted the UK must pay for it. UK…

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Irish citizens in the UK fear they may lose healthcare access across EU after Brexit

Irish citizens living in England, Scotland and Wales may lose access to healthcare in EU countries after Brexit, with the future of European Health Insurance Cards uncertain post-Brexit. And the…

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Irish Catholic priest makes memorable exit from Christmas Eve Mass on scooter

An Irish Catholic priest made a memorable exit from Christmas Eve Mass when he went rolling down the aisle on a scooter. Father Peter O'Connor told the children in attendance that…

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Irish PM suffers by-election defeats ahead of national vote

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s Fine Gael party failed to win any of the four by-elections held to fill parliamentary vacancies on Saturday, a blow ahead of a general election…

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UK team propose free trade agreement to end Brexit stalemate

Britain is proposing a move towards a "pared-down free trade agreement" to end the Brexit stalemate and get a deal done by the end of October, according to well-placed sources in…

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Warning of major job losses across Ireland if UK crashes out of EU

The Irish Central Bank has issued stark warnings and significant job losses in Ireland in the event of a no-deal Brexit. A disorderly Brexit will send shocks to the exchange…

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Concern over 250 Aer Lingus jobs

There are fears for the future of up to 250 jobs at Aer Lingus after catering staff were told today that the airline plans to enter into a new partnership…

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Irish PM Leo Varadkar says Brexit deal ‘very difficult’ before the 31 October

It will be "very difficult" for the UK and the EU to reach a Brexit agreement before the 31 October deadline, Irish leader Leo Varadkar has said. He told Irish…

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Crucial BREXIT negotiations underway as Ireland prepares for No Deal scenario and UK heading towards election

Britain entered another crucial day of negotiations Tuesday to reach an agreement with the European Union three weeks ahead of October 31, the day that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has…

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Irish consumer sentiment slumps over possible no-deal Brexit

Irish consumer sentiment weakened for the third month in a row in September as the failure of the UK and the European Union to agree divorce terms ahead of the…

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Photo Story: Diplomacy Scandinavian style

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (R) and Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar (L) ride a bicycle ahead of a meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. Varadkar is on a tour to Nordic…

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Irish officials dismiss Boris Johnson’s Brexit offer as ‘unacceptable’

Boris Johnson’s final “take it or leave it” Brexit offer to Brussels is in danger of being dead on arrival after it was rounded on by government and opposition parties…

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Johnson to unveil detailed Brexit Plans to EU before Thursday

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will unveil detailed plans for Brexit to the European Union before Thursday this week, including how to avoid a hard border in northern Ireland, a…

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Irish PM Varadkar demands Johnson present new Brexit plan next week or face no deal on October 31

Boris Johnson must provide a new backstop plan by the end of the week, Ireland Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has warned, adding evermore pressure onto the embattled Tory leader. “If…

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Ireland says no Brexit breakthrough in Northern Ireland talks

Ireland said on Thursday that the United Kingdom had failed to supply credible Brexit proposals, adding that there had been no breakthrough at talks last night with the Northern Irish…

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EPA’s Eye in the Sky: County Donegal, Ireland

A picture take with a drone shows the 200-year-old Fanad Head Lighthouse on the northern coast of County Donegal, Ireland. The lighthouse was built in 1817 following the shipwreck of…

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FDI in Luxembourg, Netherlands, Malta, Ireland, Switzerland and British territories fuelled by multinational corporate tax avoidance – Research

40% of the world’s stock of foreign direct investment (FDI) is “phantom” capital, designed to minimise companies’ tax liabilities rather than financing productive activity, according to research. The Financial Times…

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Sinnead O’Connor makes comeback

Sinead O'Connor generated huge positive reaction on social media among viewers of RTE's Late Late Show on Friday night. In the first show of the season, the legendary Irish singer…

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Irish PM states no-deal Brexit checks needed near Irish border

Some checks on goods and live animals may need to take place near the Irish border in a no-deal Brexit, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has said. As far as…

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