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The CEO of WEEE Ireland, the national compliance scheme for e-waste recycling, has criticized European recycling targets for failing to recognize the actual impact of the circular economy. Leo Donovan explained that Ireland's ability to meet the EU's 65% recycling target is becoming increasingly difficult each year—not due to failure, but because the targets don't account for the extended lifespan of modern electronics or the growing emphasis on repair and reuse. "The EU's current linear weight-based targets do not consider the extended lifespans of modern electronics or the growing emphasis on repair and reuse, meaning Ireland's true environmental progress goes unrecognised," Donovan stated. He pointed out that repaired or refurbished mobile phones don't count toward Ireland's official environmental performance, despite keeping raw materials in circulation. Similarly, newer appliances like solar PV panels and heat pumps, which typically last 15-20 years, […]

Ireland is joining a European maritime intelligence-sharing alliance to enhance its surveillance capabilities in EU waters. Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris has authorized the Defence Forces to formally join the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), a voluntary, decentralized network for sharing maritime surveillance information among EU and EEA countries and agencies. CISE enables various authorities, including coast guards, naval services, and customs, to exchange data securely in real time. Military and civil agencies from ten other European nations, including Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Norway, and Portugal, are already members of this recently operational alliance. The European Commission oversees the process while encouraging all EU countries to participate. Importantly, participants maintain control over their data and decide what information to share. Each member connects through a CISE "node" serving as a secure gateway for information exchange. Ireland's node will be […]

A former Assistant Garda Commissioner has donated a significant portion of his legal settlement to charity after successfully challenging his suspension by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Fintan Fanning, who is now pursuing studies to become a deacon in the Catholic Church, received damages and legal fees that reportedly cost the State approximately €250,000. Harris suspended Fanning and removed him from his position as Assistant Commissioner for the Eastern Region in January 2019 after the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) initiated an investigation based on allegations in a protected disclosure from another garda. Following Fanning's High Court challenge, he was reinstated the next month. GSOC subsequently informed the Commissioner that Fanning was no longer subject to a criminal investigation. Fanning has consistently maintained that his suspension was "unlawful, unprecedented and bizarre." The High Court heard that Commissioner Harris had told Fanning […]

The Government has defended its decision not to reconvene the Oireachtas committee on Traveller issues with Independent Senator Eileen Flynn as chair. Senator Flynn, who made history as the first Traveller elected to the Seanad, expressed disappointment at the decision. "Lived experience brings an invaluable perspective that cannot be replicated through well-intentioned advocacy," she stated last Thursday. She further emphasized that "the potential absence of a Traveller voice chairing, or even sitting on this committee constitutes a fundamental failure of representative democracy." In response, the Government explained that all 28 Oireachtas committees were distributed through the d'Hondt selection process last Wednesday at the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil reform, with no objections raised by any party or grouping. According to the Government, making an exception for one committee would have resulted in the Opposition losing a committee chair, as […]

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has cautioned that the European Union needs "to be careful about what we put on the table" during tariff negotiations with the United States. Speaking on a program, Chambers emphasized that lowering tariffs between nations has been fundamental to decades of economic prosperity. "We want to preserve the extent of the interdependence that exists between Ireland and the US," he stated. The Minister's remarks follow US President Donald Trump's decision on Wednesday to pause tariffs on dozens of countries—including Ireland—for 90 days, allowing time for officials to negotiate with countries seeking reductions. Despite this temporary reprieve, a 10% blanket duty on almost all imports remains in effect. In contrast, the tariffs on Chinese goods were not paused but instead increased dramatically to 145%. Chambers acknowledged the unpredictability of future tariff developments, particularly regarding pharmaceuticals, […]

Chinese officials are urging US President Donald Trump to "completely cancel" his reciprocal tariffs as trade tensions between the world's two largest economies continue to intensify. Trump recently announced a 90-day delay for various global tariffs he had planned, but increased levies on Chinese imports to 145%. In response, China's commerce ministry released a statement calling on the US to "take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of 'reciprocal tariffs' and return to the right path of mutual respect." The Trump administration made a partial concession Friday by announcing exemptions for certain technological products, including many manufactured in China. The Chinese commerce ministry described this as a "small step" and stated they were "evaluating the impact" of these exemptions. Trump's technology exemptions—covering smartphones, computers, and semiconductors—provided some relief for tech companies and consumers concerned […]