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LAST UPDATE | 17 May 2023
GOOD MORNING.
Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.
1. Two senior civil servants were involved in the last update to a deal that allows RAF aircraft access to Irish airspace but there was no ministerial input, The Journal has learned.
Sources with a knowledge of the memorandum of understanding said that the last renewal of the deal was in 2016 when a senior official from the Department of Defence and another from the Irish Aviation Authority signed the document.
2. THE BODY OF a 26-year-old Irish tourist has been found in Switzerland after he was reported missing over the weekend.
Justin Flannery, from Co Sligo, was last seen on 12 May in Lauterbrunnen, a village in the Swiss Alps around 66 kilometres south of Bern.
3. The number of referrals to restorative justice services – a process that facilitates dialogue between victims and offenders – declined last year despite Government commitment to increase capacity.
New research based out of Maynooth University has found that the use of restorative justice was far lower in 2022 compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, falling from 721 referrals to 413.
4. Rory Gallagher has stepped down as the manager of the Derry senior footballers.
Domestic abuse allegations were made against Gallagher by his estranged wife, Nicola Gallagher, in a post on social media last week.
5. New research on fraudulent online activity has shown that phishing and hacking incidences are on the rise in Ireland, and occurring more often here than in most other countries.
The number of those surveyed by polling company Red C who say they have experienced phishing has risen from 43% in 2019 to 59% in 2022, the highest level seen globally.
6. A Hostel blaze that killed at least six people in New Zealand’s capital is being treated as arson, police said Wednesday as they launched a homicide investigation.
Flames and smoke engulfed the four-storey Loafers Lodge in Wellington in the early hours of Tuesday, forcing dozens of residents to flee for their lives.
7. Politicians from Co Clare are due to have a meeting with Minister for Equality and Integration Roderic O’Gorman this morning, focusing on the opposition by local people to asylum seekers being housed at a hotel in Inch.
8. A wreath-laying ceremony is taking place today to mark the 49th anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings.
More than 30 people were killed by three no-warning bombs in Dublin city centre and a fourth in Monaghan town on 17 May 1974.
Elizabeth Holmes
9. Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes looks set for prison after an appeals court rejected her bid to remain free, as she tries to overturn her conviction in a blood-testing hoax that brought her fleeting fame and fortune.
In another ruling issued late last night, US district judge Edward Davila ordered Holmes to pay $452 million in restitution to the victims of her crimes.
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He didn’t take part in Eoghan Murphy no-confidence vote, despite saying he would defy his own party’s abstention line. All talk, no action. Hope people remember that on Election Day!
@nothing witty: you should look at his record relating To ex The Garda Commissioner first berfe you throw stones
@pat seery: Exactly. A very decent man by all accounts.
@Padro Touche: Disagree. Another TD who employed his own children as parliamentary assistants despite them having no qualifications for the job. Also, openly offered to pay for people objections to a mosque out of his own pocket.
Despite what views anyone has on a mosque or its proposed location, to have an elected representative trying to drum up planning objections by offering to pay the fees himself is not a good thing.
McGuinness says and does only what he thinks will get him elected – always has, always will.
@Dara O’Brien: all politicians do the same……. Keep up
Not a word from them since going in with Finegael..sure they are all the one arty now..
@Marianne: Why didn’t he vote during the last few no confidence motions? Why does he come out with it now before their month off? The whole thing is a scam. There won’t be another opportunity to have a no confidence vote between here and the election.
@Marianne: mc Guinness…the man who met the Garda Commissioner in a car park..then chaired a committee about Garda behaviour and didn’t disclose said meeting. A paragon of virtue and leading by example.
But he may not be present on the day.
https://kilkennynow.ie/revealed-number-of-days-kilkenny-tds-missed-a-vote-while-present-in-the-dail/
@sean de paore: he was in a corridor outside the chamber undertaking important constituency business and the only TD remaining in the chamber when the vote was taken ran out of time after pressing the 58th voting button.
@sean de paore: well you know Seán, that says it all.
Mmmm. Turkeys voting for Christmas springs to mind.
@Nigel Barlow: So outraged he could almost vote.
Getting well and truly fed up with these pair of a holes FF and FG now.They are in government together in all but name.Confidence and supply doesn’t work,end it now as it isn’t giving either a functioning government or functioning opposition.Im sure the people of Ireland have no interest in listening to Leo and Micheal bickering over when the election should be.All parties are ready for a GE anyway so why not just go for it and be done with it.
@Terry Cunningham: You may not have to wait too long. Late March is the favorite for an election. Could be earlier if FF decide to pull the rug out.
@Pete Gilmartin: A no confidence motion in Simon Harris is most likely as the annual health crisis will show its head again in the near future, a couple of votes from FF will mean FG throw their toys out of the pram and call a GE while blaming FF.
Won’t last till may, despite Leo’s bleating.
There must be an election coming sooner rather than later, FG and FF are attacking eachother at every chance and the shinners are starting to chirp as well considering they had a bad Westminster election and now the nurses in NI are striking and others will too
@Patrick O Connell: SF had a good UK election though
They said a vote of no confidence in Mr Murphy was a vote of no confidence in this government, so Mr McGuinness has no excuse next time.
I’m sure this manoeuvring to bring down the government has nothing to do with distracting attention away from an upcoming case against him in the High Court being brought by the former head of Rehab.
Have dealt with the man on a number of occasions. As decent as you’ll find. A man of principle. Wish he wasn’t with FF.
@Kian David Griffin: I’m sure Micheal Martin would agree with you on your latter point.
Says the man who voted confidence in Eoghan Murphy
They are all getting a conscience now there’s an election on the way.
John McGuinness the next leader of
Fianna Fáil
@Vinny O Brien: He’d be lucky to even get his own vote.
You should also vote for no confidence in your party leader as he is the weakest party leader FF have had in years. I can’t see the party doing well in a general election with him in charge.
have your say