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LAST UPDATE | 28 Jan 2024
GOOD MORNING.
Here’s all the news you need to know as you start your day.
1. A vital overhaul of Ireland’s mental health legislation may not happen before the next general election, the head of the national coalition for mental health has warned.
Fiona Coyle, CEO of Mental Health Reform, tells The Journal that the protracted delay in publishing the Mental Health Amendment Bill is “completely unacceptable”, adding that the Government has been drafting the legislation “since 2016″.
The long-awaited legislation would update the Mental Health Act 2001.
2. A county council has been told by a State auditor that it should consider targeting its deputy mayor’s expenses to help it recoup some of the €739,000 in costs arising from clearing a toxic waste dump operated by the politician’s company.
It follows criticism of the council by the auditor, from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, for allegedly not pursuing Councillor Declan Doocey over the site owned by his company in west Waterford.
3. UN Chief Antonio Guterres has pleaded for donor states to “guarantee the continuity” of the body’s Palestinian refugee agency (UNRWA) after several halted funding over accusations of staff involvement in Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel.
“While I understand their concerns – I was myself horrified by these accusations – I strongly appeal to the governments that have suspended their contributions to, at least, guarantee the continuity of UNRWA’s operations,” Guterres said.
4. A man has been charged in connection with the murder of Kevin Conway, who was shot in Co Antrim earlier this month.
The 27-year-old man will appear before Belfast Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Yesterday police in Northern Ireland arrested another man, a 53-year-old, and he remains in custody. A third man who was arrested is on bail.
5. A man has died after a single vehicle crash in Co Roscommon.
Shortly before 2pm yesterday, gardaí and emergency services responded to a collision on a local road in Frenchpark.
he driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, a man in his late 70s, was taken by ambulance to Sligo University Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
6. Monaghan beat Dublin 3-19 to 1-14 yesterday, while Derry overpowered Kerry by just one point, 0-15 to 2-8.
7. Finns are heading to the polls today to elect a new president, an office whose importance has grown on increased tensions with neighbouring Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.
Two top politicians lead the pack of nine candidates: former conservative prime minister Alexander Stubb, and ex-foreign minister Pekka Haavisto of the Green Party who is running as an independent.
8. A patient group and opposition TDs have expressed disappointment at the delay in appointing a chairperson to lead the inquiry into the historical use of sodium valproate, prescribed as an anti-epilepsy drug to women while pregnant.
The inquiry into the historical licensing and use of the drug in Ireland was approved by Cabinet in July 2023, almost three years after Health Minister Stephen Donnelly committed to holding an inquiry into the drug.
Without a chairperson, however, the inquiry cannot begin.
9. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza has said that at least 26,422 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since the war with Israel broke out on 7 October, AFP reports.
A ministry statement said at least 165 people were killed over the previous 24 hours, while another 65,087 have been wounded since the fighting began.
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The Sikh’s delivering aid….great people.
This is a glimpse of what’s to come after Britain voted to leave the EU. They wanted boarders & separation… then they got to deal with the consequences! Be careful what you vote for, you might get it!
God Damn British Immigrants
…UK better get used to this: the days of fast passage are over..
There’s a lot more ports on the south/south-east coasts – and the Tunnel.
karma is a bitch…
Karma is a kameleon…
What do they expect! This is a glimpse of what’s to come after Britain voted to leave the EU. They wanted boarders & separation… then they got to deal with the consequences! Be careful what you vote for, you might get it!
Many think this French slowdown is because of the UK’s decision to leave the EU – payback…
The French are being childish and petulant about the British making a decision they don’t agree with?
Stevie Wonder saw that one coming.
That’s just superstition
Writing on the wall
Blame, blame, blame…..but not a word about the lack of police and border staff in France and in England being due to cuts in staffing due to the neoliberal policies pursued by both governments in recent years. The beneficiaries are of course the city of London financial services parasites who have their private jets….no worries there then. How long before police and customs people are on zero hours contracts??
This is not caused by cuts – but by the French reaction to Brexit. Thejournal showed the negative feelings here, also.
@mmz
Is that you Wally?
Went from UK to France a few weeks ago and noone checked my boot.
Get used to it Britain. This is what you voted for, you 52%
Shocking levels of incompetence on both sides in the failure to have adequate staffing levels after brexit Nightmare scenario for poor families with kids especially and people with medical issues
Opening gambit of brexit negotiations by EU.
“People were very, very frustrated and pulling their hair out.’
It would the average Sikh about 50 years to pull his hair out.
Now can they tell us if they found anything at all. France are always holding us to ransom
The terrorist are winning
Again, once the tourists get caught up in a queue there is uproar, freight traffic goes through this every week, the ports of Dover and Calais are not fit for use, hasn’t been for a long time, the delays we have to endure are crazy but no one gives a damn
have your say