Live updates: Simon Harris voted in as Taoiseach by Dáil
All eyes will now turn to who will take up what role in his Cabinet. The Dáil will resume at 5.30pm. Follow our liveblog to keep up with all of today’s events as they happen: 2.20pm Mr Harris will not appoint his Ministers of State until tomorrow, but it is expected that Neale Richmond will…
Read MoreA man who talks fast and walks at speed: Who is Simon Harris?
Simon Harris has always been a man in a hurry. Wearing his father’s suit, 16-year-old Harris showed up to the Young Fine Gael convention and was elected to the national executive. Since then, he has shot ahead of his contemporaries, serving as a minister of State at a time when many of his comrades were…
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Waterford woman’s challenge to personal injuries guidelines dismissed by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has ruled that personal injuries award guidelines approved by Ireland’s judges three years ago are legally binding and remain in force. In what was a complex but historic decision in relation to personal injuries awards, a seven-judge court on Tuesday dismissed the bulk of issues raised in an appeal brought by Bridget…
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Colman Noctor: Lack of sleep is damaging teenagers’ mental health
Knowledge is not an automatic precursor to change. Most of us know what is good for us and what is not, but we don’t live our lives conforming to factual information. This is especially true when it comes to sleep. According to extensive research carried out last year by Planet Youth, 56% of teenagers in…
Read MoreCork councillors call for more parking spaces at Kent Station
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan has been urged to review car parking at Cork’s Kent railway station amid complaints there are not enough spaces, as well as non-rail users using them. City councillors were told the review should consider the construction of a multi-storey car park and a tightening up of the rules to ensure only…
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Dundee firm Baba’s Sauce secures breakthrough deal with Aldi
Award-winning Baba’s Sauce, which is based on a secret recipe, was a firm favourite in takeaway restaurants in the City of Discovery until its creator Baba Mollah passed away in 2008. The condiment lay dormant until the secret recipe was discovered among Baba’s belongings by his son, Sunny. Together with his mother Suraya, the duo…
Read MoreExplained: Has Scotland banned wood-burning stoves?
But Ministers say the move is vital to ensuring Scotland works its way towards a zero-emission future, and insist it is the right thing for the environment. Here’s the lowdown on what the new laws say. What’s been banned? The Scottish Government is keen to move away from carbon-emitting heat sources, so all new-build…
Read MoreTracy Menhinick jailed for poisoning child with laxatives
She administered a non-prescribed medication, namely the laxative lactulose, which caused his development and mobility to be affected and led to him being admitted to hospital. Menhinick, of Aberdeen, then consented to treatments, procedures and operations on the child which she knew were unnecessary, “all to his permanent disfigurement, permanent impairment and to the danger…
Read MoreUnrwa vital to avert starvation in Gaza, says agency official
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees must remain “the backbone of any humanitarian response” for the 2 million people in Gaza if mass starvation is to be avoided, the Unrwa director of planning, Sam Rose, says. Israel is continuing to impede Unrwa convoys to northern Gaza, where 300,000 people are facing famine, he said. “Our…
Read MoreDigital trail identifying Israeli spy chief has been online for years
The commander of Israel’s military surveillance agency, Unit 8200, is facing fresh embarrassment after it emerged that an extensive digital trail identifying him as a senior intelligence official has been exposed online for years. The Guardian revealed on Friday how Yossi Sariel, whose name had been protected by the Israeli state, inadvertently disclosed his identity…
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