As an actuary working in the insurance sector, I was fortunate to have a reasonably well-defined career path. Doing an EMBA requires a significant investment of both time and money, so research is essential. For me, several aspects made the EMBA at UCD stand out. My main piece of advice for anyone considering the UCD EMBA is to start your research and application early. The EMBA had a transformative impact on my career – and for anyone considering it, my advice is simple: grab the opportunity with both hands.

The Sunday lunch menu is concise. Photograph: Bryan O'BrienRichmond in Portobello, Dublin 2. Photograph: Bryan O'BrienGnocchi is a dish that sounds quite simple, but too often they end up being gummy and dense. Photograph: Bryan O'BrienThe grilled cod arrives as a thick fillet, tinged with gold, sitting in a light bisque aerated into a foam. Photograph: Bryan O'BrienAt Richmond, it feels like you’re resetting the clock, in the best possible way.

Inland Fisheries Ireland says it is in an “ongoing and uphill struggle” to win back the public trust as a result of the “aftershocks” of a series of damaging scandals. These include the fallout from an IFI vehicle crash that later emerged to involve an uninsured vehicle, as well as a string of failed prosecutions that were withdrawn when it was found the necessary powers had not been properly delegated. These issues, along with concerns raised through protected disclosures, led the then-environment minister Eamon Ryan to dissolve the IFI board entirely in February 2023. He later clarified that a report of that investigation had in fact been delivered to IFI in February 2025. He will add that Mr Ryan did not commission an investigation, but that the report in question had been “triggered by a protected disclosure”.

‘We’ve got a bit more in us than just being a long-ball team’ – Ryan Manning ready to upset Czechia on home soilBefore the battle on the field in Prague, we had the phoney war, the one of words. And while the players from Czechia have been using words like “war” and “fight” to predict how tonight’s World Cup play-off in Prague will play out, their wily old manager – at 74 Miroslav Koubek is the oldest national team boss in Europe – has already mixed up the barbs with the cliches.

Photograph: Arash Khamooshi/The New York TimesIran has rejected a 15-point US proposal for ending the war in the Middle East. In doing so, it imposed five conditions of its own, including a conclusion of the war on all fronts, payment of war damages and sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s response came after reports Washington had transferred to Iran, via Pakistan, a plan to end the fighting. Despite Iran’s rejection of the proposal, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that due to what she termed the US “resounding military success” Iran is looking to end the war. According to US-based rights group HRANA, 3,291 people have been killed in Iran since the war began at the end of February.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin with Irish Times journalist Ronan McGreevy (left) and National Library director Dr Audrey Whitty at the launch of McGreevy's new book, Seán Lemass, The Lost Memoir, in Dublin on Wednesday. Photograph: Julien BehalSeán Lemass as a politician was characterised by his refusal to be defined by the past or by keeping old divisions alive, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said at the launch of a new memoir of the revolutionary, former taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader. In writing Seán Lemass, The Lost Memoir, he has produced a book which I have no doubt will inspire many more scholars to explore new perspectives on Lemass and his time,” he said. The launch was also attended by members of the Ryan family, including his daughters Claire and Michelle, both of whom spoke, as did former Fianna Fáil TD, Seán Haughey, a grandson of Lemass. A large number of present and former Fianna Fáil TDs also attended, as did Fine Gael minister of State Frank Feighan and Prof Gary Murphy of DCU who wrote the book’s foreword.

Professional services firm Deloitte Ireland has appointed Noelle Doody and Malcolm Barske as partners, boosting the firm’s expertise in artificial intelligence, data and cybersecurity. Harry Goddard, CEO of Deloitte Ireland, said: “The timing is excellent too as Deloitte Ireland’s move into a single Deloitte EMEA firm. Bringing our EMEA businesses together into one integrated firm gives us the scale, capital and cohesion to move faster across 80 countries.

No large Irish town is likely to achieve city status in the foreseeable future, Minister for Housing and Local Government James Browne has said. He said he would also have to examine what impact creating a city council could have on an existing local authority. In two of the existing five Irish cities, Limerick and Waterford, city and county councils have merged in recent years. Browne was responding to Louth Fianna Fáil TD Erin McGreehan, who asked about the possibility of Dundalk being awarded city status in the future. McGreehan acknowledged the bar for city status remained high and it was unlikely that either Dundalk or Drogheda would attain that status in the foreseeable future.

Four of us made the jaunt to Nottingham to see Lily Allen perform her recent album West End Girl in a semi-intimate theatre setting. Yes, we saw Lily, thought she was wonderful, and agreed that the Ryanair journey had been worth it. It’s about the size of a ping-pong table hung on a wall. After the Lily Allen show we didn’t dither or bother with the pub. I’m sure Lily Allen would be horrified to hear that she was maybe not eclipsed but definitely matched by a giant TV.

Solitary in natureWhile bumblebees are big and noticeable, solitary bees are smaller and much more subtle in their ways. Solitary bee species, on the other hand, are not sociable, there’s no queen or collective hive. Mining bees make up a quarter of all the native wild bee species in Ireland, and these are also solitary species. One of the major challenges they face is hunger - there simply aren’t enough wild flowers in our increasingly sterile landscapes. What we can doThis means that there is much we can all do to help wild bees, especially at this time of year.

The national retrofit plan is far behind schedule and retrofitted homes are not delivering the energy or greenhouse gas emission savings predicted, ESRI research found. Photograph; iStockThe authors of a report interpreted as casting doubt on the point of retrofitting have told TDs and senators they believe retrofits are essential. They told the committee these concerns remained, but the point of their report was to examine the limitations of the retrofit plan and suggest complementary approaches to reducing household emissions. “Anyone serious about climate action says we need the whole residential sector electrified [through retrofitting gas- and oil-heated homes with electric heat pumps],” Lynch said. “All we were trying to say was we are not going to get there as fast as we need to.

It may be tempting to blame Israel for Donald Trump’s decision to go to war against Iran. “It is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” he said. But his decision to go to war against Iran was also the fulfilment of an ambition cherished for decades within both parties on Capitol Hill. Israel’s war aims in Iran are distinct from those of the US and Netanyahu almost certainly has a stronger appetite than Trump for prolonging the conflict. But blaming Israel for the US action in Iran risks letting Trump and his administration off the hook for their reckless and unlawful decision to go to war.

Angelina Sewell received her certificate from Rotary Ireland District Governor, Michael Fleming, and Fearghas Ó BéaraHead of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Ireland. Tullamore student wins Rotary Youth Leadership CompetitionTullamore student Angelina Sewell was one of just 20 teenagers from all over the island of Ireland to be presented with a Rotary Youth Leadership Development certificate at Europe House in Dublin recently. The competition, which Rotary Ireland has been running for over 30 years, rewards young people with clear leadership potential based on their extra-curricular activities. She entered Rotary’s Youth Leadership Development competition in order to develop her leadership and communication skills and to learn how to work collaboratively with other young people. The Rotary Youth Leadership Development Competition is open to 16 and 17-year-olds who are living on the island of Ireland.

‘We are not overly concerned about what he will throw at us’ – Ireland boss on Koubek’s Czech formation and possible penaltiesHeimir Hallgrimsson dismisses personal significance of World Cup dream – ‘This is not about me’Republic of Ireland vs Czech Republic: Heimir Hallgrimsson press conferenceDaniel McDonnell in Prague Yesterday at 11:53Heimir Hallgrimsson says the personal significance of his efforts to bring Ireland to the World Cup is “irrelevant” when compared to the importance for the team and the nation.

Galway City Council has committed to changing their standard of practice for airport transfers after the mayor’s visit to Morocco in January costed the local authority €800 in airport transfers. A report from Galway City Council shows that an external chauffer service was hired by administrative staff costing €400 each way to Dublin airport. In a statement, the local authority said Mayor Mike Cubbard was not involved in the booking or aware of the cost. At this time, a review of the over expenditure is in process according to a Galway City Council spokesperson. Receipts are not normally available for gratuity exchanges, and the local authority is not seeking reimbursement for them.