Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne wrote to all Ministers late last year. The commission is pursuing 48 separate infringement cases against Ireland at present. Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne wrote to all Ministers late last year, saying there was a need to close some outstanding cases and improve Ireland’s statistics. “The risks associated with infringements extend beyond legal concerns ... We must avoid exposing ourselves to political damage without first co-ordinating an internal response,” Byrne wrote in a September 18th, 2025 letter to all Ministers. It has the sixth lowest number of active infringement proceedings.

Nick O'Conor: 'Irish investors didn’t understand what they were getting into. Among his clients have been Irish investors burnt by buying property in the region through the Residence de Tourisme scheme. I speak English, French and finance but Irish investors didn’t understand what they were getting into. O’Conor has a passion for the arts and is one of the founders of the Monaco Ireland Arts Society. It’s strange to say to Irish people that you miss the bad weather, but a lot of French people like to visit Ireland for that very reason.”

Nico Flores holds her anti-Ice sign during one of her weekly protests in Lamar, Colorado. Businesses along Highway 50 in Lamar, Colorado. South of Lamar, Colorado, a large dust cloud appears behind a truck traveling on highway 59, May 1936. The Petrified Wood Gas Station building in Lamar, Colorado. Whether it is good or bad, people will read our signs and see us and know what we stand for.

Public braced for global recession, poll shows, amid plea to recall Dáil over fuel crisis82pc of voters believe a recession is on the way, while 56pc fear it could be as bad — or worse — than the 2008 financial crashSunday Independent / Ireland Thinks pollCónal Thomas & Niamh Horan Today at 06:30The public are bracing for a global recession in the wake of the war in Iran, with an overwhelming majority of voters fearful of an economic downturn within the next 12 months.

Adam Peaty has shared a sweet happy birthday tribute to his younger brother-in-law Oscar, who turned seven on Friday. He penned: 'Happy birthday @oscarjramsay' alongside a series of love hearts. Adam has been fully embraced by the Ramsay clan amid an ongoing feud with his own family. TV chef Gordon and his wife Tana are parents to Megan, 27, twins Holly and Jack, 26, Tilly, 24, Oscar, seven, and two-year-old Jesse. Holly also marked her younger brother's birthday as she shared a collection of snaps of the pair, writing: 'Happy Birthday to my favourite seven year old!

Number 6382 was among 150,000 ducks spilt into the river Liffey in June 2006 as part of a “duck race” world record fundraiser for Our Lady’s children’s hospital, Crumlin. Wicklow GAA April Fool goes down terriblyAs sure as night follows day, the annual trickle of would-be April Fools’ efforts from companies and campaigners rolled into journalists’ email accounts this week. Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore was out later to express her disgust about a “tone-deaf” April Fools’ effort by Wicklow GAA. Photograph: Sam Boal/CollinsWhitmore said this was “a complete slap in the face to the county ladies’ teams, who have anything but equal access to Wicklow GAA facilities as it stands”. ‘Economically advantageous’ tender issued for children’s hospital jobThe exterior of the National Children's Hospital during a media tour last year.

He asked to be identified only by his initials, and that his employer and vessel not be named, for fear of losing his job. “The fear doesn’t go away. Photograph: Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty ImagesThe five Filipino seafarers interviewed did not want to talk on the record for fear of running afoul of their employers, particularly those operating in the Gulf, as well as fear of getting arrested. On the outskirts of Davao city, Nigel Nimes (19), learned that his father was in waters close to the Iran war the way many families did – through the news. “It’s quite close” to the Iran war, he said of his father’s ship.

Damon has a stake in the three-year-old gelding Are You Kidding along with former Test cricket skipper Steve Smith and retired AFL great Tom Hawkins. Damon was front and centre for the Golden Slipper at Sydney's Rosehill Racecourse last month after Are You Kidding was scratched from the race. Damon's growing ties to Australian racing mirror his broader connection to the country, where he has spent extended periods with his family and formed close friendships. His connection to Australia began during a deeply personal period following the death of his father, Kent Damon, in 2017. 'After my dad died, we moved down there for four months and just went and camped all over the place,' Damon said.

Legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin, the second man to walk on the moon, has been cheering on the Artemis II mission this week. Buzz became an iconic figure when he became the second man to set foot on the moon's surface after Neil Armstrong during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. Armstrong died in 2012. Mr Barber credits Buzz with saving his life when he met him at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous in December 2001. 'He wants people to know he's doing OK.'

Former Arsenal and Manchester City star Samir Nasri is under investigation by French tax authorities after reportedly being rumbled by his Deliveroo orders. The Frenchman, 38, is suspected of living in Paris even though he is officially a resident in Dubai, according to Les Echos. The publication say 212 orders from fast-food delivery app Deliveroo were made to Nasri's residence in Paris in 2022. Nasri shot to prominence at Arsenal after signing for the Premier League side from Marseille for £12m in 2008. The content of the drop broke the World Anti-Doping Agency's rules and led to an investigation in Spain.

He dropped hint which Aussies will be taxed moreTreasurer Jim Chalmers has hinted that wealthier and older Australians could face higher taxes in the next Budget. Chalmers was asked by Peter FitzSimons about what Australians should expect when he hands down his fifth budget on May 12. Chalmers used the reference to drop his biggest hint that the next Budget would benefit young Australians and those on a low income. Chalmers said reforms across housing, tax and superannuation had begun to rebalance the system, but indicated the government sees scope to go further. With the federal Budget looming, Chalmers' comments are being read in Canberra as a clear signal to those who benefit most from generous tax concessions.

A glass or two of wine a day slows ageing in men - but not in women, doctors believe. Men who drank about 200ml of wine a day were nearly six months biologically younger than non-drinkers, a study shows. A glass or two of wine a day slows ageing in men - but not in women, doctors in Italy believeThe doctors say wine is a major source of polyphenols which have been implicated in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress and improving metabolic functioning, each of which is involved in biological ageing. Lifestyle and factors such as smoking and obesity are linked to faster biological ageing, while dietary patterns, including the Mediterranean diet, are associated with slower ageing. 'Moderate wine consumption, but not overall alcohol intake, may contribute to slower biological ageing in men.

Last month, TOWIE star Kirk Norcross revealed he has landed a new job as a rubbish collector – 11 years after turning his back on fame. Here, the Daily Mail takes a look at the stars who have turned their back on fame. However, he turned his back on fame and launched a waste disposal company called County Clear Waste. In 2020, the former reality star revealed he had ditched the 'toxic' world of fame for a new drain unblocking business, and he couldn't be happier. The star revealed that he has been accepted to train for ordained ministry in a post to his followers.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky stepped out in public for the first time since the shooting at their Beverly Hills home by 35-year-old suspect Ivanna Lisette Ortiz a month ago. No one was injured in the shooting, but a law enforcement official told the Los Angeles Times that Rihanna and Rocky 'easily could have been hit.' Ortiz was ordered to stay away from Rihanna and Rocky in the event that she should make bail, and surrender all of her firearms. While the motive for the shooting remains a mystery at this point, Ortiz had previously sent messages and posts that targeted Rihanna. In one message, Ortiz suggested Rihanna had spoken negatively about her, though they weren't known to have any connection, personal or professional.

Video: 'Freda', the fox which evaded Parliament security for months - giving her 'a better attendance record than some members of the Lords' - caught and released into the wild'Freda', the cunning fox who outwitted security at the Palace of Westminster for months-earning jokes about her "better attendance record than some members of the Lords"-was finally caught after repeatedly slipping past guards and alarms, and has been safely released back into the wild.