Tax officials did 291,600 audits last year and secured 204 criminal convictionsJust over €49m was collected in the first year of the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), which is levied on land that is zoned for housing but lying idle. The total liability was €120.4m, well over twice what was paid, according to preliminary tax results for last year published by Revenue. While 2,469 landowners registered for the self-assessed RZLT, only 2,171 returns were filed to Revenue, and 583 deferrals were granted. There were 172 claims for an exemption from RZLT in 2025The Revenue Irish Tax and Customs office at Dublin Castle. “During 2025, we completed over 291,600 audit and compliance interventions, yielding €734m, settled 189 tax avoidance cases yielding €41.7m, and secured 204 criminal convictions for tax evasion offences,” Revenue said.

Dominik Szoboszlai of Hungary is consoled by fans after the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifying defeat to Ireland. (Photo by Robert Szaniszlo/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Liverpool star Dominik Szoboszlai admits the aftermath of Hungary’s disastrous World Cup qualifying defeat to Ireland in November was the lowest he had ever felt in his life. Targeting a first qualification since 1986, Szoboszlai’s side needed just a draw at home to Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men in order to clinch second in the group and a play-off semi-final berth in March.

Spurs boss Thomas Frank ‘didn’t notice’ he was drinking from Arsenal-branded cupBy Edward Elliot, Press AssociationUnder-fire Tottenham boss Thomas Frank said it would have been “completely stupid” to knowingly drink from an Arsenal-branded cup ahead of a dramatic 3-2 Premier League defeat at Bournemouth. Further pressure was piled on Frank as Antoine Semenyo bid a likely farewell to Bournemouth by firing home a dramatic added-time winner. “I definitely didn’t notice it,” Frank said of the cup. “I think it’s fair to say everyone involved in Tottenham, it’s a tough one to take today,” said Frank. Boss Andoni Iraola said: “He deserved this moment; I’m happy football has given him this moment he will not forget.

Share current article via Email Share current article via Facebook Share current article via Twitter Share current article via LinkedInSpar’s business model depends on independent retailers choosing to buy through its distribution centres. Spar’s business model depends on independent retailers choosing to buy through its distribution centres. The group said independent retailers are the foundation of its business that sets it apart from corporate retail chains, but these store owners are under growing pressure. Spar’s distribution centres also form the backbone of the business, moving goods from suppliers to stores across grocery, fresh food, liquor and private-label products. The group is now refocusing on a capital-light, cash-generating model while reinvesting in areas that support independent retailers, including distribution centres, digital systems and supply chain resilience, Bosman said.

Artificial intelligence is everywhere. The term AI usually refers to generative artificial intelligence software that can generate text, images and other content using vast datasets and predictive algorithms. But by the time my first-year students graduate in 2030, artificial intelligence is going to be a fundamental part of their working lives. Artificial intelligence demands a similar response. If we adapt wisely, artificial intelligence can become one of the most powerful learning tools ever created.

Independent Minister of State for Agriculture Michael Healy-Rae said he wants the Government to oppose the Mercosur deal. The Mercosur deal would be a “win-win” agreement that did not sell any sector or industry short, he said. The Programme for Government commits the Coalition to working with like-minded states “in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal”. Explainer What is the Mercosur trade deal? Speaking in Brussels, Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon said he continues to hold negative views on the Mercosur deal.

Since 2021, it has slipped from third to 12th place within Nato on defence spending as a percentage of GDP. Welfare spending is the most effective form of short-term stimulus spending; UK growth is so low that diverting that spending to defence could trigger a recession. Neither a customs union nor single market alignment would remove the sea border between Britain and Northern Ireland – even together, they would not remove it completely. It receives just 1 per cent of UK defence procurement spending, the lowest of any region and one-third the national average. Even Sinn Féin has been sanguine about the work arriving in Northern Ireland, welcoming the less overtly military contracts and saying nothing about the rest.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Burkill said the storm will bring “wet, windy and wintry weather” to parts of the UK. Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong described Storm Goretti as a “multi-hazard event” with heavy rain, strong winds and snow. There is a further yellow warning for wind for much of south-west England from 3pm on Thursday to 6am on Friday. There is also a yellow warning for snow and ice in Scotland from 10pm on Wednesday until midday on Thursday and a yellow warning for ice in Northern Ireland from midnight until 10am on Thursday. A yellow snow warning has been issued for a large part of England and much of Wales, and will be in place from 5pm on Thursday until midday on Friday.

A banner outside the EU's Berlaymont building in Brussels calls on European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to resist ‘big tech’ power. European commissioner Henna Virkkunen. Photograph: Nicolas Tucat/AFP via Getty ImagesKent Walker, head of global affairs at Google, assured the tech commissioner that the online giant remained “deeply committed” to Europe. Washington took the unprecedented step of issuing a travel ban to former commissioner Thierry Breton, the previous enforcer of EU tech rules. Meta, whose European headquarters is based in Dublin, has been pressing the Irish Government to make the case for EU tech regulations and data protection rules to be diluted.

Australia wrap up dominant Ashes series with five-wicket victoryBy Rory Dollard, Press Association Cricket Correspondent, SydneyEngland’s Ashes misadventure came to a familiar conclusion in Sydney, where a superior Australia side took the final Test by five wickets to tie up a comprehensive 4-1 win. The last day of the series had an end-of-term looseness, Australia losing five batters in a messy pursuit of 160 but still taking care of business. Just as inevitably there was one last row about the DRS process as a Snicko review once again went controversially against England. He was unable to bowl and stood stiffly at slip but this was a captain who decided to go down with the ship. His patched-up attack, already lacking the injured Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson, was carried by Tongue.

Darren Fletcher makes feelings crystal clear over Man Utd failure at Burnley READ MORE :Man Utd player ratings vs Burnley as Benjamin Sesko shines but 4/10 star struggles READ MORE :"I think the positive is Sesko scoring two goals," he commented. He's took six months to turn up at Man United. ‌"I had him off the pitch at half time, never wear a Man United shirt again. I stand by what I say, he's not good enough to play for Man United. "Bingo time for Benjamin Sesko," he declared.

LATEST | Ministers scramble for legal block on explicit AI images on XMinisters may quit platform as Grok ‘undresses’ women and childrenWomen’s Aid removes itself from X, saying the current crisis is a ‘tipping point’Human rights lawyer Caoilfhionn Gallagher said such sexualised abuse of children online has ‘devastating’ impactsJunior minister Niamh Smyth. Photo: Tony GavinMary Regan, Adrian Weckler and Keith Kelly Today at 09:30Ministers are scrambling to find a way to combat an explosion of digitally created images of semi-nude women and children on the social media platform X.

At the end of December, the median asking price for a home listed on MyHome.ie, which is owned by The Irish Times Group, was €380,000. In its latest quarterly housing report, the website said the national median asking price for a home was up 5.4 per cent in the final months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. At the end of December, the median asking price for a home listed on MyHome.ie, which is owned by The Irish Times Group, was €380,000. In Dublin, the median asking price was €475,000, also up by 5.4 per cent from the end of 2024, while the median asking price for a home outside of Dublin increased by 5.5 per cent to €325,000. Throughout 2024, by contrast, median asking prices increased by 8.4 per cent, so 2025 saw a deceleration of bidding price inflation.

Marco Silva says ‘magic’ Harry Wilson is in best form of his careerBy Robert O'Connor, Press AssociationFulham manager Marco Silva praised “magic” Harry Wilson after his goal earned a 2-1 win over 10-man Chelsea at Craven Cottage, as incoming Blues boss Liam Rosenior watched from the stands. “Right now everything he touches becomes something magic, something that will have an impact. Interim boss Calum McFarlane, who now returns to his job with the under-21 side, rejected suggestions the team is struggling with discipline. “We were just getting into our rhythm in that moment, starting to have a feel for what the solutions were. Other than encouraging words, he gave us free rein to pick the team and decide the tactics.

Former England and Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan has been diagnosed with cancer. A statement from Keegan's family, shared by Newcastle, read: "Kevin Keegan was recently admitted to hospital for further evaluation of ongoing abdominal symptoms. "These investigations have revealed a diagnosis of cancer, for which Kevin will undergo treatment. A spell at Manchester City followed, but Keegan left the club in March 2005, initially announcing his retirement from football. Keegan made an emotional return to Newcastle in 2008, but only lasted eight months following tensions with the board and owner Mike Ashley.