Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaks during a meeting in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: APTaoiseach Micheál Martin has left the door open for the Government to back the Mercosur trade deal after the European Union made concessions this week in a bid to secure support for the controversial agreement. Mr Martin was speaking to reporters in Shanghai on the third day of his state visit to China following a move by the EU Commission to link the deal to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) funding.

By Gráinne Ní Aodha and David Young, Press AssociationIreland is monitoring the situation in relation to a Venezuela-linked oil tanker in the vicinity of Irish waters, the Foreign Affairs Minister said. It's not unusual that there would be ships or fleets that would sail to or towards or in and around the economic zone. “It’s not unusual that there would be ships or fleets that would sail to or towards or in and around the economic zone. A member of the US coast guard observing a Venezuela-linked oil tanker which travelling off British waters Photo: @US_EUCOM/PA. A Venezuela-linked oil tanker travelling off British waters.

The Government faces the risk of internal division over its vote on a contentious EU trade deal with a group of South American countries. However, Ireland continues to harbour deep concerns over the impact of the deal on the agricultural sector, even as expectations were growing in Government that Italy would support the deal. In that case, Irish opposition to the deal would only be symbolic and voting against it could burn political capital in Europe. The source said they have serious concerns about the deal, which are mirrored by farming organisations. This could also allow for bilateral meetings on the Mercosur deal.

Airlines for America (A4A) has made a formal complaint to its country’s Department of Transport, saying the Irish government is restricting the number of passengers that can use Dublin Airport. Failing that, A4A has called for action against Irish airlines providing services to the US. Dublin Airport is subject to a limit of handling 32 million passengers a year under a planning condition attached in 2007 to the construction of Terminal 2. It adds that if the DAA is eventually enforced to comply with the Fingal County Council enforcement order, it will have serious consequences for Dublin Airport. “Immediate action by the Irish Government is therefore critical to prevent the enforcement outcome from triggering avoidable losses of long-standing US airline access at Dublin Airport,” it says in its complaint.

ContactAny news or items of interest contact Niamh at 086 3477283 or email niamhuiloinsigh@gmail.com. Ardcath Tidy TownsIf anyone would like to be involved with Ardcath Tidy Towns, please WhatsApp 087 8354805 to be added to the Tidy Towns WhatsApp Group. Michael Fox Ardcath Tidy Towns Committee. Curraha Tidy TownsCalling everyone to come out the 1st Saturday of each month to clean up your area. Active RetirementEast Meath Active Retirement Association (EMARA) meet every Thursday in St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Parish Rooms, Laytown Road, Julianstown from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm each week.

“Glasgow have shown time and time again they are prepared to punch above their weight. “Glasgow are such a good team to watch,” he added. It has built a level of resilience that you need to compete in the Champions Cup. It typifies what Glasgow is about; all-action, both sides of the ball, loves playing the game,” he said. Premier Sports is the home of Investec Champions Cup rugby across the UK and Ireland with every match live including 21 EPCR Challenge Cup games and all the knock-out stages and Finals.

EXCLUSIVE: Man Utd handed Sir Alex Ferguson advice after 'meltdown' over Ruben Amorim sackingManchester United are searching for a new manager after sacking Ruben Amorim and need to restore order following a "messy" period behind the scenes at the clubView 2 Images Ruben Amorim lasted nowhere near as long as Sir Alex Ferguson in the hot seat (Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)Gary Pallister has claimed his Manchester United are “searching for the next Sir Alex Ferguson” once more after the “messy” departure of Ruben Amorim. The 13-time Premier League champions are set to appoint a caretaker boss while looking for an eighth permanent manager since Ferguson left the club in May 2013. ‌Pallister, who won 14 honours with Manchester United between 1989 and 1998, told Hard Rock Bet: “Oh God, it’s got a little bit messy, hasn’t it? ‌“So here we are again, searching for the next Sir Alex Ferguson and as we all know, that’s very difficult. “I wasn’t privy to anything going on behind the scenes, and I don’t think anybody else really knows either.

The funeral of Donegal businessman Stephen McCahill, a father-of-two who was found dead outside his home, will take place on Saturday. Mr McCahill, aged 66, was found outside his residence at Beagh, Ardara, in the early hours of Monday morning. On Tuesday, a man was charged with the murder of Mr McCahill. Tributes have poured in for Mr McCahill since the news of his death, with the business man being heavily involved in the local community. He is survived by his wife Marietta, children Gemma and Steven, daughter-in-law Lauren, granddaughter Marykate and his wider family and friends.

Figures from Bord Bia’s Export Performance and Prospects Report 2025/2026 shows that Irish food, drink, and horticulture exports increased by 12% last year. The report contained a chief executive sentiment survey that captured responses from 62 companies representing €9.5bn in food and drink exports across Ireland. When asked about their expectation for export growth during 2026, just over half, 53%, said they expect some level of expansion which was down from 74% in previous year. During 2025, meat and livestock exports increased by 18% over the year to €5bn driven by beef and live exports. Exports to the EU increased strongly by 16% in 2025 to €7.1bn, accounting for 37% of total Irish food, drink, and horticulture export value.

The Bill would create a new standalone criminal offence for those who 'knowingly exploit another person’s name, image, voice or likeness without consent'. Photograph: Yuliya Taba/ Getty ImagesThe head of the Oireachtas committee on artificial intelligence (AI) has called on the Government to fast track a Bill that would criminalise the harmful misuse of someone’s voice or image. Fianna Fáil TD Malcolm Byrne introduced the Protection of Voice and Image Bill in April, which would criminalise what are colloquially known as “deepfakes” - when someone’s voice or image is used to generate a false photo or video with AI. The strength of laws in Ireland to criminalise AI-generated non-consensual intimate images and child sex abuse images are being examined by the Attorney General. “The deliberate misuse of someone’s image or voice without their consent for malign purposes should be a criminal offence.

Tullamore Central Library in O' Connor Square will host events as part of the Offaly Libraries "Be Well, Be Creative" programmeArt, mindfulness and music at Offaly librariesTullamore, Birr and Edenderry libraries will be havens of creativity in the coming weeks as they offer art, mindfulness and music classes to adults as part of their “Be Well, Be Creative” programme. With that in mind, the Be Well, Be Creative programme invites adults of all ages and backgrounds to discover and nurture their creative potential through a diverse range of art, mindfulness, and music workshops. These special events complement the vibrant calendar of ongoing library activities in library spaces across Offaly, including adult book clubs, conversational Irish classes, author visits, and more. Saturday, January 24, Tullamore Library at 10.30am: Djembe Drumming Class for Adults. Saturday, February 14, Birr Library at 11am: Sing CircleFor all Offaly Library events and contact details, see here: https://www.offaly.ie/find-your-local-library/

Audits and compliance interventions by Ireland's tax authorities brought in €734m in 2025 while 189 tax avoidance cases yielded a further €41.7m, figures released by Revenue on Wednesday showed. Over the year, Revenue completed over 291,600 audits and compliance interventions, which brought in €734m, settled 189 tax avoidance cases yielding €41.7m, and secured 204 criminal convictions for tax evasion offences with fines totalling €340,000. Revenue’s digital services continued to be the primary channel through which individuals and businesses engaged with the tax system. Revenue services took 1.8m phone calls. Revenue noted strong compliance rates among taxpayers repaying covid warehoused debt through phased payment arrangements (PPAs), with 95% of the 12,700 arrangements being honoured, and monthly payments averaging €23m.

Hospital overcrowding: 670 people waiting for bedsThere are 670 people waiting for beds in hospitals across Ireland on Wednesday morning, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO). The hospital with the highest number of patients on trolleys is University Hospital Galway, with 81 patients on trolleys. 50 people are in the emergency department, with 31 elsewhere in the hospital. At University Hospital Limerick, there are 78 people on trolleys, with 26 people in the emergency department. In Cork University Hospital, 73 people are on waiting for a bed, with 53 in the emergency department.

The leader and co-founder of Independent Ireland has been criticised by a local rep from County Kildare over comments he made which related to drink-driving. Responding to the question put to him, Deputy Collins said that it isn’t one of their policies. When Deputy Collins was asked whether he thinks it is safe for people to drink two pints and drive, Collins said: "I’d say so." BACKLASHThe comments from Deputy Collins have prompted criticism from the Irish Road Victims Association (IRVA), according to a report from KFM. Deputy Collins was contacted for comment by the Leinster Leader in relation to Cllr Pender's post.

Jack P Shepherd delighted fans as he shared behind-the-scenes snaps from filming Corriedale. Fans are on tenterhooks after Jack's character, David Platt collapsed in hospital just as his pregnant wife Shona's waters broke (Julia Goulding). But in a dramatic turn of events David, who suffers from epilepsy, collapsed and hit his head on the hospital floor. Jack included behind-the-scenes snaps from the crash site as well as larking around with Julia in-between takes. Before the show aired, Jack appeared on Good Morning Britain and kept fans guessing over what would happen to David.