A representative of Ireland’s Jewish community contacted Taoiseach Micheál Martin three months ago to raise “deep and increasing concern about the rise in anti-Semitism in Ireland” and to seek a Government plan to tackle it. Records released under the Freedom of Information Act show Maurice Cohen, the chairman of the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland (JRCI), wrote to Mr Martin last October. Mr Cohen wrote that the State remained one of the few EU member states without a national plan to combat anti-Semitism. He urged the Government to “set a defined timeline and departmental responsibility for drafting and adoption of Ireland’s national plan”. Mr O’Callaghan is said to have spoken with the Garda Commissioner to ensure there are sufficient protections in place for the Jewish community in Ireland.

For many, it is a natural moment to take stock of wellbeing, mental health, and look towards a new year that’s healthier and more balanced. Think for a moment, have you ever been concerned about a friend, family member, colleague, young person or neighbour's mental health, and not had the confidence or knowledge of what to do or what to say? For more than a decade, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Ireland, has been training more than 30,000 MHFAiders across communities, workplaces, youth organisations, schools, and homes throughout Ireland. MHFA Ireland has established itself as the only licensed provider of mental health first aid in Ireland and works across the public and private sector. Mental Health First Aid is ‘For Anyone, For Everyone’.

Yes, Ireland has astutely declared a climate emergency and, yes, there are policies to achieve a 51% reduction in greenhouse emissions by 2030, but we find ourselves in the troubling nowhere land between climate action and climate inaction. Graham Dwyer is an associate professor at Trinity Business School and co-director of Trinity Centre for Social Innovation. Business for goodSimply put, social enterprises reuse, repurpose, and recycle resources in innovative ways that are moving the needle towards climate action. Social enterprises lead the way by showing how a low-carbon society can be achieved that collectively enables us all to be part of solutions in the climate action discussion, rather than being part of the problem. • Graham Dwyer is an associate professor at Trinity Business School and co-director of Trinity Centre for Social Innovation, Trinity College Dublin.

As a consequence, the Government plans to introduce a new quality mark for higher education institutions, which will be known as TrustEd Ireland, to ensure such language schools are operating properly. Clearly, if some schools are not teaching their students but facilitating access to employment, then this needs to be addressed. There may be wider consequences arising from the new proposals for English language schools. The Government may find this is a challenge which goes beyond tightening standards at language schools. However, those same people continue to live in fear, without adequate flood relief works.

Galway United to appeal decision after elite training facility refused planning permissionSeán McCárthaighGalway United is to appeal a decision to refuse planning permission for a new multi-million-euro elite sports facility outside Athenry, Co Galway. The lands are owned by a company associated with the well-known property developers, brothers Luke and Brian Comer, who are also majority shareholders in Galway United. Galway United stressed that the proposed facility was “a regionally significant sports enterprise” which was designed to serve a multi-county catchment in the West and Midlands. Although planning permission for a similar proposal had also been refused in April 2022, Galway United said it had carefully re-evaluated the design, scale and access to address issues highlighted in that decision. A ruling by An Coimisiún Pleanála on the appeal by Galway United is expected to be made before the end of April 2026.

Ireland’s national parent support helpline has taken approximately 7,000 calls this year, many from parents who are afraid of their children. Ms Hickie said 43% of all calls to Parentline this year were from parents who are afraid of their own child. Ms Hickie said: “Calls relating to anger and aggression continue to be the standout issue for parents ringing the helplines. “The calls are in relation to abusive behaviours being experienced by parents at the hands of their own children, living in their own homes. The other issue parents are increasingly worried about is vaping, with the issue accounting for 3% of calls in 2024 compared to just 1% the year before.

Sex assault victims have hit out at the Government’s failure to fully ban the use of counselling notes in trials under new legislation, saying Ireland will still be in breach of international human rights obligations. She said the Government's decision not to fully ban the use of counselling notes in sexual assault trials is a wilful continuation of the violation of victims' rights and it remains at odds with CEDAW’s recommendations. The Government's legislation, published in recent weeks, includes restricting the use of counselling notes in sexual offence trials, but stops short of an outright ban. Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) director Clíona Saidléar said that asking a judge to make a decision on the use of counselling notes is not a “tidy” way of dealing with the issue. “Additional changes to the current legislative framework around disclosure of counselling notes are also under consideration within my department and will be brought forward at the earliest possible opportunity,” he said.

In other words, 61% of detected crime in 2024 was committed by people who had already been in contact with the criminal justice system. Do these figures suggest that the criminal justice system is failing in supporting people to move away from crime? There are many valuable insights written on the root causes of reoffending, the criminal justice system and chronic conditions in overcrowded Irish prisons. Given this, it is also worth mentioning some innovative responses to reoffending, a lot of which lie beyond the traditional criminal justice system. Social policy responseEmphasising a social policy response to crime can support those who are most vulnerable in society.

They make up around 7 per cent of the German population but, according to Khalid, “are only perceived as a problem group in this society”. “Perhaps,” he added, “I should have said sooner what I meant.”Rather than get angry with Merz, the young Muslims involved in the new year’s clean-up group want to get even. Official German state statistics noted 1,848 Islamophobic crimes and misdemeanours in 2024 and 79 attacks on mosques – a 24 per cent rise in a year. “Such discussion leads to Muslims being viewed only as a security problem,” added Rima Hanano, Claim project director, “and not as a gain [for society]”. Three years on, many German Muslims say they face a new level of hostility in post-October 7th Germany.

'I had to leave Liverpool due to three teammates - now I'm loving it at new club'Former Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton has discussed winning the league with the Reds and his decision to leave the club for Lyon in the summer transfer windowView 2 Images Tyler Morton is now starring for Lyon (Image: Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)Tyler Morton felt he had no choice but to leave Liverpool in the summer and is now loving life with Lyon. It is a lovely place to live and play football. It was a big decision for me to leave home and what I know best, but I am well ready." Morton believes that it has been the ideal move for him to join Lyon but he still benefits from his Liverpool connections. "It is great for players my age to go out and experience different cultures, different countries, different people," he added.

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Luke Humphries admitted he needed to improve despite storming into the quarter-finals of the PDC World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace with a 4-1 win over Dutchman Kevin Doets. Luke Humphries will face Gian van Veen in the quarter-finals (Steven Paston/PA)“I feel like I’ve played well but I feel like there’s another level in me, which is important. Former two-time champion Gary Anderson also advanced to the last eight as he sunk below-par Michael van Gerwen by the same score. Frequent mixed doubles cost the three-time winner dear and means Van Gerwen has been knocked out before the quarter-finals for the first time in a decade. Krzysztof Ratajski will face Luke Littler in the quarter-finals after pulling away to defeat Luke Woodhouse 4-2.

Ruben Amorim left furious as dismal Man Utd held to point by rock-bottom WolvesMANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 WOLVES: Manchester United dropped points to rock bottom Wolves on a disappointing night for Ruben Amorim at Old TraffordView 2 Images Man Utd were held by Wolves at Old Trafford (Image: Getty Images)Christmas is a time for miracles - and Wolves almost produced one at Old Trafford. But even though the Premier League's rock-bottom side couldn't break their season's duck with a win - it didn't stop Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim from spitting feathers. Dismal Man Utd booed off as Wolves earn just THIRD point of season - 6 talking points READ MORE :That's because Wolves were the visitors. View 2 Images Ruben Amorim's side turned in a poor performance vs Wolves (Image: Getty Images)Article continues belowUnited were booed off - and Amorim looked furious. Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football.

Steve Bannon previously worked as a senior adviser to Donald Trump and retains influence in the grassroots Maga movement. Photograph: Enrique Shore/ Alamy Stock PhotoFormer White House strategist Steve Bannon has been helping to form an Irish “national party” as he works “behind the scenes” on what he described as “the Irish situation”, he said in an interview. The Donald Trump ally, whose anti-EU rhetoric previously included an expressed desire “to drive a stake through the Brussels vampire”, told the Politico news website that there would soon be an “Irish Trump”. In relation to Ireland, Mr Bannon said: “I’m spending a ton of time behind the scenes on the Irish situation to help form an Irish national party.”He said the Maga movement was being mirrored by groups in Ireland, Britain, France and Italy. “They’re going to have an Irish Maga, and we’re going to have an Irish Trump.

Arsenal captain Odegaard is back on form – and the nerves are easingMartin Odegaard’s return to form could turn out to be the key to Arsenal’s run-in and quieten chatter that he should hand over the captain’s armband to Declan Rice. He was hugely influential in Arsenal’s statement victory over Aston Villa and that’s significant. He ran the second half against Villa, easing tensions after a difficult opening 45 minutes, as Arsenal turned up the volume – and the style. The good news for Arsenal, however, is that by demolishing a title rival and getting key men back, they have calmed the nerves. That, above anything, could be the most important fact of an important night in the title race.