Classic car dealer closes doors on prime Dublin 4 site
For over 37 years, number 12 Sussex Road has been the well-known home of Dermot Wallace’s vintage and classic cars showroom. The premises is being offered for sale with full planning permission for its demolition and replacement with a three-storey, two-bedroomed home extending to 90sq m (969sq ft). The approval from Dublin City Council (Ref: 2239/19) also provides for two roof terraces. The property comprises a single storey commercial unit in a parade of terraced properties on Sussex Road, opposite the Mespil Estate and close to O’Brien’s pub, the Leeson Lounge, Grand Canal Café, and Forest Avenue restaurant. Martin O’Mahony says he expects the sale of the showroom to appeal to “either a commercial operator or a buyer wishing to build a residential property in one of Dublin 4’s finest locations”.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 07:52 UTC
Ireland wary of Peyper calling the tune as they head for Twickenham
South African referee Jaco Peyper will take charge of an Ireland Test match for the fourth time when Andy Farrell’s side take on England at Twickenham on Sunday. And Ireland will hope this game won’t have the controversial overtones of a couple of previous games over which he presided. The 39-year-old refereed his first match involving Ireland a little over seven years ago in November, 2012 against Argentina at the Aviva Stadium. Ireland, then under Declan Kidney’s coaching baton, beat the Pumas 46-24 with Ulster’s Craig Gilroy scoring an early try on his debut. ”New Zealand’s Malakai Fekitoa tackles Simon Zebo of Ireland high, resulting in a yellow card.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 06:56 UTC
Bloomberg attacked from all sides in heated Democratic debate
Asked to respond, Mr Bloomberg replied by arguing that Sanders was going to tell 160 million people that he would “take away the insurance plans that they love.”But within minutes Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren took on Mr Bloomberg. And no, I’m not talking about Donald Trump, ” she said, as Mr Bloomberg stood stony-faced beside her. Eight candidates now remain in the Democratic race for president, with six qualifying for Wednesday’s debate, including Mr Bloomberg for the first time. He appeared to bat off previous commitments to release health records given his recent heart attack, noting that Mr Bloomberg also had two stents inserted. Mr Biden’s support dropped 11 points to 17 per cent, with Mr Bloomberg climbing six points since January to 14 per cent.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 06:33 UTC
Maxim Integrated to spend €23m on new design centre at Irish base
US computer chip maker Maxim Integrated will spend more than €23 million on a new design centre at its Irish base that could create up to 100 jobs. The multinational confirmed on Wednesday that it is investing $25 million (€23.16 million) on building a new design centre at its Irish subsidiary, in Clonskeagh, Dublin. The company explained that it would spend the $25 million mainly on recruiting workers, equipment and building the design centre, which will be the seventh such facility that Maxim has opened in Europe. John Kirwan, Maxim Integrated’s vice-president of global customer operations, said he was “thrilled” that the company had chosen Dublin for its latest centre. David Dwelley, the multinational’s chief technology officer, said Maxim hoped to push innovation at the company “even further”.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 06:11 UTC
Colum McCann on Israel-Palestine: ‘I was completely ignorant of what was going on’
“I’m a bit of a magpie,” Colum McCann said, sheepishly gesturing around his office at Hunter College. He listened to Elhanan and Aramin speak in Beit Jala, a Palestinian town, and sobbed as they told their stories. Apeirogon, like other books by McCann, interweaves real people with imagined conversations, scenes and other details of their lives. “We’re in this territory of the real is the imagined and the imagined is real,” McCann said of this project. “We have the same history of conflict.”A copy of Apeirogon by Colum McCann in his New York office.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 06:00 UTC
ESB called out for ‘contributing to human rights violations’
State owned electricity company ESB has been called out for “contributing to human rights violations” by importing coal from a mine in Colombia for use at the Moneypoint plant in Co Clare. A report by non-governmental organisation (NGO) Christian Aid outlined how the State company has imported more than eight million tonnes of coal from the Cerrejón mine since 2011, despite its poor track record on human rights. According to Christain Aid, Cerrejón produces an average of 32 million tonnes of coal per year, the majority of which is exported. It also flagged that the mine’s sales are managed through an Irish domiciled entity called CMC Coal Marketing. Human rights abusesChristian Aid is calling on the State to introduce legislation to compel State-owned businesses to check for human rights abuses in their operations and supply chains.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 05:03 UTC
Galway development could transform skyline with 21-storey tower
The skyline of Galway City will be altered significantly if plans lodged for an eight-acre site adjacent to Ceannt railway station just off Eyre Square are approved. One tower of the proposed Augustine Hill development will be 21 storeys in height making it one of the tallest residential blocks in the State. Image of proposed Augustine Hill development in Galway city centre. Augustine Hill is a joint development by CIÉ, which owns the land, Edward Capital, run by Galway developer Gerry Barrett, and Summix Capital. Image of proposed Augustine Hill development in Galway city centre.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 03:00 UTC
Grave concern in North over London’s new immigration rules
The North’s five main parties are to raise concerns about the United Kingdom’s new points-based immigration system with the British government amid fears the scheme could jeopardise the North’s economy. Under the new, points-based immigration system, unveiled by London on Wednesday, skilled migrants with a job offer must meet a minimum salary threshold of £25,600 (€30,630). The point-based immigration system will come into effect on January 1st, 2021. Amnesty International’s Northern Ireland director, Patrick Corrigan, said the UK points-based system ignored the contribution and rights of migrants. “These proposals fail to recognise that many people come to Northern Ireland without the privileges of wealth and higher education, yet make a huge contribution to the Northern Ireland economy and wider society,” he said.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 02:30 UTC
Airbnb-style short-term rentals to be refused applications in Dublin
Full-time use of houses and apartments in Dublin city for Airbnb-style rentals is set to be eliminated, following a Dublin City Council decision not to grant permission to short-term lets. Since last July owners of properties in rent pressure zones have to get planning permission to use their housing for short-term lets for more than three months a year. The city council has received 16 applications for short-term letting. Of these eight were refused planning permission, two applications were declared invalid, three were withdrawn by the applicant and three are still awaiting decision by the council. The policy effectively means no houses or apartments, that could be used as full-time rental homes, will be granted planning permission for short-term letting.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 02:26 UTC
European banking consolidation further away than ever
Europe's banking system is getting more fragmented, not less, 10 years after a sovereign debt crisis shook its foundations. The so-called banking union, an EU project aimed at creating a unified financial system, is still barely half- completed. "We haven't seen a restoration of trust in the region's banking system. The European Central Bank (ECB) became the main regulator for more than 100 of the biggest EU banks in 2014 as one of the three pillars of the bloc's banking union initiative. Weak banks in some of the so-called core EU countries have also contributed to the decline in cross-border banking.
Source:Irish Independent
February 20, 2020 02:26 UTC
Firm behind luxury Dublin rentals to appeal short-term let ban
The company behind five holiday rental houses in Dublin city, valued at more than €1 million each, is to appeal a decision banning their use for short-term let accommodation. Dublin City Council refused permission to Robert Pierse of Hiphipstay to continue the use of 14-18 Grattan Court East, four-storey luxury houses close to Merrion Square in Dublin 2, for short term letting. Last June, a month before the short-let legislation came into force, the council had ruled that the five houses did not need planning permission for holiday letting. Planning permissionSince last July owners of properties in rent pressure zones have to get planning permission to use their housing for short-term lets for more than three months every year. However, the council said it was its policy to “refuse planning permission for any development which would result in the loss of permanent residential units”.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 02:26 UTC
Antibiotics use in pregnancy linked to birth defects risk
The use of frequently prescribed antibiotics in early pregnancy has been linked by researchers to an increased risk of major birth defects. Macrolide antibiotics are widely used to treat common bacterial infections, often as an alternative for patients allergic to penicillin. In the children of women prescribed macrolides during their pregnancy, 186 out of 8,632 had major malformations, they found. But they found macrolide prescribing in any trimester was associated with a slightly increased risk of genital malformations. The authors warned women should not stop taking antibiotics when needed, as untreated infections are a greater risk to the unborn baby.
Source:Irish Independent
February 20, 2020 02:26 UTC
Former Dragon gears up for future nationwide expansion
CLYDE Real Estate, the commercial property company set up by former 'Dragons' Den' investor Seán Gallagher and telecoms entrepreneur Colm Piercy, has secured €20m of debt from UK-based real estate asset manager PMM Group. We have also been successful in divesting a number of key assets to a mix of international data centre companies and global investment funds." In Finnabair it has also received planning permission to refurbish Rebus House, a 73,000 sq ft industrial unit which is vacant. "We are pleased to be able to support Clyde Real Estate, one of Ireland's leading real estate investors, as we continue to grow our portfolio of high-quality loans. We look forward to continuing to work with them," said Gareth Williams, head of real estate finance at PMM.
Source:Irish Independent
February 20, 2020 02:26 UTC
Lessons must be learned from last Dáil's failings
It has been derided variously as the place where political ambition went to die, a 'walking dead parliament' and the 'do-nothing Dáil'. But it will be remembered most for failures in health and housing - problems a new Dáil must engage with from the off. Not to mention the saga of Fianna Fáil's phantom votes, and the pushing of all the wrong buttons in the chamber. Downing Street is claiming Brussels has "changed" its stance, from a previous willingness to agree a "Canada-style" free trade deal. Lessons must be learned from the travails of the outgoing Dáil.
Source:Irish Independent
February 20, 2020 02:26 UTC
North’s business leaders say immigration plan will make labour shortages worse
They say it is a threat to Northern Ireland’s economy, and will exacerbate labour shortages, particularly in sectors such as agri-food and hospitality. Employers will need to adjust.”According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the median salary as of December 2019 was £27,434. ProductivityAodhán Michael Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said the new policy “just doesn’t work for Northern Ireland industry”. He said the North’s unemployment figures were already low, and there would be labour shortages. “It’s even worse for us in Northern Ireland because we share a land Border with the Republic.
Source:The Irish Times
February 20, 2020 02:15 UTC