Eurovision organisers set to consider Israel participation amid boycott threats
Yuval Raphael performing New Day Will Rise for Israel during the Eurovision 2025 semi-final. Israel, which came second in the contest, has not responded to these accusations, but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign. Critics of Israel’s participation cite concerns over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities. Germany could withdraw and not broadcast Eurovision if Israel is not allowed to participate, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. Israeli public broadcaster KAN said it is preparing for next year’s contest and will soon release changes to its selection process for choosing Israel’s entry.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 11:47 UTC
People who object to infrastructure projects could be offered damages under new plan – The Irish Times
People who object to infrastructure projects could be offered damages rather than allow judicial reviews to delay a project, under a plan to give the Government more power to decide when and how the legal instruments can be used. It’s part of a plan to place the entire judicial review process on a statutory footing. “This potentially affords Government much greater flexibility to determine the circumstances in which judicial review procedures can be utilised. The public can expect to be told more about how these needed, albeit disruptive, projects are designed to serve the greater national good. Sally reports how The Irish Times “became aware of the existence of the leaked photographs in October and has advocated for consulting victims’ families regarding their release”.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 11:44 UTC
Fianna Fáil review into presidential campaign unlikely to be published before New Year
Jim Gavin withdrew from the campaign following controversy about money owed to a former tenant. Photograph: Conor O'Mearain/PAThe review into Fianna Fáil’s disastrous presidential election campaign is unlikely to be published until the new year, TDs and senators were told on Wednesday night. Interviews with the central figures involved in the campaign, including party leader and Taoiseach Micheál Martin, were not completed until mid-November. Mr Gavin withdrew from the race for the Áras after it emerged he owed a former tenant €3,300 in overpaid rent. Mr Gavin was Mr Martin’s preferred candidate since his name was first mentioned in late August.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 10:02 UTC
Andy Farrell: ‘We’re always open-minded to do the right thing by the squad’
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell: 'Everyone gets carried away with different sides of the draw.' “But you know for sure that Australia are going to put on a great show at the World Cup. “It certainly helps with the ‘recce’,” said Farrell, who had been part of a two-hour planning meeting on Wednesday between World Cup draw and facing the media in the Aviva Stadium. Farrell also said his coaching ticket is not locked in until the World Cup, meaning there is scope for emulating the Springboks and France by bringing in a former referee as part of the ticket. “I think it’s longer than we’d have hoped for,” admitted Farrell, but added that Hansen will “definitely make a full recovery”.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 07:35 UTC
Infrastructure or bust? Nothing more important for Coalition than making this work
And while continuing housing shortages would be deeply politically damaging for the Government, shortages of power and water would almost certainly be unsurvivable. At the heart of the report are 30 actions to be taken by the Government in the coming months and years. They have deadlines for implementation and identify the agencies and departments concerned, which have been charged with making the changes. Among these are the crucial legal changes that will reduce judicial reviews and the legislation granting emergency powers to enable some critical infrastructure projects. Nothing within its power is more important for the Coalition than making this work.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 07:33 UTC
People objecting to infrastructure projects could be offered damages to avoid delays
The Government has unveiled its plan for speeding up the delivery of large infrastructure projects. The new accelerating infrastructure report is highly critical of the impact of judicial reviews. “This potentially affords Government much greater flexibility to determine the circumstances in which judicial review procedures can be utilised. The new infrastructure plan will “identify” AI tools that can be used as part of the planning stages for infrastructure projects. The proposal is included in the new accelerating infrastructure report.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 07:31 UTC
EU leaders face big choice on vital aid for Ukraine
EU leaders will have to decide how to help fill that gap at a crucial Brussels summit on December 18th. The other was to use frozen Russian central bank assets to finance a €90 billion loan. The vast majority of those Russian assets were held in Euroclear, a depository for state bonds in Belgium. The reparations loan would only need the support of a weighted majority of the 27 leaders to be approved. Locking in the sanctioned frozen assets is key to the loan getting off the ground.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 07:11 UTC
Teacher quit job to build personalised AI revision platform for Leaving Cert
Examinaite is an AI-powered Leaving Cert revision app designed to save students hours of study time. Examinaite covers all Leaving Cert subjects with questions tailored to suit foundation, ordinary and higher level papers. [ The Leaving Cert is not a meritocracy. I’ve never been happy that being unable to afford grinds could be a factor in how well someone did in the Leaving Cert,” Doyle says. For now, Examinaite’s focus is on the Leaving Cert, with the Junior Cert to follow, but Doyle says the model will travel and he has the UK’s State exams in his sights.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 07:00 UTC
Thyme restaurant review: Is this the best Sunday lunch in Ireland?
John Coffey, head chef and owner of Thyme in Athlone, where Mickael Viljanen of Chapter One likes to go for Sunday lunch. Thyme in Athlone is deemed to have character enough to merit a Bib. Of more significance is the fact that it is one of Mickael Viljanen’s favourite places for Sunday lunch. [ Michelin-starred restaurants in Ireland, 2025: The complete guideOpens in new window ]With serious suppliers, technical skill and clean execution, Thyme does exactly what a Bib Gourmand is meant to recognise. In the meantime, this remains the best Sunday lunch you’re likely to find in the country.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 06:31 UTC
Infrastructure plan is make or break test for State, experts say
The Government’s plan to speed up the construction of badly needed infrastructure will be a make or break test for the State, experts say. “Full and swift” implementation of the plan is crucial to avoid further delays, Stephen Garvey, chief executive of housebuilder, Glenveagh Properties, argued. Mr Chambers’ Accelerating Infrastructure – Report and Action Plan aims to cut the planning and legal delays that hamstring efforts to build the infrastructure needed to meet these challenges. They were joined by Anne O’Leary, head of tech giant Meta’s Irish business; Dalton Philips, chief executive of Greencore; Gene Murtagh, chief executive of Kingspan; Jim Mintern, chief executive of CRH; Lynne Embleton, chief executive of Aer Lingus; and Michael O’Flynn, chairman of builders O’Flynn Group. Andrew Brownlee, chief executive of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) pointed out that without this detail “investment planning becomes impossible”.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 06:26 UTC
The most expensive Irish homes sold in 2025: From a seaside haven to a record-breaking penthouse
Sale price: Price recorded as €2.5m on PPR, which comprises the house on an acre of land. Sale price: Price recorded on PPR as €3.15m, which comprises the house and an acre of landRoss House, Clew Bay, Westport, Co Mayo. Sale price: Price recorded as €2.75m on PPR, which comprises the house on an acre of land. Agent: Lisney Sotheby’s International RealtyLeighmoney More House, Dunderrow, Kinsale, Co Cork. Sale price: Price recorded on PPR as €2.06m, which comprises the house and an acre of land.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 06:03 UTC
The Irish Times view on the infrastructure report: this plan needs to work – The Irish Times
The report on accelerating the provision of key infrastructure offers a clear-sighted analysis of the problems and proposes 30 actions to combat them. These fall into three key areas – changing legal processes, reforming regulation and improving delivery and coordination. None of these will be easy, even if some – such as ensuring departments, State agencies and local authorities work efficiently together – would appear to be just common sense. Delivery in all these areas has become extraordinarily slow, mired in regulatory and legal processes and overseen by a nervous and inefficient administrative machine. Legal challenges inevitably await in some areas and push-back by State agencies and lobby groups in others.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 05:39 UTC
New infrastructure plan: Government expects legal challenge to judicial review reforms
Minister of State Marian Harkin, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers at the launch of Accelerating Infrastructure - Report and Action Plan. Photograph: Brian LawlessThe Government expects legal challenges to its plan to make it more difficult to take court actions over infrastructure projects. It published a report on Wednesday outlining its plan to accelerate the building of vital infrastructure and housing, which includes proposals to limit legal challenges such as judicial reviews that delay projects. The new action plan contains 30 different measures designed to reduce the cost and time it takes to build big projects in Ireland. Asked if he felt it had been easy for some State agencies to “shirk” their responsibilities to deliver big infrastructure projects, the Taoiseach said: “In some instances, yes.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 04:40 UTC
Fewer cyclists, motorbike riders and e-scooter users wearing safety helmets
In the observational study in August, just half of pedal cyclists were seen wearing a helmet, a drop of 7 per cent on last year. The number of e-scooter riders wearing a helmet fell by 15 per cent in 2024 to 27 per cent this year. The findings came from the RSA’s nationwide observational survey of how many cyclists, e-scooter riders and bikers were seen wearing high-visibility clothing and helmets. E-scooter riders are not obliged to wear helmets, but are advised to. Sam Waide, chief executive of the RSA, said the declining usage of helmets by pedal cyclists and e-scooter riders was “deeply concerning”.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 04:16 UTC
Seanad suspended in row over extended vote deadline to enable Coalition Senators reach chamber
Photograph: Stephen Collins/CollinsThe Seanad was suspended twice in a heated row over an extended vote deadline, which allowed eight Government Senators who were late, get to the chamber. The vote was called on one of a series of amendments from Independent Senator Lynn Ruane to the Defamation Bill. A vote can only be taken by the Cathaoirleach or Leas Chathaoirleach, in this instance Leas Chathaoirleach Maria Byrne. But Ms Ruane said she had been a Senator for 10 years and they had “always abided by the time”. It was then suspended for a further 30 minutes when Ms Ruane said there had been no engagement “to bring any sort of resolution”.
Source:The Irish Times
December 04, 2025 04:10 UTC