‘A great privilege’: Michael D Higgins thanks public for support as he departs Áras an Uachtaráin
President Michael D Higgins waves to the crowd whilst leaving Áras an Uachtaráin with his wife Sabina Higgins. [ Did Michael D Higgins change the nature of the presidency?Opens in new window ]Michael D Higgins sits in the study in Áras an Uachtaráin prior to leaving the residence for the last time as president on Monday. Photograph: Tony MaxwellMonica Pumpkin of the Sanctuary Runners presented flowers to Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina as they departed Áras an Uachtaráin on Monday evening. In a statement, Mr Higgins said that serving as president of Ireland was “a great privilege”. [ Michael D Higgins welcomes ex-rival Catherine Connolly to Áras with a word on ‘importance’ of the pressOpens in new window ]President-elect Catherine Connolly is greeted by Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin last week.
Source:The Irish Times
November 11, 2025 03:07 UTC
Bunsen burger chain takes court action over being classified as ‘fast food’ business
The application included a HSE acknowledgement of registration under the European Communities (Hygiene and Foodstuffs) Regulations, which described the food business as a “restaurant”, not as fast food. The company claims that the section of the regulations applied by the department in denying the permit was for a fast-food outlet, which it was not. Ducalla submits that Bunsen is a “full-service” restaurant with more than 75 per cent of its customers receiving table service. The company is seeking to quash the review decision of the department from last June, which upheld an earlier refusal. “Bunsen is a fast casual burger dining restaurant, and not a fast-food outlet, serving beer and wine,” they submitted.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 23:49 UTC
IOC edges closer to ban on transgender women in female Olympic events
New Zealand’s Laurel Hubbard, who is transgender, in the women's +87kg weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York TimesThe International Olympic Committee is edging closer towards implementing a ban on transgender women competing in the female category in time for the Los Angeles Olympics. The IOC, however, is still facing some internal resistance to a ban on athletes with differences of sexual development (DSD), who were reported female at birth but have male chromosomes and male testosterone levels. Such athletes, which include the London 2012 and Rio 2016 gold medallist Caster Semenya, have now been barred by World Athletics from the female category. Will it follow the lead of World Athletics, with its cheek-swab test?
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 21:54 UTC
At least eight killed in Delhi car explosion near Red Fort in India
An explosion happened in that vehicle, and due to the explosion, nearby vehicles were also damaged,” Delhi police commissioner Satish Golcha told reporters. Police gathered to secure the blast site after an explosion near the Red Fort in the old quarters of Delhi. The US embassy in Delhi issued a security alert to its citizens, asking them to avoid crowds and areas surrounding the Red Fort, and to stay alert in places frequented by tourists. Officials inspected damaged vehicles after a car explosion near the historic Red Fort. About a dozen people were killed in a briefcase explosion outside the Delhi High Court in 2011 - the last such major incident in the city.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 21:00 UTC
Eight things to listen out for in Catherine Connolly’s inauguration speech
She may want to balance her use of Irish with making sure her speech is inclusive. It’s a good bet that at least half the speech will be in Irish. a president can have a theme,” the fifth president, Cearbhall Ó Dálaigh, said in his inaugural speech. Will she refer, as Éamon de Valera did in his 1966 inauguration, to “the political unity which we so desire”? In 2018, Higgins quoted a prior speech of his own and an unfulfilled promise of the first Dáil in 1919.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 19:44 UTC
Presidential election made clear that we cannot just wish ourselves into a united Ireland – The Irish Times
The election of a new president gives us a chance to reset the debate on Irish unity. Both Catherine Connolly – who will be inaugurated as president tomorrow – and Heather Humphreys expressed a strong commitment to Irish unity. The idea that Northern Ireland is a place beyond redemption, incapable of running its own affairs without collapsing every few years, is hardly a compelling invitation to a southern electorate. A failing Northern Ireland is not a strategy for a New Ireland. So rather than asking when a referendum will happen, we need to first ask how and why we would make a New Ireland work.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 18:57 UTC
Aer Lingus pilots set to vote no confidence in airline executives
Aer Lingus pilots are meeting on Monday to vote no confidence in airline executives. The latest dispute between the airline and its pilots blew up after Aer Lingus suspended a captain late last week. [ Aer Lingus CEO says Manchester base is underperforming as cabin crew plan more strikesOpens in new window ]He flew an Aer Lingus aircraft from Barbados to Manchester early last week. There were no passengers on board except cabin crew who were not on flying duty, known as a “positioning crew”. Aer Lingus branded the Ialpa executive’s decision to propose a motion of no confidence in Mr Dunne as “inappropriate”.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 18:34 UTC
Judge ‘incandescent with rage’ at Tusla failure to provide secure bed for child
A judge was “incandescent with rage” that Tusla could not provide a secure bed for a young child “at risk of death” due to their use of drugs, involvement in transporting drugs and travelling in stolen cars. No bed was available in any of the three special care units, however, with none expected to be available until January. The child’s case was now on the “no beds” list before High Court Justice John Jordan, who hears the weekly special-care list. It was “not tenable” for Tusla to come into court for weekly reviews saying there was no special-care bed. This ... court remains incandescent with rage at the lack of a special-care placement for [the child]”.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 18:34 UTC
‘It’s a rare opportunity’: Students share advice for study abroad in Europe
However it finds you, studying abroad is one of those opportunities that can creep up quietly, and end up becoming a defining part of your college experience. Erasmus+, an EU student mobility programme, allows students in participating universities to spend between two to 12 months abroad, studying, training or both. Hernandez and fellow Erasmus students had to travel to an office for international students to register, which he says was “quite far from the university”. “There were only two secretaries there, dealing with hundreds of Erasmus students all through paperwork, so it’s really slow,” he says. She feels that studying abroad is a “rare opportunity where you are in a new city, partially funded and full of energy”.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 15:02 UTC
Harris promises to use EU loans if military funding is not forthcoming
Mr Harris has warned this may change, however. He said his priority to date has been to maximise the amount of defence spending from existing Government funds but that this may change. Mr Harris sought nearly €3.4 billion between 2026 and 2030 for capital defence spending to facilitate key strategic projects including military radar, ships and armoured vehicles. It is understood Mr Harris believes Safe loans will likely be needed to bring this figure up to the required amount to meet Government commitments on defence. Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Harris said renewed EU investment in defence also provides potential benefits for Irish businesses.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 15:01 UTC
Dublin City Council tenants face rent rises up to 50% in first overhaul in 30 years
Dublin City Council tenants face rent rises from next year, some of which could be more than 50 per cent, in the first major shake up of the city’s social housing rent system in 30 years. The council operates a “differential” rent system, with rents based on the net incomes of tenants. Currently, taxi drivers and other “non-trade” businesses are assessed on an “assumed net income” of €500 a week, whiles tradespeople – plumbers, electricians, etc – are assumed to have a net income of €560 a week. Independent councillor Mannix Flynn said rent increases were “premature” when many council tenants were living in substandard conditions. The council should seek Government funding to address the maintenance deficits, instead of asking tenants to assume the burden, he said.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 15:01 UTC
Rathwood Garden Furniture: Some customers are starting to run out of patience
In July we reported that customers had been left waiting for extended periods for everything from garden furniture to fuel. We highlighted more issues in August and again we were told by Rathwood that things were getting better and matters were weeks away from being resolved. But in recent weeks Pricewatch has received correspondence from dozens of customers who continue to experience difficulties dealing with the company. “In the summer of 2025, Rathwood built a brand new supply chain to bring all season goods from the far east to its customers. “We are also aware that some customer had experienced delay with the delivery of fuel, especially some ‘wait and save’ customers.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 15:01 UTC
Scrapping water charges was a mistake that has contributed to the housing crisis
It pays a dividend of about 5 per cent on the government’s investment, but most of the profits are reinvested. As a result, the major investment programme of ESB has not, to date, required substantial further State funding. Such a programme is needed, both to tackle deficiencies in the current elderly water and sewerage infrastructure, and to cater for our expanding population. HamperedThe result today is that investment in housing is hampered by the inadequate water and sewerage system. A strong commercial State company, like the ESB, was the model proposed.
Source:The Irish Times
November 10, 2025 14:54 UTC