Aontú deputy leader accuses Sinn Féin of ‘smoke and mirrors' tactics over voting rights bill
Gemma Brolly calls on party to explain why it hasn't backed presidential election proposals
Aontú is calling on Sinn Féin to explain why it hasn't signed a bill in the Dáil to give Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland the right to vote in the Republic's presidential election.
The party's deputy leader, Gemma Brolly, said she was 'hugely frustrated' at Sinn Féin's failure so far to respond to correspondence from Aontú leader Peadar Toibín on the issue. Sinn Féin has been contacted for comment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Council issues enforcement order to Dublin Airport for breaching cap of 32 million passengers
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL has issued an enforcement order to the DAA giving it a two year period to comply with its planning conditions as it has breached the 32 million annual passenger cap for Dublin Airport. A spokesperson for the council said that this gives the DAA an opportunity to progress their 'planning applications to increase passenger capacity at Dublin Airport or take such other steps as they consider appropriate to achieve compliance'. The council received complaints that Dublin Airport had breached its annual passenger cap in 2023 and 2024 and launched a formal investigation. A warning letter was issued to the DAA previously. A spokesperson for the DAA said that passenger numbers for the airport will be north of 36 million this year and will be heading towards 40 million by the end of the decade. Advertisement They said the enforcement order is a 'sorry indictment of the mess that is the Irish planning system, particularly when it comes to the most vital piece of transport infrastructure on this island'. The DAA called for the system to be overhauled immediately. 'Our national airport is hamstrung and can't get on with its mandate to grow Ireland's connectivity. The passenger cap on Dublin Airport needs to be removed once and for all,' the organisation said. The DAA further said that the current Government committed to acting speedily when it took up office to bring forward a legislative solution to the passenger cap. The residents group Residents at Dublin Airport accused the airport authority of acting with 'arrogance' and 'thumbing its nose at the planning process while demanding the Government facilitate what amounts to unrestricted air passenger numbers'. Spokesperson Liam O Gradaigh said: 'The airport authority is obliged to provide noise pollution data to the noise regulator, ANCA, in support of its application for 40 million passengers. That request was made in March last year and daa has still not provided the information required by the regulator.' 'Instead, they have demanded that the planning process for sustainable passenger numbers at the airport be stripped from the local authority and given to some national quango. That is the policy of Heads I win, Tails you lose,' he added. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Irish diplomats are to be evacuated from Iran
THE GOVERNMENT IS to temporarily bring its diplomats home to Ireland from its embassy in Tehran as bombing continues between Iran and Israel. Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said he has made the decision due to the 'deteriorating situation' in Iran, which was first attacked by Israel one week ago. High level meetings have been taking place between Ireland and other EU and British officials to discuss how to deal with the rescue of citizens trapped in Tehran. It is understood that a European nation will carry the Irish diplomats out of their base in Tehran and transport them to safety by road. The most likely destination is Azerbaijan. The journey out for the embassy diplomats and staff is thought to be at least 11 hours by road. In a statement this evening, Harris said the Department of Foreign Affairs has been closely engaged on the situation in Iran and the continuing conflict between Israel and Iran, holding discussions with European and regional counterparts in recent days. A 'small number' of Irish citizens remain in Iran and would continue to have contact with the embassy from its new base in Dublin, Harris continued. 'Due to the deteriorating situation in Iran, I've decided to temporarily bring our diplomats home from Tehran. The safety of our Embassy staff is paramount,' Harris said in the statement. Advertisement Due to the deteriorating situation in Iran, I've decided to temporarily bring our diplomats home from Tehran. The safety of our Embassy staff is paramount. Operations will continue from Dublin. Grateful to Ambassador Laoise Moore and team for their service. — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 20, 2025 'I have become increasingly concerned about the operational environment for our Embassy in Tehran, and the ability of our diplomatic staff to perform their functions safely. 'In light of the deteriorating situation, following consultation with my officials and in close consultation and coordination with EU partners, I have decided to temporarily relocate our personnel from Tehran.' Harris added: 'This is not a decision that I have taken lightly. Arrangements have been made for the Embassy to continue its operations from Dublin. Staff at my Department's headquarters have assumed the Embassy's consular functions and remain in contact with the small number of Irish citizens remaining in Iran.' The Fine Gael leader said that his department's travel advice remains that Irish citizens should not undertake travel to Iran. 'Citizens who live there and who wish to leave might consider departing through one of the land borders that is open, as long as it remains safe to do so,' Harris said. The department statement added that those who may be concerned about the well-being of friends or family located in Iran can contact our consular team at +353 (0)1 408 2527 (or +353 (0)1 408 2000 out of hours). 'My hope is that a diplomatic solution can be found to resolve this conflict, without further escalation or further loss of life in Iran or in Israel,' Harris said. 'I continue to call for restraint and de-escalation by both Israel and Iran. I will discuss latest developments with my EU counterparts in Brussels on Monday.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
4 hours ago
- Irish Times
The Irish Times view on caring for older people: deserving of dignity, gratitude and respect
Much is rightly made of the statements of intent and idealism that characterised the foundation documents of this Republic. These included the Democratic Programme unveiled at the meeting of the first Dáil in January 1919, in which 'The Irish Republic fully realises the necessity of abolishing the present odious, degrading and foreign Poor Law System, substituting therefor a sympathetic native scheme for the care of the Nation's aged and infirm, who shall not be regarded as a burden, but rather entitled to the Nation's gratitude and consideration'. At the centre of that poor law system established under British rule was the workhouse, which was feared and detested in equal measure. While independent Irish governments subsequently sought to develop a more humane and empathetic social contract, the care of our elderly population has for far too long been compromised, sometimes egregiously. There is excessive reliance on nursing homes, a dependency more alarming given the shortcomings in Ireland's history of institutional care. There has also been a dramatic shift towards the privatisation of these homes. In the 1980s, public nursing homes accounted for roughly 60 per cent of total beds nationally, but a report from the ESRI last year highlighted that in 2022, '83 per cent of all Long-Term Residential Care (LTRC) home beds were provided by voluntary/private sector LTRC homes, with private for-profit operators alone contributing 74 per cent'. Considering the recent revelations by RTÉ Investigates, the Minister of State for Older People and Housing, Kieran O'Donnell, has said he has 'concerns' about the scale of privatisation and has ordered officials to study this issue . The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has highlighted the need to give it more power in relation to private nursing homes and their corporate owners. READ MORE The current controversies are all the more disturbing given it is 20 years since distressing images of the use of Buxton chairs to restrain elderly nursing home residents at the Leas Cross home in Dublin. A subsequent report by consultant geriatrician Desmond O'Neill described the care shortcomings at the home as 'institutional abuse'. As was often and remains the case, various concerns had been raised but it took journalistic exposé to bring matters to a head. In 2022, our population aged 65 years and over was 781,400 and is set to reach over one million by 2030. The number aged over 85 is projected to rise to 301,000 by 2051. What has been uncovered must generate an urgent dynamic to address the care of our elderly, who now, no more than when their needs were voiced by the architects of Irish independence, need to be treated with the dignity, gratitude and respect they deserve.
