Latest news with #Nolan
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Chief of Irish medicines' watchdog appointed to take over European Union Drugs Agency
Lorraine Nolan, who was chief executive of the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) overseeing medicines in Ireland, will taken up the prestigious European role. Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne congratulated Dr Lorraine Nolan on her appointment. Dr Nolan was elected by a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot by the EUDA Management Board following a competitive public recruitment process and will take office on January 1, 2026. Minister Byrne said: "This appointment is one of which Ireland is immensely proud. Dr Nolan's distinguished career and expertise uniquely position her to guide EUDA through its important mission of addressing one of the most significant challenges facing our societies today." The European Union Drugs Agency plays a crucial role in monitoring, analysing, and responding to drug-related threats across the European Union. Under Dr Nolan's leadership, the agency will continue to strengthen its capacity to address the evolving nature of drug markets and their associated harms, he said. Minister Byrne added: 'I am confident that the EUDA will benefit enormously from Dr Nolan's expertise and vision. It is fantastic to see an Irish person elected to lead such a prominent and important EU agency. "I very much look forward to working with her in her new capacity and to continuing Ireland's strong collaboration with EUDA. 'Ireland strongly welcomes and supports the appointment of Irish nationals to senior leadership positions with EU institutions and agencies. Such appointments reflect Ireland's commitment to European integration and our ability to contribute experienced skilled professionals to key roles that benefit the entire European Union.' It was announced by the HPRA recently that Dr Nolan will step down from her position as head of the HPRA at the end of this year to pursue new career options. ADVERTISEMENT Dr Nolan has served as the Chief Executive of the HPRA for over nine years and, by the end of 2025, she will have completed two terms in this leadership role. During her tenure, she has successfully guided the organisation through a significant transformation of its key regulatory functions and an expansion of its operations, elevating the standing of the HPRA on national, European and international levels. In addition, her determined and strategic leadership during Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic ensured the national regulator for medicines and medical devices made a vital contribution to the successful navigation of these challenges. The HPRA said Dr Nolan has been a significant contributor to the leadership of both medicines and medical device regulation at European level. Through her former position as Chair of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Management Board (2022-2025) and her membership of the Heads of Medicines Agency (HMA) Management Group, she has held many significant roles at this level that have both defined strategy and positively enhanced delivery. Professor Michael Donnelly, Chair of the HPRA, said: 'I wish to commend Dr Nolan for her unwavering leadership and dedication to the organisation. "Her tenure has been marked by significant achievements and a hugely positive, enduring legacy. I want to express both my personal thanks and that of the Authority to Lorraine for her service and wish her every success with her future endeavours.' The Authority is commencing the process for recruitment of a new Chief Executive of the HPRA to take up the position from January 2026.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Irish Sun
Ireland to sizzle in huge 29C heat blast as Met Eireann forecast ‘very warm sunshine' & temps hotter than Canary Islands
IRELAND is set to bask in sizzling temperatures this week as forecasters have predicted a 29C heat blast to hit in some areas. And the scorcher will leave Ireland hotter than 3 Today and tomorrow will see the past of the heat Credit: Meteologix 3 Met Eireann have promised temps are set pass out holiday hotspots Credit: X Today "very warm sunshine" is set to hit with 26C expected in some areas across the country today. Meteorologist Cathal Nolan from Ireland's He said: "Temperatures are on the rise right the way across the country today, with values by this afternoon reaching up to 25C over the southern half of the country where skies will clear early and long spells of warm summer sunshine develop. "Temperatures will continue to climb tomorrow with long spells of sunshine developing once again after some initial cloud in a few spots. Read more in News "Friday remains warm or very warm with highs again reaching up to 27C or possibly 28C in one or two favoured locations with plenty of sunshine developing once again across the country." Meanwhile, They said: "Friday, will be a very warm or hot day overall, dry with spells of high "Pretty humid as well with top values of 20C to 29C in mostly moderate southeast breezes with the hottest conditions likely towards the north of Ireland." Most read in Irish News Saturday brings some warm sunshine but also a scattering of heavy showers, most of those in across the western half of Ireland. Highs of 23C to 24C are expected but there's also the risk of the showery spells of rain. Ireland to sizzle in 24C heat as heatwave arrives and Met Eireann reveal hottest areas Met Eireann added: "Winds change though on Sunday with fresher breezier conditions with showery spells of rain. "Some heavy bursts here and there with top values of 15C to 20C with best values towards the east and that comes with brisk westerly winds. "And early next week bringing similar conditions with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers for Monday and Tuesday. "And possibly wet weather following for Wednesday and Thursday to though brief and misty foggy start, but with warm sunshine developing widely." Meteorologist Nolan added that early indications suggest that the weather next week will be more unsettled. He said: "Early indications suggest that next week will be more unsettled with low pressure to our west or northwest, high pressure to our south or southeast and a warm, humid southwesterly airflow covering Ireland with some rain forecast, but also some warmer, drier interludes in what is likely to be rather typical Irish summer conditions." SWITCH TO COME Forecaster Alan O'Reilly of He said: "There is a chance that we could see some low pressure systems for a little while before high pressure hopefully builds back. "But enjoy that warm sunshine, don't forget the sunscreen and be careful around water." 3 Temps could be at 29C tomorrow Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
‘It's peace of mind when your blood sugar levels are consistent' – Liam Nolan aims to join fellow diabetes sufferer JJ Spaun at The Open
The Galway golfer (25) lies ninth in the race for 20 DP World Tour cards after racking up three top-four finishes in his first ten starts on the second-tier HotelPlanner Tour. There's a long way to go before the Barna, Co Galway native can dream of teeing it up on the main tour next year, but he resumes work in France next week with a spring in his step and some big goals. Not only has he signed a new sponsorship deal with DexCom, a global leader in real-time continuous glucose monitoring for people with diabetes, but he's also excited about building on a great start to the season and trying to qualify for The Open for the second year running. 'I'm delighted,' said Nolan, who watched with interest as fellow Type 1 diabetes suffering Spaun upstaged the stars to win the US Open at Oakmont on Sunday. 'Dexcom make those continuous glucose monitors, and they've just opened up their main manufacturing site for Europe in Galway, which will provide 1,000 jobs. 'So I was very excited when that happened and then they got the naming rights for Connacht's rugby stadium, which is the Dexcom stadium now. 'It just seemed like a perfect fit, me being from Galway, being a type one diabetic, and having a degree in Biomedical Engineering, it just made good sense. And they saw it the same way. So we were able to do a deal. Which is amazing.' Nolan was diagnosed as Type 1 diabetic when he was 14, but while Spaun was misdiagnosed initially as Type 2 in 2018, he got the correct diagnosis in 2021 and hasn't looked back. 'He started playing really well when he got the right treatment and it was great to see him win,' Nolan said. 'He definitely played the best.' Nolan was never misdiagnosed, but he has been playing brilliantly since turning professional and knows that close control of his condition is key. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more 'I have probably the best control over my blood sugar levels that I've ever had,' said Nolan, who, like Spaun, wears a blood sugar monitor on the course. 'And that frees you up to go and perform in every tournament. 'It's like a peace of mind thing when your blood sugar levels are consistent and within the right kind of parameters.' Nolan has not been quite as consistent on the course but while he has missed six cuts, most were by small margins and he's looking to build on his start to the season over the summer months. 'It's hard to know how your first year as a pro is going to go like you,' said the former Walker Cup player, who takes as much confidence from grinding to make the cut as he does from contending. 'You want to be confident in your own ability, but there's a bit of uncertainty there, so it's nice to know that my game kind of stacks up well to the pro life.' His next run of tournaments features the Irish Challenge at Killeen Castle in August, but he's also looking forward to competing in Final Qualifying for The Open at Dundonald Links on July 1. 'I qualified for The Open at Dundonald Links last year, so hopefully that'll conjure up some good memories,' Nolan said. 'It's just a really good test of ball striking and you're pretty much guaranteed the most wind and adverse conditions of any of the qualifying spots, which is why I went there last year. So I'm delighted to be going back there.' Nolan missed the cut at Royal Troon and admitted he was on cloud nine all week. But he plans to treat it like any other event if he qualifies this time around. 'I learned so much last year and prepared not how I would prepare for any other tournament, just because of how excited I was to be there,' he said. 'I was a bit giddier than I usually would be at a golf tournament. So, hopefully, all is going well this year; I want to go back to The Open but prepare how I would prepare for any other tournament. 'It was good to play my first major as an amateur, and make your mistakes then and learn from them. But I also wouldn't change how I prepared last time because it was a dream come true.' As for securing his DP World Tour card via the HotelPlanner Tour rankings, he admits he's not a fan of looking at where he stands in the Road to Mallorca list. 'I just try and go and play and try and win,' he explained. 'I don't think it benefits me knowing where I am.' As one of the more health-conscious players on tour, he won't be playing non-stop but choosing his schedule carefully before re-assessing things before the last few crucial events when the cards are on the line. 'I'll keep my head down until after the Dutch Challenge,' he said. 'When I'm at a tournament, I like to be fully rested and ready to go. I have a great team around me and great support, and DexCom is a great addition.'
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Irish woman Lorraine Nolan appointed head of EU's drug agency
Lorraine Nolan has been appointed to the high-profile role as head of the EU's drug agency. She was appointed executive director of the European Union Drugs Agency after receiving a two-thirds majority in a secret ballot, holding off competition from two other candidates. Since 2016, Ms Nolan has been the chief executive of Ireland's Health Products Regulatory Authority, the agency in charge of regulating medicines, medical devices, and similar products. She is a former chair of the management board of the European Medicines Agency, and has been lead support to Irish ministers for health in drug policy development. She holds a PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry from Trinity, and has also worked as a forensic scientist for the Department of Justice. Ms Nolan will take the role at the beginning of next year. Based in Lisbon, Portugal, the EU's Drugs Agency aims to support bloc-wide policymaking by providing evidence-based information on drugs, drug addiction, and their consequences. Last week, for example, it warned that Europe is facing an emerging threat from synthetic drugs — including artificial substances that mimic cannabis, heroin, and stimulants. Read More Hiqa CEO apologises at Oireachtas committee for 'failings' over nursing home abuses
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will Smith Rejected Nolan's ‘Inception' Because He Didn't Get the Plot
The next time Will Smith gets offered an alternate reality sci-fi thriller, he should seriously consider just saying, 'Yes!' First, the actor admitted he turned down The Matrix, which cast Keanu Reeves instead. More from The Hollywood Reporter Box Office: John Wick Spinoff 'Ballerina' Opens to Sluggish $25 Million, 'Lilo & Stitch' Rules With $32.5 Million 'Ballerina' Director Len Wiseman Talks Scrapped 'John Wick 3' Connections and the Truth About Additional Photography 'John Wick' Boss Chad Stahelski Gets Candid About Franchise: "My Process Is F***ed" Now Smith confirms he also turned down the lead role Christopher Nolan's Inception, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio. 'I don't think I've ever said it publicly before, but I am going to say it now because we are opening up to one another,' Smith told the radio station KISS XTRA, with a fair amount of good humor. 'Chris Nolan brought me Inception first and I didn't get it. I've never said that out loud. Now that I think about it, it's those movies that go into those alternate realities they don't pitch well. But I am hurt by those, too … It hurts too bad to talk about.' The Independence Day star turning down 1999's The Matrix is actually pretty understandable, as writers-directors The Wachowskis were still an unknown quantity at the time. Rejecting 2010's Inception when Nolan was coming off his blockbuster masterpiece The Dark Knight, however, seems like a more baffling move. Yet he wasn't the only A-list actor to pass on the role — likely due to Nolan's high-pressure casting strategy. In Inception, the lead character plants ideas in people's dreams as a novel form of corporate espionage. As The Hollywood Reporter revealed at the time, Nolan first offered the twisty script to Brad Pitt but demanded the actor accept within 48 hours. When Pitt didn't commit, Nolan went to Smith. When Smith didn't accept, Nolan sent it to DiCaprio, who took it. 'It's never couched as, 'Hey, I'm more important than you, therefore just say yes,'' said an executive, noting big stars 'are used to having people wait a year or more' before they commit and 'usually don't have to board a moving train.' Inception went on to gross more than $800 million at the global box office. Needless to say, nowadays the Oscar-winning director can probably get top actors to sign onto a project even without showing them a script. As for The Matrix, Smith has candidly detailed the pitch meeting for that project and recently did a music video for 'Beautiful Scars' where Smith played a parody version of Neo. 'I'm not proud of it, but it's the truth, all right, I did turn down Neo in The Matrix,' Smith said in a YouTube video posted five years ago. 'After we made Men in Black, the Wachowskis came in and they'd only done one movie. They did a movie called Bound. And then they made a pitch for The Matrix. And as it turns out, they're geniuses, but there's a fine line in a pitch meeting between genius and what I experienced in the meeting. So this is the actual pitch that they made for The Matrix …' At this point in the video, Smith humorously enacted a meeting where the Wachowskis enthuse confusingly about various wild action moves the character would be doing, but didn't discuss the film's plot or character ('And then we'll put in 50 cameras, and you'll see the whole jump while you stop in the middle of the jump …'). 'So I made Wild Wild West [instead],' Smith admitted, referring to his notorious 1999 sci-fi flop. Having said that, Smith added, 'Keanu was perfect. Laurence Fishburne was perfect. If I had done it, because I'm Black, [Fishburne's character] Morpheus wouldn't have been Black because they were looking at Val Kilmer [for] Morpheus. So I probably would have messed The Matrix up. I would have ruined it. I did y'all a favor.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
