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Irish Independent
21 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Rent pressure zone now covers entire country as legislation rushed through
All people with existing tenancies, so long as they stay where they are, will only be faced with a 2pc annual rent rise, or the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation, whichever is the lower. Confirmation that all renters are now covered came after the Seanad rushed all stages of the legislation today and it was sent immediately to Áras an Uachtaráin. "Having received and considered the Residential Tenancies (Amendment) Bill 2025, the President has signed the Bill and it has accordingly become law,' a statement from his spokesperson confirmed. The Government rushed through the legislation to head off an expected rush by landlords outside the existing RPZs, which covered most of the country, to increase rents ahead of new rent rules announced by Housing Minister James Browne earlier this month. The new rules are designed to stimulate investment in rental developments, but sparked warnings that they would inevitably lead to rent increases. The Government is being pressured again over the housing crisis after announcing a swathe of new rent and housing measures. New six-year minimum tenancies on offer from March next year have been criticised for allowing landlords to 'reset' rents every six years. Earlier, Housing Minister James Browne said the target to build 41,000 new homes this year is 'not realistic'. Mr Browne has admitted previously that meeting the 2025 target would be 'extremely challenging' and all predictions are trending around 34,000. Speaking on Newstalk on Thursday, he said he is committed to enacting a 'step change' in the housing department and will clear 'the dead wood out of the way so that homes can get delivered'. ADVERTISEMENT 'I think the challenge we have this year is we're coming off a much lower base from last year than was expected,' he said of the housing targets. 'We had hoped for much higher figures last year. 'I think, looking at all of the different predictions, which are fairly consistent, I think 41,000 is not realistic for this year. 'We will wait to see how the year works out. I don't particularly like getting into predictions. 'My position as minister is to maximise supply, maximise the delivery of new homes and, irrespective of what the housing numbers will be this year, I'm making a step change so we can get that housing supply up, because we need to get from 30,000 onto 50,000, on to 60,000 houses. '40,000 houses is nowhere near enough.' The last Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael coalition built more than 130,000 homes between 2020 and 2024, while the current coalition has set a target of in excess of 300,000 new homes between 2025 and 2030. The target for this year is 41,000 new builds, despite the fact the Government missed its target of 33,450 last year and also missed its newbuild social housing target by 1,429 last year. The Central Bank has also projected the Government will miss its own housing targets by a wide margin for the next three years – and on Thursday revised its prediction down further, predicting 32,500 newbuilds by the end of 2025. The Fianna Fail-Fine Gael Government, supported by several independents, has insisted boosting supply is the best way to encourage affordability while opposition parties argue more state-owned homes and regulation is needed. 'We'd gotten to a point with housing where we had seen a very significant increase in supply over the last number of years, and then it's plateaued,' Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris said. 'The job of this government, and the job we're working on day in day out, is to get that momentum back.'
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
President Higgins has ‘no intention' of remaining silent while democracy ‘under threat'
President Michael D Higgins says he has 'no intention' of remaining silent while the bombardment of Gaza continues. Mr Higgins signalled that he does not plan to go quietly into retirement ahead of his second and final term in Áras an Uachtaráin ending in November. He said he believed there was 'no point in what is left of my own life, and all of the rest of it, pretending it is just an ordinary period of time'. 'It is a dangerous period of time when democracy itself is under threat,' he said. READ MORE Mr Higgins was applauded for his remarks which he made to a crowd of some 500 people who gathered in the grounds of the Áras on Sunday to mark Bloomsday , a celebration of James Joyce . He said the Ulysses author lived through two World Wars and was anti-war. The President urged the world not to forget the fate of the people of Gaza even while attention turned to the conflict between Israel and Iran. 'Why has it taken so long to bring food and medicine and water to do those who need it?' he asked regarding the situation in Gaza. 'It was a great human failure. I will have opportunities to address those subjects again.' Mr Higgins's commentary on Gaza has previously drawn the ire of the Israeli government, but he has repeatedly said criticising Israel's actions is not anti-Semitism and to suggest otherwise is a 'disgrace and a slander'. The President also criticised the 'dangerous authoritarianism' that has impacted American academia since at Trump administration took charge. 'What that authoritarianism promises us is a life without the arts, without the contribution of artists, limited public opportunities for sharing cultural experiences and of never being lifted to transcendence by performance in its many forms,' he said. 'Such a life will constitute a much diminished existence, an unfulfilling encounter with life, one devoid of beauty, creativity and human expression. It must be called out for that which it others.' Mr Higgins said his most pleasant days in the Áras involved being surrounded by musicians and other performers. Straw boaters, strawberries and even a smattering of sunshine marked his final celebration of Bloomsday, marking June 16th, 1904, the day that Joyce met Nora Barnacle and immortalised in Ulysses. Regarding Joyce, Mr Higgins said he hoped his term in office would 'repair, or at least gently redress, the often strained relationship between Ireland and one of its most brilliant – and most exiled – sons'. In the course of 14 years as President, he had seen Joyce's grandson Stephen's final wish fulfilled. The Joyce poem A Flower Given to My Daughter was inscribed on the family grave in Fluntern cemetery in Zurich, Switzerland, in honour of the author's daughter Lucia Joyce. Mr Higgins visited Joyce's grave in Zurich in 2018 and in January of last year he unveiled a plaque in Galway's Rahoon cemetery marking the grave of Michael 'Sonny' Bodkin and its connection to Barnacle, Joyce and his masterpiece The Dead. President Michael D Higgins delivering a speech in the grounds of Aras an Uachtárain on Sunday He also awarded the Presidential Distinguished Service Award to Dr Fritz Senn and Prof Enrico Terrinoni for their contributions to Joycean scholarship. Prof Terrinoni brought Ulysses to new life for Italian readers with his translation of the work in 2021. The garden party featured a play, Ulysses aWake, from a Blackrock-based street theatre group written by Nastaise Leddy and Iris Park. Singer Noel O'Grady sang three songs, one of which he dedicated to the singer Johnny Duhan, who tragically drowned last November.
The Irish Sun
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Irish presidential election 2025 odds: Who's in the running for the Áras?
THE IRISH Presidential election is less than six months away, and the leading players in the race to take over from Michael D. Higgins are becoming a little clearer. Ireland will go to the polls on Tuesday, November 11th, to determine who will be the next occupant of the Áras an Uachtaráin, with Higgins stepping down after completing the maximum two terms. Popular politician Mairead McGuinness has appeared as the frontrunner in the race, but with candidates still to be declared, the likes of Frances Black, Bertie Ahern, and several other prominent figures could shake things up. Of course, the race is likely to receive extra attention this year, with former UFC star Conor McGregor looking to use it to gain some political traction of his own. Who is the most likely to end up in the Áras when all is said and done? Join us in this Irish Presidential election odds and betting guide to find out how the bookies think things are shaping up. Irish presidential election 2025 odds Mairead McGuinness - Frances Black - Sean Kelly - Heather Humphreys - Bertie Ahern - Catherine Connolly - Conor McGregor - Odds are subject to change. Where to bet on the Irish presidential election The current political landscape in Ireland Like most major European countries, Ireland finds itself at a political crossroads right now. The 2024 election saw Like the 2020 election, though, the 2024 one showed that there is a serious appetite for change in the country. Sinn Fein, led by Mary Lou McDonald, finished second again, replicating their 2020 result. Of course, the coalition between the two leading parties all but ensures Sinn Fein will not get anywhere near power. However, this is largely seen as papering over the cracks, with this coalition essentially ignoring the will of many voters in the country. From a Presidential perspective, though, things tend to be a little calmer. Michael D. Higgins has been President since 2011 and has been a popular figure in the country. His popularity was emphasised during the 2018 election, where he cruised to a comfortable 55.8% win in the first round of voting. READ MORE SUN STORIES Who are the contenders for the 2025 Irish presidential election? Let's take a more detailed look at the Mairead McGuinness Mairead McGuinness is the clear frontrunner to succeed Michael Higgins in this year's Irish Presidential election. The Fine Gael politician is one of the most experienced and respected senior officials in Ireland. She has held various positions representing Fine Gael and Ireland in Europe, including being the European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services, and the Capital Markets Union from 2020 to 2024. Now that she has stepped down from that role, she appears to be the perfect candidate to take over at the Áras. She is currently priced at 3/4 with LeoVegas. ➡️ Frances Black Those looking for a strongly left-leaning choice in this year's Irish election will be glad to see She won a seat in the Seanad as an independent candidate in 2016 and has been outspoken on several important human rights issues. Given the current divide that exists across Europe, some may see her as too divisive a figure, but she is certainly one to watch as the election gets closer. She is available at 6/1 with NetBet. ➡️ Sean Kelly Fine Gael MEP Sean Kelly has said he will decide by the summer whether or not he is going to run for the presidency, but all signs currently point towards him doing so. The former GAA President knows he will be up against it, with Fine Gael never winning the race to the Aras an Uachtaráin. With opinion polls for party leader Simon Harris not looking too strong, it is difficult to imagine he will break that. The bookies, however, do give him an outside chance, with 888 Sport pricing Sean Kelly at 9/1 to be the next Irish President. ➡️ Heather Humphreys Heather Humphreys has, for the time being, She stepped down from politics during last year's general election, saying that 'politicians are human too' and taking some time away from the public eye. The general consensus among the bookies is that she will make a comeback at some point this year, with NetBet pricing her at 9/1. ➡️ Bertie Ahern Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is another name that has been gaining traction in discussions surrounding this year's presidential election. Ahern returned to politics after an over a decade's hiatus in 2023, sparking speculation that he might be considering a run for Áras. While he has certainly had his ups and downs over the years, he has been one of Ireland's most prominent, best-known, and popular politicians since the 1980s, and could be seen as a bit of a unifying figure in potentially tough times ahead. 888 Sport currently has Bertie Ahern priced at 10/1 to become the next Irish President. ➡️ Catherine Connolly Catherine Connolly, the current TD for Galway West, is another name that has been doing the rounds in the discussion for the next Irish President. Connolly is a well-respected name in Irish politics, having served as an Independent TD for Galway West since 2016. Before entering parliament, she served as Mayor of Galway between 2004 and 2005 and has also previously chaired the Irish Language Committee. She may be seen as a softer, left-leaning candidate compared to Frances Black and could certainly appeal to some moderates. She is available at 10/1 with NetBet. ➡️ Conor McGregor While he is extremely unlikely to even come close to the Áras, Conor McGregor's high-profile claims that he is going to run for President will no doubt dominate the headlines leading up to this year's election. The former UFC star is a divisive figure who will look to ride a wave of populism into power. His strong anti-immigration, pro-Irish stance will be popular with some members of the public, but ultimately, his involvement here is nothing more than a sideshow. ➡️ How might the odds shift between now and November? While there is still time for plenty of twists and turns in the lead-up to the Irish Presidential election in November, these races tend to be a lot less chaotic than some of their European counterparts, or even the Irish general election. Public interest in Presidential elections does not tend to be as rife as it is for general elections. However, the involvement of Conor McGregor, whether he manages to secure a candidacy or not, will no doubt shine a bit more of a spotlight on this year's race. Like any election, there is always the chance that some sort of scandal will shake things up, and there are still debates to go before the event. As such, I recommend monitoring the odds throughout the entire election cycle and be prepared to pounce on big odds shifts, but don't expect the wild ride you might get in other elections. How do Irish presidential elections work? The Irish Presidential election system uses a thorough voting process to ensure the best candidate is elected to the role. To run for presidency, candidates must be nominated by either 20 members of the Oireachtas (parliament) or by at least four local authorities. Once the candidates have been confirmed, nationwide voting occurs using the Single Transferable Vote system. The public votes using a ranking system, selecting their candidates in order of preference. To win the election, a candidate must secure over 50% of the vote. If no candidate achieves this during a round, then the lowest-scoring candidate is removed. Their votes are then distributed to their voters' second choices. This process then continues until a candidate secures more than 50% of the overall vote and is confirmed as the winner. Keeping on top of the Irish presidential race If you want to keep up with all of the twists and turns in this year's Irish Presidential race, be sure to check back in with us at The Sun regularly. We are committed to providing the most in-depth election coverage around, keeping our readers up to speed with the latest polls, debates, odds, and more. About the author James Anderson James Anderson is a Betting & Gaming Writer at The Sun. He is an expert in sports betting and online casinos, and joined the company in November 2020 to work closely with leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to curate content in all areas of sports betting. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter and Head of Live Blogs/Events at the Daily Express and Daily Star, covering football, cricket, snooker, F1 and horse racing. Responsible gambling A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry, or depressed Problem gambling – Gamble Aware – Help with gambling addiction If you have a problem with gambling, or you know someone who does, help is out there. Extern Problem Gambling is the leading provider of information, treatment, advice, and support for anyone affected by gambling harms across Ireland. Most read in Betting
The Journal
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
'I was always with them': Man separated from family after deportation from Ireland to Nigeria
A MAN DEPORTED by the Irish government on a chartered flight to Nigeria last week has said he has been separated by his family because of the move. Rasheed Dimeji Ismail is challenging the deportation on the grounds that the State accepted that his wife Basirat and their three daughters faced threats of female genital mutilation if returned to Nigeria – yet he was still sent there. Rasheed – who is a chairman of a community garden organisation in Clondalkin in Dublin, after coming to Ireland three years ago – was among the 35 people deported to the west African country on the flight . It's the third such chartered deportation flight in the lifetime of the government. The 43-year-old was among a group of people deported last week who spoke to The Journal over a Zoom call today. He said he believes that the deportations are largely down to the government making them a 'scapegoat' because of the 'far-right and the anti-immigrant protests'. Rasheed and his solicitor are seeking for Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan to reverse the deportation. They have also expressed serious concern over the welfare of his wife who was receiving hospital treatment for a respiratory condition. 'I need to see my family,' Rasheed said. 'After my wife gave birth to my first born, I've never missed one week – I was always with them and if I was not with them, I would be with them on the phone.' He also called on O'Callaghan to come face to face with the men, women and children he had deported. 'The minister should see what they are doing to people,' he said. Advertisement 'My children were doing well in school, I was doing well, my wife was working, I was working before the deportation order. These are the people contributing to the country. We are all human.' Maeve Murphy, the chief executive of Clondalkin Global Garden where Rasheed volunteered and elected as chairman, told The Journal that it was important to see him returned. She said he was a respected member of the community in Clondalkin, even attending Áras an Uachtaráin last year for an event honouring volunteer groups with the president. Rasheed and Sabina Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in 2023. His wife and three daughters – aged 13, ten and seven – were saved from deportation thanks to a last-minute injunction secured by the family's solicitor, on grounds that they faced threats of female genital mutilation if returned to Nigeria. Despite this reprieve for his family, Rashid was still deported as his solicitor could not make an application in time. Legal challenge Faisal Sadiq Khan, of FSK Solicitors, said that his firm is contending Rasheed's deportation on the grounds that it was not in compliance with the spirit of the law and international protection rules. 'His family in the state are also at a greater risk, and they're not able to look after themselves. His wife is really ill, and she's not able to look after their children without his help,' Khan said. Rashid's efforts to protect his wife and children from female genital mutilation have made him a target of the same groups, Khan said. 'Because of the brutality of the practice and the location where he is at, and the level of political support for that kind of practice, he is a specific target now because of what he had done,' Khan said. Rasheed would be able to return if the State approves his wife Basirat's application to remain, but another route exists if the State accepts that his removal and the separation of the family was incorrect. 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
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Ray Burke on how the books of almost every Irish writer of note were banned in the last century
President Michael D. Higgins told a gathering of librarians that he was hosting at a Bloomsday Garden Party at Áras an Uachtaráin last June about a visit he made to the public library in Galway shortly after he moved there more than 60 years ago to work for the Electricity Supply Board before enrolling at the local university. Having climbed the stairs to the library (housed at that time in Galway's 19th century county courthouse) he asked if he could borrow the book 'Why I Am Not a Christian' by the British philosopher and Nobel Literature Laureate Bertrand Russell. He said that the librarian told him: 'I cannot give you that book'. He said that when he asked her why not, she replied: 'Because it would not be good for you'. The impromptu denial suffered by the future President of Ireland was possible under the Censorship of Publications Acts that dated back to 1929 and that prohibited the importation into Ireland of more than 12,000 publications, mainly books or magazines, that were deemed by State-appointed censorship boards to be 'indecent or obscene' and likely 'to corrupt or deprave'. READ MORE Almost every Irish writer of note had their books banned under the acts during the last century, irrespective of their international renown. Brendan Behan used to quip that in Ireland he was 'the leader of the banned'. Edna O'Brien had hardback first editions of her early novels confiscated by customs officers at Dublin Airport in 1966 when she arrived from London to attend a debate on censorship. Galway libraries had been banning books even before the Censorship Acts came into force. 'Every effort has been made by the committee to ensure that no books of an objectionable nature should be allowed to circulate', the minutes of the first meeting of the Galway County Council Libraries Committee in May 1926 state. At the same meeting, the committee – successor to the County Galway Carnegie Libraries – approved a report from the chief librarian that said: 'No little difficulty has been experienced in book selection, particularly in dealing with works of fiction as the general tendency in recent years of authors has lain more in the realm of sex, psychoanalysis, and other objectionable studies totally extraneous to any story'. In February 1927, the committee resolved that copies of all books recommended for purchase be supplied 'to each member of the committee, the [Catholic] Archbishop of Tuam, and the Bishop of Galway'. Two months later it invited the two bishops to submit lists of books for purchase. An early-1950s annual meeting of the committee noted: 'It was proposed by county councillor Tom King, seconded by Tadg O'Shea, and resolved that printed slips be inserted in every book issued at headquarters, branches and centres, asking readers to draw the attention of the county librarian 'to any objectionable book' and that lists of books for purchase be submitted to the book selection sub-committtee (which included a number of Catholic priests). This may explain how Tom Kenny, of Kennys Bookshop in Galway, came into possession of a rare copy of James Joyce's 'Ulysses. 'It was a surprise some years ago when we bought an elderly local priest's library to discover a two-volume paperback set of Ulysses' by James Joyce which was published by the Odyssey Press. We got an even bigger shock when we opened the flyleaf and discovered the signature ` + M. Browne 1938′ – Cross Michael himself, the bishop', Tom has recalled. An earlier, even-rarer copy of Ulysses had been censored by immolation in Galway shortly after its publication in 1922. Joyce sent a first edition to another Galway bookseller, Frank O'Gorman, in whose printing works Joyce's partner and future wife, Nora Barnacle, may have worked occasional, casual shifts. It was inscribed 'To Frank, with best wishes, Nora and Jim', but Frank O'Gorman's mother promptly burned it. Her grandson Ronnie, a respected local historian and founder of the Galway Advertiser freesheet, last year donated his collection of rare and valuable books to the University of Galway shortly before his death after an illness. It included an expensively acquired first edition of Ulysses and also a limited first edition of the book with illustrations by the French artist Henri Matisse, signed by both the artist and by Joyce. A few months before Ronnie O'Gorman's death, the then minister for justice, Helen McEntee, announced, in November 2023, that she had obtained government approval to repeal the Censorship of Publications Acts. She acknowledged that censorship boards 'are of limited relevance in a modern society'.
