Ayoola Atitebi

Ireland is joining a European maritime intelligence-sharing alliance to enhance its surveillance capabilities in EU waters. Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris has authorized the Defence Forces to formally join the Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE), a voluntary, decentralized network for sharing maritime surveillance information among EU and EEA countries and agencies. CISE enables various authorities, including coast guards, naval services, and customs, to exchange data securely in real time. Military and civil agencies from ten other European nations, including Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Norway, and Portugal, are already members of this recently operational alliance. The European Commission oversees the process while encouraging all EU countries to participate. Importantly, participants maintain control over their data and decide what information to share. Each member connects through a CISE "node" serving as a secure gateway for information exchange. Ireland's node will be […]

A former Assistant Garda Commissioner has donated a significant portion of his legal settlement to charity after successfully challenging his suspension by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Fintan Fanning, who is now pursuing studies to become a deacon in the Catholic Church, received damages and legal fees that reportedly cost the State approximately €250,000. Harris suspended Fanning and removed him from his position as Assistant Commissioner for the Eastern Region in January 2019 after the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) initiated an investigation based on allegations in a protected disclosure from another garda. Following Fanning's High Court challenge, he was reinstated the next month. GSOC subsequently informed the Commissioner that Fanning was no longer subject to a criminal investigation. Fanning has consistently maintained that his suspension was "unlawful, unprecedented and bizarre." The High Court heard that Commissioner Harris had told Fanning […]

The Government has defended its decision not to reconvene the Oireachtas committee on Traveller issues with Independent Senator Eileen Flynn as chair. Senator Flynn, who made history as the first Traveller elected to the Seanad, expressed disappointment at the decision. "Lived experience brings an invaluable perspective that cannot be replicated through well-intentioned advocacy," she stated last Thursday. She further emphasized that "the potential absence of a Traveller voice chairing, or even sitting on this committee constitutes a fundamental failure of representative democracy." In response, the Government explained that all 28 Oireachtas committees were distributed through the d'Hondt selection process last Wednesday at the Committee on Standing Orders and Dáil reform, with no objections raised by any party or grouping. According to the Government, making an exception for one committee would have resulted in the Opposition losing a committee chair, as […]

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has cautioned that the European Union needs "to be careful about what we put on the table" during tariff negotiations with the United States. Speaking on a program, Chambers emphasized that lowering tariffs between nations has been fundamental to decades of economic prosperity. "We want to preserve the extent of the interdependence that exists between Ireland and the US," he stated. The Minister's remarks follow US President Donald Trump's decision on Wednesday to pause tariffs on dozens of countries—including Ireland—for 90 days, allowing time for officials to negotiate with countries seeking reductions. Despite this temporary reprieve, a 10% blanket duty on almost all imports remains in effect. In contrast, the tariffs on Chinese goods were not paused but instead increased dramatically to 145%. Chambers acknowledged the unpredictability of future tariff developments, particularly regarding pharmaceuticals, […]

Chinese officials are urging US President Donald Trump to "completely cancel" his reciprocal tariffs as trade tensions between the world's two largest economies continue to intensify. Trump recently announced a 90-day delay for various global tariffs he had planned, but increased levies on Chinese imports to 145%. In response, China's commerce ministry released a statement calling on the US to "take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of 'reciprocal tariffs' and return to the right path of mutual respect." The Trump administration made a partial concession Friday by announcing exemptions for certain technological products, including many manufactured in China. The Chinese commerce ministry described this as a "small step" and stated they were "evaluating the impact" of these exemptions. Trump's technology exemptions—covering smartphones, computers, and semiconductors—provided some relief for tech companies and consumers concerned […]

In Paris's Tuileries gardens, American tourists Rick and Barbara Wilson are taking unusual precautions. Rick, 74, covered the American flag on his baseball cap with black tape before venturing out on their first trip to France. "We're sick about it. It's horrible," said Rick, describing their embarrassment following President Trump's recent tariff decisions. Barbara, 70, even carried a Canadian lapel pin as potential cover. Nearby, New York attorney Chris Epps deliberately left his Yankees hat at the hotel. "People might treat us differently," he explained. While there's no indication Americans are unwelcome in France, Trump's trade policies have intensified perceptions of a widening transatlantic rift. Early evidence suggests changing travel patterns and attitudes. Philippe Gloaguen, founder of France's prestigious Le Guide du Routard travel guides, reported a 25% drop in orders for US guidebooks this year. "I'm very proud of […]

In a small Texas town, Mennonite community members gathered with health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr to mourn eight-year-old Daisy Hildebrand, the second unvaccinated girl to die from measles in two months. Local health director Zach Holbrooks joined the reception after her funeral. "The focus was on their healing," he said. "You never want to see a child that young pass away from any illness, especially when there is prevention - the MMR vaccine." Holbrooks, unvaccinated against measles as a child, got shots in college and again in February when Seminole became the epicenter of one of America's worst measles outbreaks in a decade. The US has recorded over 700 cases this year, with 541 in western Texas and 56 hospitalizations. Cases in neighboring states are linked to the outbreak. The two child deaths are the first US measles fatalities […]

A US man using the online alias "Mr Satan" has been charged with threatening to assassinate President Donald Trump and other government officials, according to a Department of Justice announcement. Shawn Monper, 32, was detained and charged in a federal criminal complaint with "making threats to assault and murder" Trump and other US officials, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The DOJ stated that the FBI received an emergency message regarding threatening posts on YouTube by a user calling himself "Mr Satan," whose internet activity was traced to Monper's residence. In a notable coincidence, Monper is from Butler, Pennsylvania - the same location where Trump narrowly escaped assassination during a campaign rally last July. According to the DOJ, shortly after Trump's January inauguration, Monper obtained a firearms permit and commented from his account that he had "bought several guns […]

An immigration judge has ruled that pro-Palestinian student protester and US permanent resident Mahmoud Khalil can be deported following detention by the Trump administration, according to his attorney. Assistant Chief Immigration Judge Jamee Comans, based in Louisiana, determined the federal government had proven grounds for deportation. Khalil's lawyer Marc van der Hout condemned the ruling, stating: "Today, we saw our worst fears play out: Mahmoud was subject to a charade of due process, a flagrant violation of his right to a fair hearing, and a weaponisation of immigration law to suppress dissent. This is not over, and our fight continues." The Columbia University student, who became a prominent figure in protests responding to Israel's war in Gaza, has not yet been scheduled for deportation. The judge granted his attorneys until April 23 to seek a waiver. Khalil is married to […]

A driver who killed a nine-year-old boy while traveling at twice the speed limit has been sentenced to five years in prison and banned from driving for 20 years after fleeing the scene and going on a drugs and alcohol binge. Sergee Kelly, 24, from Upper Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Ronan Wilson on September 23, 2023, in Bundoran, Co Donegal. Kelly also admitted failing to stop, assist, or remain at the scene. Kelly was driving between 105-110km/h in a 50km/h zone when he struck Ronan, who was walking with two other children. The impact was so severe that the boy was thrown 58 meters. After the collision, Kelly returned to Bundoran, visited pubs, an arcade, consumed alcohol and cocaine, and then took a taxi home. Judge John Aylmer stated that had Kelly […]