Politics

Four Dublin local authorities have been collaborating on a proposal to implement a tourist tax on hotel rooms in the capital, but the Government appears unlikely to support the initiative. The proposed tax would generate an estimated €12 million annually by adding a charge to tourists' hotel bills. Local councillors have suggested these funds could be directed toward improving amenities throughout Dublin. However, Minister for Tourism Peter Burke is reportedly not planning to introduce such a tax in the near future, focusing instead on the short-term letting bill as his priority. A Government source indicated that while Ireland provides good value for tourists, it is not considered a low-cost destination, making additional costs potentially problematic for the tourism sector. Minister for Culture Patrick O'Donovan has also expressed opposition to the idea, stating he would not welcome a tourist tax and […]

The US will abandon efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless clear progress emerges, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end," Rubio stated, adding that the US had "other priorities to focus on." Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has placed various conditions on potential ceasefire terms. Despite the Trump administration's initial confidence in securing a quick agreement, ceasefire attempts have stalled, with Washington attributing blame to both sides. Following discussions with European leaders in Paris on Thursday, Rubio told reporters: "We need to determine very quickly now - and I'm talking about a matter of days - whether or not this is doable." He emphasized, "If it's not going to happen, then we're just going to move […]