Fionnán Sheahan: After riling Irish farmers, Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon now has to get them back down the hill

Noisy IFA protests against Bord Bia chairman ignore the bigger threats coming down the track Agriculture Minister Martin Heydon appears to be giving the Irish Farmers’ Association a face-saving out. Photo: Getty Normally, the focus of attention is on the other side of the road. The imposing US embassy is a landmark of Dublin 4. … Read more

Three probes into Vision Ireland and Fighting Blindness over finances and corporate governance concerns

Charities watchdog starts investigation on information provided about Vision Ireland and Fighting BlindnessOrganisation providing services for people with sight loss also brings in outside experts to conduct ‘fact-finding review’ Chris White, CEO of Vision Ireland Three separate investigations are now under way into financial issues in charities for blind people. The Charities Regulator is acting … Read more

Special powers to force the rezoning of land for housing ‘will see houses built closer to town centres’

Local authorities to be ordered by Government to rezone specific land, by using little-used law Dublin, especially the north county area, identified for significant land banksNew housing policy also aims to have more people living closer to city and town centres Taoiseach Micheál Martin said there must be private sector investment. Photo: Getty Special powers … Read more

Fionnán Sheahan: Generation Stuck, full-nest parents and the unintended effects of the housing crisis – Irish Independent

Fionnán Sheahan: Generation Stuck, full-nest parents and the unintended effects of the housing crisis  Irish Independent Source link

Simon Harris stays silent as Senator Martin Conway revealed to be Fine Gael politician at centre of ‘inappropriate behaviour’ row

The senator was arrested for being drunk last month in incident that has led to his resignation from Fine Gael parliamentary partyTánaiste has avoided questions about when he knew about senator’s inappropriate behaviour to a female staffer in bar Fine Gael senator Martin Conway pictured at Leinster House. Photo: Frank McGrath Simon Harris met with … Read more

Plan to cut Vat rate to 9pc for hospitality and services sector as deal to form new government reached

9pc Vat rate for the food, hospitality and services sector to be restoredThe Regional Independent group has secured two ‘super junior’ ministries and two other junior ministriesFianna Fáil will have eight full ministers at Cabinet to Fine Gael’s seven ministersForeign Affairs to take in Trade as Fine Gael leader repeats Eamon Gilmore briefExpanded Public Expenditure … Read more