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# the morning lead

February
February 2024
Greyhound stadiums criticised for promoting races to children and families
People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy said the ‘reality’ of the industry is being hidden from children.
Sex workers sent death threats after replying to text scam
Very few crimes against sex workers are reported to gardaí, an advocacy group said.
A number of people were threatened with physical or sexual violence
Foreign-national sex workers were targeted by the scam
"The texts and calls turned violent, people saying things like they were going to have a hitman kill them."
‘We need help’: Restaurant and cafe owners say they are struggling like never before
The Journal spoke to a number of restaurant, cafe and bar owners, with all of them reporting the same problems and suggesting similar solutions.
Council responding as 'matter of urgency' to concerns over sex offenders placed in hostel
Some residents are understood to have said they felt threatened over the placements.
'Concerning' delays for mammograms as Dublin hospitals struggle to recruit staff
Beaumont Hospital is considering outsourcing some appointments to deal with the backlog, one patient was told.
Patients are concerned it is taking months to get an appointment for certain scans, potentially delaying a cancer diagnosis
Extra consultants are due to start working in the coming months, but staffing levels remain an issue
"It is unacceptable that a person should wait too long before getting access to a vital diagnostic appointment," the CEO of the Irish Cancer Society said
CUH chief demanded employee at centre of racism allegations be 'removed' from hospital during investigation
The CEO told nursing management it was for them to decide if they were to be suspended or redeployed, pending the outcome of an investigation.
Investigations are ongoing at Cork University Hospital following complaints about an adaptation programme.
The CEO told nursing management it was for them to decide if the staff member was to be suspended or redeployed, pending the outcome of an investigation.
Eimer McAuley reports on the latest developments in the row.
January
January 2024
Integrity investigation finds 25% of Europe’s MEPs were involved in a scandal
In December 2022, police found €900,000 in alleged bribe cash stuffed in bags at the EU Parliament’s Vice President Eva Kaili’s home. How could corruption of such scale happen at the heart of the EU? Was this just one isolated incident or the tip of the iceberg?
Data collected by The Journal, Noteworthy and other European media partners reveals 3% of MEPs have been convicted by a court.
The months-long investigation unearthed 253 previously reported blemishes.
The most serious cases related to 45 corruption incidents and 44 events relating to fraud and theft.
Posts targeting migrants remained online during riots despite 5pm plea from online safety tsar
Niamh Hodnett was appointed last year to fight harmful content online.
Niamh Hodnett contacted major social media firms on evening of 23 November to warn about potential for violence.
Posts calling for migrants to be "killed" were shared on social platforms as riots unfolded.
Immigrant Council of Ireland warned about the proliferation of such posts and called for posters to be investigated.
Overhaul of mental health law which 'deprives people of liberty' may not happen before election
The long-awaited Mental Health Amendment Bill would bring about the largest overhaul of the State’s mental health laws in decades.
Mental Health Reform said the protracted delay in publishing the Mental Health Amendment Bill is "completely unacceptable"
The proposed legislation would strengthen regulation around people consenting to the type of treatment they receive
Fiona Anderson, a long-time activist, said patients like her need to have a greater say in their treatment
More than 5,000 applications for 535 cost-rental homes in Dublin and Kildare
The ICJ makes its initial ruling in the Israel genocide case today - what's likely to happen?
South Africa has accused Israel of violating the Genocide Convention during its military campaign in Gaza.
Bus and rail fare increases in Cavan, Wicklow, Kildare and Meath slammed by TDs
Anti-European populist parties predicted to top polls in 9 EU states ahead of elections
A new report predicts there will be a “surge” in support for far-right or right-leaning parties during the European Elections.
Homeowners warned more mortgage rate rises are likely to be on the way
Mortgage brokers have urged homeowners to consider switching to save money.
Tensions at 999 call centres as workers 'bid' for holidays 18 months in advance
'I'm really concerned': Red Sea conflict likely to cause disruption (again) for Irish businesses
Conflict near the Suez Canal is causing havoc for shipping companies.
Govt 'failure' for towns sheltering refugees 'feeds anti-migrant narrative', say locals
Roscommon TD Claire Kerrane said promises to resource towns and villages receiving asylum seekers have regularly not received any follow through.
'It's a real inequality': Educators call for teaching-through-Irish allowance to be reintroduced
The allowance was suspended in 2012 for any newly qualified teachers.
Northern Ireland at a standstill: 'The biggest day of strike action in a generation' today
Tens of thousands of workers across 16 unions are taking part in strike action later.
Forgotten war: More than 350 Irish citizens and their dependents have been forced to leave Sudan
The war in Sudan broke out in April of last year between two warring factions the Sudan Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces.
Garda sergeant charged with assaulting suspect and attempting to pervert the course of justice
The case was heard at Waterford District Court on Monday.
The case has been taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions on foot of a GSOC investigation.
The sergeant is accused of asking a more junior garda not to record an incident in which he allegedly assaulted a suspect.
36-year Garda veteran forced to sign on the dole on retirement due to bureaucratic anomaly
Donal Forrester says he believes the problem will soon affect hundreds of members as their time for retirement comes.
Lebanon was already in crisis - now it's dealing with thousands fleeing Israel-Hezbollah conflict
The conflict has made it unsafe for civilians on either side of the border to remain in their homes.
EU shuts legal case after Ireland finally submits years-late climate plan - but it's still unfinished
Armed gardaí on patrol in Corduff as tensions remain high after Christmas Eve shooting
The patrols, led by members of the Armed Support Unit, are focused on limiting the chances of further attacks.
Letters from locals over Dublin city centre laneway tell of open drug use and public sex
Councillors on Monday voted to close public access to the Harbour Court laneway in Dublin.
Letters from the public detail harrowing stories of open drug use, human excrement, stenches of urine and public sex.
The laneway has been the focus of local concerns for years.
One business owner said they have been dealing with issues in the laneway since the late 1980s.
Ireland's nursing home sector 'under threat of failure' amid post-pandemic challenges - report
Fourteen private operators control 40% of nursing home beds, the study found.
One in five small, private nursing homes have closed for good, since the pandemic.
Private patients receive 55% less subsidy funding compared to patients in the public sector.
Models of care are being wiped out and the sector is under threat, according to one sector representative.
Conor McGregor: Is the UFC's biggest star becoming a poster boy for Ireland's far-right?
The 35-year-old has hinted at a run for the presidency.
Conor McGregor: Is the UFC's biggest star becoming a poster boy for Ireland's far-right?
HSE forms national 'red alert' team after clusters of drug overdoses in Dublin and Cork
Each HSE region will be asked to form their own localised response teams in case dangerous batches end up on the market in their area.
RTÉ advertise Operation Transformation sponsorship at 30% less than it charged Department of Health
Irish experts hear 'sobering' accounts from frontline as they train Ukrainian troops in Cyprus
An Irish team has returned from a mission training Ukrainian soldiers in specialist search techniques for bomb disposal.
Hospital parking charge cap further delayed
Cost review from 2018 is to be redone with no sign of when commitments made in 2020 will be met.
Noteworthy revealed last year that no progress had been made since a 2020 Programme for Government promise
The original working group had recommended that hospital parking charges be capped nationally at €10 per day
Work on new national guidance to begin in 'early 2024'
Ships owned by Irish firm in finance deal sold and scrapped on beaches in India and Bangladesh
Last year
2023
Country's largest drinking water treatment plant breached regulations several times in 2023
The regulator of the Uisce Éireann facility in Ballymore Eustace found there were non-compliant concentrations of chemicals discharging into the Liffey.
The plant supplies water to approximately 50% of the Dublin population
Kildare County Council continues to wait for a report into how Uisce Éireann intends to resolve highlighted issues
The company was prosecuted last summer for water pollution offences related to discharge from the plant
New flood forecasting centre to open early next year
Clare tourism tensions continue with locals 'lobbying' against council's latest moves
There has been a growing divergence at Clare County Council’s plans to monetise different parts of the county’s offerings.
The latest flashpoint is the introduction of charges at award-winning Vandeleur Gardens
This will result in the attraction losing its Green Flag Award this spring
The council has also been accused of blatantly 'ripping off' tourists at the Cliffs of Moher
'Inaccurate' forecasts and 'disappointing' weather warnings: Complaints to Met Éireann in 2023
Calls to expand government water testing as thousands flock for Christmas Day swims
Most bathing waters have not been tested by local authorities since September.
Inadequate interpretation still leading to asylum case delays
Over 100 asylum appeal hearings were postponed in 2022 due to problems with interpretation.
There are no interpretation standards or quality controls in Ireland
Lack of training and quality control have been flagged as an issue since at least 2015
These figures are ‘surprisingly high’, says expert