MORE than €930,000 has been spent on commemorations and events for the one hundred year anniversary of the first sitting of Dáil Éireann this year. The expenditure included €16,500 on VIP services at Dublin Airport, almost €20,000 in accommodation at two of Dublin’s finest hotels, €200 for a harpist, and just over €10,000 for 5,000… Read More »
STAFF from Met Éireann have been advised not to talk “despair” over climate change and use positive language to show people they can make a difference. An internal communique says using words like “inevitable” could create a feeling that nothing can be done and lead to “inaction” from the public. The advice is contained in… Read More »
RYANAIR told the Department of Finance it might have to move its operations out of Ireland because of an anomaly that sees pilots and air crew taxed in two countries. The warning was included in a submission prepared for Finance Minister Paschal Donohue who was told the low-fares airline would have to consider “the migration… Read More »
* Quick update on this case. It had been due to start today but has now been postponed until mid-July. We will keep you posted. The High Court will begin hearing a challenge on February 14 brought by Right to Know against a decision of the Commissioner for Environmental Information to refuse access to an… Read More »
THE government claimed to be under pressure to curb citizenship rights for Irish-born children because of concerns over international terrorism, newly released Cabinet records have revealed. In 2004, the government held a referendum to end automatic citizenship rights to anyone born in Ireland, a decision that has grown increasingly controversial in recent months. Cabinet records… Read More »
A selection of submissions for Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe ahead of Budget 2018: Among the most interesting parts: * The minister was told the “opportune time” had arrived to double betting tax amid ongoing pressure to increase tax on gambling. Mr Donohoe doubled the rate from one to two percent in this year’s budget and… Read More »
THE Department of Finance was worried it couldn’t even publish an anonymised list of pensions for former ministers and officeholders because it would be too easy to identify them. Each year, the Department had printed a list of former taoisigh, ministers, presidents, along with other ex-officeholders and how much they received in their annual pension.… Read More »
FINANCE Minister Paschal Donohoe was on the verge of sanctioning a €10 increase in carbon tax only for a later change of mind, departmental documents show. A pre-budget submission for Mr Donohoe prepared by his officials reveal that the minister had been preparing to sign off on the tax hike in advance of Budget 2019.… Read More »
THE government considered a special tax regime that could have allowed thousands of highly paid executives in large multinational companies to pay a flat rate of just 30% in the tax. The plan – which was designed to be one of the most generous tax incentives in Europe – was abandoned however, following advice from… Read More »
CHILDREN’S Minister Katherine Zappone was advised to get an Italian translation of “Is that a yes Pope Francis?” before presenting him with a letter about the Tuam Mother and Baby Home. The Department also debated whether to refer to the Pontiff as Pope Francis or to use a more formal title like “your holiness” or… Read More »