Rural Independents lead the charge in the Dáil, opening up a long-overdue debate on Ireland's immigration. With Sinn Féin distancing from 'open borders,' it's a critical moment for Irish immigration policy. Where do we go from here? asks MATT TREACY.

#gript

https://gript.ie/immigration-debate-signals-possible-u-turn-by-sinn-fein/

“No poet had a greater commentary on the politics and direction of culture of Ireland than Ó Rathaille.” His poetry speaks of the times with elegance of language that still shines.

LORCÁN MAC MATHÚNA on Aodhagáin Ó Rathaille, Ireland's first penal poet

#gript

https://gript.ie/gile-na-gile-aodhagain-o-rathaille-the-first-penal-poet/

“This is progress…in the interests of the Irish people”: Ireland’s Minister for Media, Catherine Martin, has said that her government’s hate speech bill and crackdowns on “misinformation” are needed to protect “our liberal democratic values.”

#gript

https://gript.ie/irish-minister-hate-speech-bill-needed-to-protect-democratic-values/

“When there’s an elephant in the room, mention it” - In a frustrated speech, a TD has told in the Dáil that “Middle Ireland is sick of” the government’s current immigration policy.

#gript

https://gript.ie/middle-ireland-is-sick-of-liberal-immigration-policy-td-says/

"You're a horrible little man," Michael Healy-Rae told Labour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin as scenes became heated at a Dáil debate on immigration. It came after Ó Ríordáin described the group's actions in relation to immigration as "despicable."

#gript

https://gript.ie/watch-youre-a-horrible-little-man-heated-scenes-at-dail-debate-on-immigration/

“An ultra-macho image”: Conor McGregor is a “multimillionaire tweeter” who promotes “toxic masculinity” and “imprisons” young men in a “rigid gender stereotype,” People Before Profit TD Mick Barry has told the Dáil.

#gript

https://gript.ie/conor-mcgregor-promotes-toxic-masculinity-says-td/

Swedish government says simply living in Sweden can no longer qualify migrants for benefits and that “newcomers” and “non citizens” must work, pay taxes, and learn Swedish in order to access benefits ‘step by step’

#gript

https://gript.ie/swedish-gov-says-asylum-claims-down-26-under-new-strategy/

The Farmers Alliance have called for the immediate resignation of the Minister for Agriculture saying that their concerns are being ignored amid plans to cull 200,000 cattle in a ‘senseless act of slaughter’ in attempt to prove “green credentials”

#gript

https://gript.ie/farmers-alliance-say-green-policies-will-decimate-rural-ireland/

JOHN MCGUIRK on the lack of public appetite for a UK-style covid enquiry:
"If it were to transpire that Dr. Holohan was wrong about something major, then it would follow that the 60% or 70% of the country who tribally agreed with him were also wrong."
#gript
https://gript.ie/boriss-covid-apology-and-why-it-wont-be-repeated-in-ireland/

“The government should not continue this gimmickry” according to a new report by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, who added: “These deliberate attempts to game fiscal assessments are deeply concerning.”

#gript

https://gript.ie/ifac-government-employed-fiscal-gimmickry-to-flatter-its-numbers/

The assistant of a Swedish MEP is one of four people injured in a shooting in Brussels yesterday evening on a busy shopping street. Two Swedish tourists were shot dead and a third seriously injured in Brussels last November

#gript


https://gript.ie/swedish-meps-assistant-injured-in-brussels-shooting/

A new report shows that a combined income of €127,000 per annum is now required to buy a home in the Greater Dublin Area – and that, nationally, both the hard and softs costs of delivering homes has increased.

#gript

https://gript.ie/e127k-combined-salary-required-to-purchase-new-dublin-3-bed-semi/

JOHN MCGUIRK: The liberal left parties waiting to pounce on the Government for moral impurity, if they give as much as an inch on immigration.
#gript
https://gript.ie/is-the-government-vulnerable-on-immigration-from-the-left/

“Do the math, or the compound interest perhaps”. New statistics on deportations and arrivals do not indicate crackdown on illegal migration, despite claims to the contrary, writes MATT TREACY

#gript

https://gript.ie/new-statistics-on-deportations-and-arrivals-do-not-indicate-crackdown-on-illegal-migration/

“Despite having some of the richest fishing grounds in Europe, Irish boats have consistently been given lower quotas of fish than those from other European countries in Irish waters," Aontú candidate Patrick Murphy said. 

#gript

https://gript.ie/irish-fishing-boats-are-on-verge-of-extinction-in-irish-waters/

"The general question to be considered is whether it is ever justifiable to compel performance by a doctor in violation of his or her conscience. Or, to put the question another way: what scope – if any at all — should be given to conscientious judgment in healthcare?"

BERNADETTE TOBIN writes

#gript

https://gript.ie/is-a-doctors-conscience-mere-personal-preference/

In answer to a question from Senator Sharon Keogan, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has said she is “not sure there is a definition” of what ‘far-right’ means at a sitting of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice

#gript

https://gript.ie/minister-for-justice-not-sure-there-is-a-definition-of-what-far-right-means/

A boutique in Buncrana has an Instagram hit on its hands after it posted a fashion show with a difference featuring sparkly dresses galore and fabulous models from the county’s inclusion hub, Cashel na Cor.

#gript

https://gript.ie/this-marvellous-christmassy-fashion-show-celebrates-real-superstars/

The family of missing man, Ger Lowe, have appealed for the public to contact them if they see the Bray resident who has been missing since yesterday. #gript https://gript.ie/missing-appeal-to-find-missing-bray-man-ger-lowe/

Newly released figures show that State spending on "daily allowances" for people in the IPAS system, living in direct provision, will more than triple between 2020 and 2024, reflecting the massive increase in asylum applicants:
#gript
https://gript.ie/state-spending-on-daily-allowance-for-migrants-has-more-than-doubled/