“We have no choice, because this is not sustainable”: Donald Trump has said that if he is re-elected US President in November, “within moments” of taking office he will begin “the largest domestic deportation operation in American history.”

https://gript.ie/trump-promises-largest-deportation-operation-in-us-history/

‘January Bonus’ double social welfare payments are due this week with 1.3 million expected to benefit from the €342 million package. Full list of payees in article



https://gript.ie/double-payment-social-welfare-bonus-due-this-week-for-1-3-million-recipients/

The Irish Refugee Council has removed from its website a claim they had repeatedly made that asylum applicants have their fingerprints checked against criminal databases, after being contacted by a Gript investigation which showed the claim was not true.

https://gript.ie/irish-refugee-council-remove-asylum-criminal-checks-claim-after-gript-query/

New figures show that almost half a billion euro was paid out by the state in accommodation for migrants and refugees in just 3 months of the third quarter in 2023. Some 25% of those payments went to the top 20 providers listed below, reveals MATT TREACY.

https://gript.ie/almost-half-a-billion-euro-paid-in-asylum-refugee-accommodation-in-just-3-months/

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni today opened a summit with African leaders and EU and UN officials, announcing Italy's development plan for Africa — with plans to curb migration — months after she said Italy could not become “Europe’s refugee camp.”

https://gript.ie/meloni-opens-italy-africa-summit-with-plans-to-curb-migration/

An Oireachtas Committee examining assisted suicide will hear today from the Danish National Council on Ethics who will discuss why they voted by a huge majority last year against its introduction.

https://gript.ie/danish-ethics-council-will-outline-why-they-voted-against-assisted-suicide/

As a small country in the EU that is itself relatively isolated on foreign policy, especially in regard to Gaza, Ireland should be very wary of attempts by the bloc to "ruin" Hungary over Ukraine, writes JOHN MCGUIRK:
https://gript.ie/why-ireland-should-fear-any-eu-plan-to-hurt-hungary/

In a sane country, writes JOHN MCGUIRK, nobody who signed off on those RTÉ salaries would be responsible for public money ever again - but in Ireland they've been getting away with it for more than 20 years.

https://gript.ie/rte-pay-irelands-most-boring-scandal/

SIMON GRIFFIN: "The only thing truly shocking about Bambie Thug and her performance, is how late she is to her own artistic scene. We have seen every one of these frivolities before."

https://gript.ie/bambie-thug-more-like-bambie-shrug/

The DUP has said it will return to power-sharing in a vote that is set to end the party’s two-year boycott of Stormont. NI Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris said this afternoon that "all the conditions are now in place" for the return of the Assembly.

https://gript.ie/dup-agree-deal-to-return-to-stormont-after-meeting-descends-into-chaos/

ON THIS DAY: 30 JANUARY 1972: 14 civilians shot dead on Bloody Sunday

https://gript.ie/on-this-day-30-january-1972-14-civilians-shot-dead-on-bloody-sunday-5/

"If the Mercosur deal does go through, that would mean 99,000 tonnes of tariff free beef flooding into the EU and so what about the carbon footprint of that? Ireland is the most sustainable country in the whole world to produce food. We should be made the food island of Europe”

https://gript.ie/farmers-alliance-join-other-european-farming-groups-in-brussels-to-fight-back/

Influential Conservative backbencher Miriam Cates has called for a ban on surrogacy, comparing the practice to taking a puppy from its mother.

"You don't have a right to become a parent. But we do have a duty to protect children," the MP said.

https://gript.ie/senior-uk-politician-calls-for-ban-on-surrogacy/

Minister for Justice says people from safe countries can still apply for asylum, but applications will be processed within 10 weeks. McEntee said the EU’s pact on immigration and asylum seeks to enable a more “coherent” EU wide response to the issue.

https://gript.ie/justice-minister-announces-new-strategy-on-asylum-claims-processing/

Pro-life activists have held prayer vigils at hospitals which plan to start performing abortions in 2024, with those protesting in Cavan saying they received “strong support” from a diverse group of healthcare professionals working at the hospital.

https://gript.ie/pro-life-prayer-vigils-held-as-more-hospitals-plan-abortion-services/

WATCH: “A full medical card is provided for Ukrainian refugees and for people who register as international protection applicants,” Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has told the Dáil.

https://gript.ie/donnelly-full-medical-card-provided-for-asylum-seekers/

“The law is clear - people have to pay the TV licence”: Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has once again urged the public to pay their TV licence fee, saying that the “public services” it provides are “really important.”

https://gript.ie/varadkar-reminds-public-people-have-to-pay-the-tv-licence/

JOHN MCGUIRK: The media framing that Northern Ireland can now get back to "normal" politics ignores the basic fact that brinksmanship and stalemate are written into the good friday agreement, and will last as long as the agreement does.

https://gript.ie/the-dup-normal-politics-and-the-political-framing-you-dont-notice/