It's all everyone's talking about on social media this morning: the Oscar moment that actor Will Smith walked onto the stage and slapped presenter Chris Rock for telling a joke about his wife, Zada Pinkett-Smith.

#gript

https://gript.ie/watch-will-smith-and-chris-rock-moment-unedited-and-unmuted/

WATCH: Politicians, including Green Party leader Clare Bailey, CELEBRATE with dancing and cheering as “safe access zones” law is passed at Stormont, making it illegal to pray publicly for unborn children or offer help to women at abortion centres in Northern Ireland. #gript

https://vimeo.com/693040408

Joe Biden's repeated gaffes and mis-steps on his trip to Europe last week - including appearing to suggest the US might use Chemical weapons, and calling for Putin to be deposed - raise a fundamental question:
Is he up to the job?
#gript
https://gript.ie/joe-biden-on-second-thoughts-i-wasnt-calling-for-putins-removal/

BEN SCALLAN: As much as green activists would like to blame “capitalism” for killing the planet, many of the the worst environmental disasters in the past century have been at the hands of Socialist governments.
#gript

https://gript.ie/is-western-capitalism-to-blame-for-destroying-the-planet/

Renowned fiddle player and composer Connie O’Connell will be named Composer of the Year at the TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2022 Awards on Easter Sunday this year. Sarah Ghriallais, the famed seannós singer from Conamara, will also receive the Singer 2022 award.

#gript

https://gript.ie/connie-oconnell-and-sarah-ghriallais-amongst-those-to-be-honoured-at-traditional-music-awards/

According to property website Daft.ie, Ireland is seeing an “unprecedented” lack of houses for sale online, with average prices increasingly sharply since last year.

#gript

https://gript.ie/daft-ie-unprecedented-lack-of-online-homes-for-sale/

Elderly people in the Republic of Ireland are going blind for lack of a simple 20 minute procedure. Gript spoke to some of the people affected.

#gript

https://gript.ie/irish-people-going-blind-for-lack-of-20-minute-procedure/

The number of applications for key construction apprenticeships is significantly lower than the level required to boost housing supply, according to new data released by the Department of Further and Higher Education.

#gript

https://gript.ie/numbers-entering-key-trades-not-sufficient-to-carry-out-governments-housing-for-all-plan/

Last week the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced that her department is granting €4.6 million to groups that are involved in supporting the victims of crime. This represents an increase of €800,000 on the amount given to those groups in 2021.

DR MATT TREACY writes...

#gript

https://gript.ie/is-youth-justice-intervention-a-good-use-of-state-funding/

In what marks a major shift in its energy policy, Belgium will continue drawing on nuclear power. Citing a “chaotic geopolitical context,” brought about by the Ukraine war, the government announced on Friday. It will now make independence from fossil fuels its top priority.

#gript

https://gript.ie/belgium-puts-plans-for-nuclear-phaseout-on-hold/

Three men from Palestine who are seeking asylum in Ireland were driven from Dublin Airport by taxi to Claremorris in Mayo last week at a cost of €500 to the taxpayer.

#gript

https://gript.ie/taxpayer-funded-e500-taxi-trip-for-asylum-seekers-to-mayo-temporary-accommodation/

JOHN MCGUIRK: With Fine Gael slipping to just 19% in the polls, a garda investigation dragging on, alternative leaders waiting in the wings, and grumbles rising from the ranks, Leo Varadkar's position as Fine Gael leader is much less secure than it looks.
#gript
https://gript.ie/is-varadkar-safe-as-fg-leader/

Do Ireland’s Covid numbers justify a return of restrictions? @Ben_Scallan examines the facts.

#gript

https://gript.ie/ignore-the-bedwetters-theres-no-case-for-bringing-back-masks/

Streaming giant Netflix has announced they will be reigning in the capacity of users to freely share their passwords with other households.

#gript

https://gript.ie/netflix-cracks-down-on-password-sharing-between-households/

PODCAST: TRSI 311 - Not mentioning the war means mentioning the war

Turns out Irish people don't trust the media a whole lot; Ivan Bacik's first interview leaves something to desire; and Michael asks if you can trust foreign newspapers.
#gript


https://gript.ie/podcasts/trsi-311-not-mentioning-the-war-means-mentioning-the-war/

In an RTÉ poll on “hate speech” legislation a few years ago, only 19% of viewers said they were in favour of such laws. #gript

https://gript.ie/last-rte-poll-on-hate-speech-laws-found-only-19-in-support/

Irish pig farmers are calling for support for their struggling industry, which they say is “staring into the abyss.”
#gript


https://gript.ie/we-are-staring-into-the-abyss-pig-farmers-protest-outside-dail/

Ireland begging the EU to change tax rates is humiliating | Gript

Face it: Ireland begging the EU to change our own tax rates is humiliating. @Ben_Scallan comments.


#gript

https://youtu.be/w3KFG4HVX04

According to a government briefing, if Ireland accepts 200,000 Ukrainian refugees it could cost billions annually.
#gript

https://gript.ie/briefing-housing-200k-ukrainian-refugees-could-cost-billions/

Double-dealing? Gript provides a run-down of the self-declared ‘pro-life’ MLAs in the North who have previously courted the pro-life vote — yet voted for a Bill that makes praying and offering support outside abortion centres a criminal offence.

#gript

https://gript.ie/double-dealing-pro-life-politicians-vote-to-ban-prayer-and-outreach-at-abortion-centres-in-ni/?fbclid=IwAR0z41abi--BG0Hn3Dd2UGob4KorciLQ8o8XWLpF8LdqKbWLth1TUGMtqdY

Ireland has expelled four senior officials from the Russian embassy saying that "their activities are not in accordance with the standards of diplomatic behaviour".

#gript

https://gript.ie/ireland-expels-four-russian-officials-from-embassy/