JOHN MCGUIRK: "If Simon Harris really wants to bring Irish construction workers home, then he should offer them the same payments and income supports as those the Government has offered to tens of thousands of Ukrainian refugees."

https://gript.ie/puppies-ice-cream-and-construction-workers-simon-harriss-latest-play/

PREMIUM: Independent Ireland and Aontú are both seeking to break the consensus in upcoming elections, but they're groups with very different approaches to building a winning political party. JOHN MCGUIRK looks at the progress and prospects of both.

https://gript.ie/aontu-v-independent-ireland-two-new-parties-two-different-strategies/

Minister Catherine Martin has been corrected in X’s Community Notes for her assertion that the Constitution says a woman’s place is in the home. The correction points out that SC Judge Marie Baker has clarified the Constitution makes no such statement.

https://gript.ie/minister-catherine-martin-corrected-in-xs-community-notes-on-referendum-claim/

ON THIS DAY: 13 FEBRUARY 1847: Illustrated London News describes the scenes Clonakilty

https://gript.ie/on-this-day-13-february-1847-illustrated-london-news-describes-the-scenes-clonakilty-3/

Leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns, recently appeared on RTÉ to ask “who is Botswana safe for?” in relation to asylum claims, suggesting that gay people or trade unionists might be unsafe. Gript asked the relevant Ministry in Botswana for a response.

https://gript.ie/government-of-botswana-rejects-claim-that-it-is-not-a-safe-country/

There has been a call on the Government to launch a campaign to encourage people to eat more fish in Ireland in a bid to both educate people on its benefits and show some love for the struggling fishing sector.

https://gript.ie/valentines-call-on-government-to-prove-it-loves-the-fishing-industry/

Clarification received on future use of Birr Technology Centre

https://gript.ie/clarification-received-on-future-use-of-birr-technology-centre/

FATIMA GUNNING: Sinn Féin’s promise to abolish the TV licence is an empty one as you’ll still have to pay through general taxation - if playing tricks like this on voters is their MO, can they be trusted to carry out voters’ wishes on topics like immigration?

https://gript.ie/you-wont-have-to-pay-your-tv-licence-if-you-vote-sinn-fein-youll-pay-it-in-taxes-instead/

Sufficient supports, both legal and medical, are already in place in Ireland to enable people to die in a dignified way, the HSE has told the final meeting of the Oireachtas Committee examining the law on assisted suicide.

https://gript.ie/sufficient-supports-already-in-place-to-die-with-dignity-hse-tells-final-oireachtas-meeting/

In Dublin today Germany's Finance Minister spoke to Ireland's Michael McGrath about ending illegal migration:

"The people do not accept this. The solution is control...We stop illegal migration into our welfare state...we make the choice who we invite into our labour market." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2trfMMm5FM

“The silence from Minister for Education Norma Foley is deafening…This is not good enough”: A Fine Gael Senator has taken a swipe at his Fianna Fáil colleague over her failure to release the findings of a school transport review.

https://gript.ie/senator-accuses-foley-of-stalling-on-school-transport-review/

Leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns, recently appeared on RTÉ to ask “who is Botswana safe for?” in relation to asylum claims, suggesting that gay people or trade unionists might be unsafe. Gript asked the relevant Ministry in Botswana for a response.

https://gript.ie/government-of-botswana-rejects-claim-that-it-is-not-a-safe-country/

The mother of 6-year-old Matthew Purcell Healy has been charged with his murder 

https://gript.ie/mother-of-matthew-purcell-healy-charged-with-murder/

' “For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part” is a successful formula for happiness. What better message for Valentine’s Day? '

MICHAEL COOK writes


https://gript.ie/ashes-or-chocolates-or-both/

ON THIS DAY: 14 FEBRUARY: Feastday of St Valentine: The treasure trove at Whitefriar Street

https://gript.ie/on-this-day-14-february-feastday-of-st-valentine-the-treasure-trove-at-whitefriar-street-4/

JOHN MCGUIRK: In one week alone, senior Government figures have made three blatantly false claims about the referendums on March 8th - and neither they nor the media outlets facilitating them should be taken seriously about misinformation ever again.

https://gript.ie/government-is-forfeiting-the-right-to-ever-talk-about-misinformation-again/

Gardaí warn of online scammers taking advantage of the death of six-year-old MAtthew Purcell Healy whose funeral is to take place today


https://gript.ie/gardai-warn-of-online-scammers-taking-advantage-of-death-of-matthew-purcell-healy/

"It remains true that the vast majority of people are decent. Yet it also seems intuitively true that as a society we are more numbed to horrible violence than we used to be".
Has there been a shift in the "moral character" of the nation? https://gript.ie/as-the-shocking-crimes-pile-up-is-ireland-now-an-inherently-violent-society/

Mr Healy fought to hold back tears as he described his child as “my lad, my buddy, my chief” – and said it was “the greatest honour” of his life to be Matthew’s Dad.

“I am so sorry I couldn’t save you Chief – I love you,” he said.

https://gript.ie/my-lad-my-buddy-my-chief-matthew-healys-father-pays-tribute-to-his-son/