Fiachra Ó Cionnaith

Opposition parties take aim at Government Mercosur stance

The Government has been accused of "selling out" farmers over the Mercosur agreement between EU and Latin American countries, after opposition parties claimed Irish farmers will be among the big losers from the deal.

Politics • 13 Jan

Opposition query Donohoe funding decision for World Bank

Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats have formally called on Tánaiste and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris to tell the Dáil whether he knew former finance minister Paschal Donohoe was joining the World Bank before Mr Donohoe agreed to a €10m increase in its funding last April.

Politics • 13 Jan

A photo of Aras an Uachtarain, with the Irish flag above and blue skies

Ceremony to accredit Iran's ambassador postponed

The new Iranian ambassador to Ireland has been prevented from officially taking up their duties by the Department of Foreign Affairs because of the regime's response to protests in Iran.

Ireland • 13 Jan

Taoiseach Micheál Martin speaking in the Dáil

Taoiseach to meet Attorney General over Grok concerns

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he will convene a meeting with the Attorney General to discuss the social media platform X's Grok AI system due to its use by some people to produce non-consensual images of women and children.

Science and Technology • 13 Jan

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 12: Bono of U2 sprays the crowd with champagne while performing on stage at Wembley Stadium on June 12th, 1987 on 'The Joshua Tree' tour in London, England. (Photo by Pete Still/Redferns)

5 things we learned today from the State Papers

Among the things we learnt today from the State Papers were the political campaign that Billy Wright's father David was organising to obtain an inquest into his son's death, and Bertie Ahern's concerns about the proposed roll-out of the Ethics in Public Office Act.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Ambassador frustrated with govt attitude to $1bn oil deal

An Irish ambassador's frustrations at department officials for their attitude to a proposed investment of $1bn from Saudi investors in the country's oil facilities is contained in newly released files from the National Archives.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Proposed SIPO legislation opposed by Ahern and Andrews

When Dick Spring, the tánaiste and minister for foreign affairs, proposed legislation aimed at creating more transparency around the "interest" of politicians in 1993, he met with some opposition from leading Fianna Fáil members.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Crossmaglen security forces morale 'at low ebb' in 1994

A leading politician's reaction to plans for extensive construction work at Crossmaglen Barracks in south Armagh in April 1994 is contained within newly-released files at the National Archive.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

Billy Wright, known as 'King Rat', was shot dead at the Maze Prison in Co Down on 27 December 1997

Billy Wright's father accused govt of 'selective justice'

The father of Billy Wright accused the Irish government of "indulging in selective justice" in 1999 after being told then-taoiseach Bertie Ahern would not meet him to discuss holding a public inquiry into the Loyalist Volunteer Force leader's murder.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25

The Edge and Bono of U2 perform on the Joshua Tree Tour at Nassau Coliseum in 1987

'Embarrassing situation' over limited U2 tickets in 1987

A telex sent from an Irish official based in Boston in April 1987, stating that a limit of ten complimentary tickets per U2 show in America, "puts us in an embarrassing situation" reveals the level of interest in the band's massively successful Joshua Tree tour there.

State Papers • 30 Dec 25