Tony Connelly

Europe Editor

Micheál Martin was greeted by people in the Jordanian capital Amman

Around 40 dependents of Irish citizens 'remain in Gaza'

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has said some 90 dependents of Irish citizens in Gaza have been evacuated to date, with around 40 remaining.

Middle East • 24 Apr 24

Micheál Martin had an hour-long meeting with UN officials at the Rafah Crossing

Tánaiste accuses Israel of vindictive punishment of Gaza

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has accused Israel of the vindictive and collective punishment of the population of Gaza following a meeting with UN officials at the Rafah Crossing.

Middle East • 23 Apr 24

Micheál Martin said Ireland and Spain were not satisfied their call for a review was 'getting the attention that it requires'

Martin unhappy with response to EU-Israel review request

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheál Martin has expressed his dissatisfaction at the response by member states and the European Commission to the Irish and Spanish request for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in light of Israel's bombardment of Gaza.

Europe • 22 Apr 24

Taoiseach Simon Harris said the fire was 'a heart-breaking tragedy'

Gardaí to consider Stardust inquests outcome - Taoiseach

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said it was his understanding that the gardaí would consider the outcome of the Stardust inquests.

Stardust • 18 Apr 24

Simon Harris said he did not 'think Ireland should shirk or shy away from participating in debates'

Ireland should not 'fear' EU defence debate - Harris

Ireland should not "be fearful of" a debate about deepening collective defence at European level, Taoiseach Simon Harris has said.

Europe • 18 Apr 24

Former Italian prime minister Enrico Letta (L), pictured with European Council President Charles Michel, delivered a report to EU leaders

Ireland opposed to harmonisation of corporate tax laws

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that Ireland fully supports the integration of capital markets at EU level, but cautioned that it should not involve the harmonisation of corporate tax or insolvency laws.

Europe • 18 Apr 24

Simon Harris pictured arriving in Brussels at his first EU summit as Taoiseach

Harris wary of EU issuing bonds to boost defence spending

Taoiseach Simon Harris has cautioned against any move towards developing Euro bonds in order to boost EU defence spending, in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

World • 17 Apr 24

Nur Shams refugee camp has a population of 13,000 squeezed into a dusty, rubble-strewn 0.21sqkm hollow, overlooked by a tree-lined, rocky hill

West Bank paying heavy toll while focus is on Gaza

While the focus of the world is on Gaza, the West Bank has been paying a heavy toll, writes Europe Editor Tony Connelly.

Middle East • 04 Apr 24

An Israeli battle tank at the southern border between Israel and Gaza

US urges Israel to allow unimpeded access for Gaza aid

The White House has urged Israel to allow unimpeded access for humanitarian relief into Gaza amid UN claims that Israel could be guilty of a war crime if it is preventing access to food.

Middle East • 20 Mar 24

The authors of the study examined 572 million interactions associated with nearly 800,000 Facebook posts

Study assesses impact of MEPs across EU on social media

Irish far-left MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace have had spectacularly more impact on social media than other Irish MEPs, according to an analysis of Meta (Facebook) posts by a Danish political consultancy.

Politics • 18 Mar 24