'Current geopolitical situation': Central Bank briefed media team on potential scrutiny of Israeli war bonds

The Central Bank of Ireland briefed its media team about negative public reaction to its approval of Israeli war bonds and also highlighted the bonds had “no upper limit”. 

Irish companies supply parts to IDF weapons maker

Four Irish companies are supplying components to the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) biggest arms supplier, according to shipping records uncovered by The Ditch.

Government arranged meeting with housing lobbyists backing garden sheds within hours

Lobbyists looking to deregulate Ireland's housing market so homeowners can build de facto sheds in their gardens without planning permission were offered a meeting with senior government advisers less than 24 hours after sending an introductory email to Micheál Martin.  

Documents show arms lobbyists’ plans to influence defence policy despite public opposition

Internal documents from a lobbying group representing international arms manufacturers reveal plans to target politicians, influence policymakers, and place articles in the media – despite acknowledging the Irish public is not interested in greater spending on arms.

Shane O’Farrell killer had undisclosed cigarette smuggling conviction

The alleged garda informant who killed law student Shane O’Farrell was convicted of cigarette smuggling in 2007 – The Ditch can reveal – despite previous state probes of the case wrongly finding his first conviction was for theft in 2010. 

An Garda Síochána concealed conviction of Shane O’Farrell’s killer

An Garda Síochána concealed a conviction of a suspected garda informant – received months before he killed cyclist Shane O’Farrell in 2011 – which contradicts the state’s version of the tragic case.

Children’s Health Ireland won’t say if surgery scandal referred to Tusla

Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) won’t confirm if its doctors complied with a legal obligation to refer the spinal and hip surgery scandals to Tusla.

Dublin-based aviation group illegally transported munitions to Israel through Irish territory

A Dublin-based airline group illegally transported munitions of war to Israel through Irish territory. Some of the goods were flagged as funded by the US. 

Comment: The housing crisis is an attack on the possibility of community

A few years back I was spending a lot of time in a house in the Liberties. It was the residence of a woman I was dating and her roommate. I use the word residence because it didn’t feel like a home – it felt like the landlord might choose, at any moment, to turn it into an Airbnb.

Israeli weapons plane stopped at Shannon last month

A cargo plane that regularly brings tonnes of weapons to Israel touched down in Shannon Airport on its way to Tel Aviv last month. 

Comment: If you tolerate this

(Briefly) how we got here (since 2008 or thereabouts).

Fianna Fáil councillor twice convicted of failing to file tax returns, ruled to have underdeclared VAT

A Galway Fianna Fáil councillor was: twice convicted of failing to file tax returns; ruled to have underdeclared tens of thousands of euro in VAT; and has judgments of more than €30,000 registered against him.