4 h. ago Irish Government increases spending and scales back planned tax measures

Ministers pledged to ‘secure jobs and stability at a time of global challenge’.

Politics

5 d. ago UK government owes children apology for damaging Covid errors, inquiry hears

Children’s commissioner during pandemic says long lockdowns caused explosion in vulnerability among youngThe government should apologise to children for the damaging mistakes and policy errors it committed during the pandemic, the former children’s commissioner for England has told the Covid-19 inquiry.Giving evidence to the inquiry’s public hearing on Thursday, Anne Longfield said a “doom loop” of fatalism among ministers meant the government failed to do more to help children. She argued that the prolonged lockdowns and school closures were responsible for the explosion in mental health, welfare and behaviour difficulties still being experienced by children and young people. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Southport attack where three young girls were murdered would have been 'severely worse' if door was locked, dance teacher tells public inquiry

Leanne Lucas, who was injured during the attack, was due to give evidence at the Southport Inquiry , but Liverpool Town Hall heard she was 'not fit'.

Events

8 d. ago Defendants in Nama fraud trial ‘motivated by greed’ to act dishonestly

A prosecuting barrister opened the case at Belfast Crown Court on Monday afternoon.

Politics

8 d. ago Southport teacher was ‘let down’ by organisations, inquiry told

A summary of evidence from Leanne Lucas was read to the public inquiry into the attack.

Politics

8 d. ago No one would have imagined Southport attack would happen, inquiry told

Jennifer Scholes, who owned the lease on the dance studio, gave evidence to the public inquiry.

Events

1 week ago Police watchdog staff face probe over comments on Nottingham stabbings inquiry

A judge-led public inquiry into the decisions made prior to the attacks was announced in February.

Events

1 week ago Motion on Gaza aid flotilla to be tabled in Irish parliament next week

A cross-party committee decided on Thursday night that a motion on the Gaza aid flotilla would be tabled on Tuesday.

Politics

1 week ago Football fan builds £5k stand in garden to watch team as rivals call him 'rich b******'

Ian Nutter, 65, decided to build the terrace after he found three of his eight grandsons leaning over his wooden back garden fence trying to catch their local team, Barnoldswick Town, in action

Economics

1 week ago DAA board should be sacked instead of chief executive, O’Leary says

Michael O’Leary also criticised the Irish Government as well as planning and environmental authorities.

Politics

1 week ago ‘My wife is an exquisite goddess’: Nick Offerman on love, woodwork and storing gravy in his beard

The Parks and Recreation actor answers your questions on being married to Megan Mullally, visiting Manchester and preparing for the apocalypse What attracted you to the role of the radicalised father in new thriller Sovereign? SkillWizard The script is a work of art, about the “sovereign citizen movement”, which – like any other conspiracy theory – is based on the extreme edge of American thought. It made me think of the 6 January attack on the US Capitol; what drives normal working class Americans to make these life choices? I’m counting on the UK to celebrate this film, because I think it’s a little too smart for the American audience, frankly. A more European sensibility is going to respond more powerfully than an American one.Does the Highlander remake fill you with dread, indifference, or cautious optimism? ArcadianSean Highlander is one of my favourite films. It’s an incredible movie of sword-fighting with Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery and Clancy Brown as the Kurgan, the e...

Politics

1 week ago Southport killer's taxi driver admits he 'went into panic mode' and sped away from massacre despite hearing screams

Gary Poland, 56, told the public inquiry he thought he heard four or five loud bangs after dropping off Axel Rudakubana, 17, and assumed he had a gun and was shooting at people.

Events

1 week ago Hilary Benn urged to call public inquiry after police surveillance revelations

Journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney say only an inquiry can answer all the questions.

Events

2 w. ago The Sicilian Vespers at the Royal Ballet and Opera House review: Joyce El

Daniel Dooner’s revival of the Stefan Herheim production of Verdi’s opera is a timely call to stand up to tyranny

Politics

2 w. ago ROBERT HARDMAN: How Labour's new deal with Ireland on the Troubles shows how IRA lost the war but is now trying to win the peace

Scan the new 'Joint Framework' signed by the British and Irish governments to address the legacy of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and one word is not in it at all: 'veterans'.

Events

2 w. ago Canada bans Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country

The Canadian government banned the Irish-language rap group Kneecap from the country Friday, saying the group has endorsed political violence and terrorism

Politics

2 w. ago Securing confidence of victims paramount for new legacy framework – Sinn Fein

Northern Ireland political parties have given a mixed response to a new legacy framework published by the UK and Irish governments.

Events

2 w. ago Benn rejects claim of handling ‘dual control’ of legacy issues to Dublin

Irish deputy premier Simon Harris also pushed back on unionist criticism that his government had been given too much say on the new legacy framework.

Politics

2 w. ago Legacy accord offers chance to deal with ‘unfinished business’ of peace process

The UK and Irish governments have unveiled new-look legacy mechanisms to examine cases linked to the Northern Ireland Troubles.

Economics

2 w. ago Irish government to stand by calls for public inquiry in Sean Brown case

Simon Harris will stress that the timeline for making the reforms to the Legacy Commission would not result in a timely outcome for Mr Brown’s widow.

Politics