Judge orders Michelle Keane to remove defamatory social media posts about Minister Healy-Rae
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- RTÉ News
Hospitality boost in Budget to shrink workers' tax cuts
The big winner from next year's Budget is going to be the hospitality industry. That will happen at the expense of income taxpayers. The cost of reducing VAT from 13.5% to 9% for restaurants, bars and cafés is going to be up to €1bn in a full year, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said. That will be out of a package of tax cuts of €1.5bn, according to the Summer Economic Statement, which was published by the Government earlier. In other words, two-thirds of the capacity for reducing taxation could be absorbed by the hospitality industry. Mr Donohoe said when the Coalition made the commitment to cut the rate of VAT it meant there would be "tradeoffs and consequences" and "there are other things we are unable to do". He warned the threat of US tariffs meant that it would "not be right to grow the tax package given all we are confronting". In Budget 2025, the average worker benefited by around €1,000 from reduced taxes. That was based on a package of €1.4bn. When the Government proceeds with the VAT reduction for the hospitality industry, it would leave €500m for tax cuts elsewhere. On that basis, ordinary workers won't enjoy a similar reduction in taxation next year as they did in 2025. Trimming VAT for hospitality was a commitment which was originally made during the General Election in November last year and it was included in the Programme for Government in January this year. It would be difficult to renege on such a clear political promise. Another important element of the Summer Economic Statement is that it is predicated on zero tariffs being imposed on exports from Ireland to the US. Currently many sectors are free from tariffs including pharmaceuticals and computer chips. But other areas such as food and drink exports have been hit with duties of 10%. While the deadline for a deal on tariffs is 1 August, the issue has been long fingered twice by US President Donald Trump who has variously suggested tariffs of 20%, 30% and even 50% on EU goods. There is a very clear caveat in the Summer Economic Statement, that if the trade war between the US and EU worsens, the Government will have to revisit the tax package. It means the coming weeks and possibly months will be critical in determining the shape of the Budget.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Let kids be kids or should teens be heard? Our writers divided on voting age debate as electoral overhaul splits opinion
LAST week Britain moved to lower the voting age to 16 in all UK elections. It was a major overhaul of the country's democratic system that immediately split opinion over whether they should or would cast ballots. 5 Globally, most countries have a voting age of 18 Credit: Getty Images - Getty 5 Changes have been proposed to boost participation and trust in the electoral system Credit: Getty Images - Getty The proposed changes were designed to boost participation and trust in the electoral system, which suffered its lowest turnout at the But in last year's European Parliament elections, So should In The Irish Sun today, reporter JODIE McCORMACK and Political Correspondent ADAM HIGGINS argue both sides. FOR - JODIE MCCORMACK 5 Jodie McCormack says being young 'does not equate to being uninterested in politics' Credit: Collect IN 2016 Ireland held a General Election and in 2018 the Referendum on the regulation of termination of pregnancy took place. I voted in neither, despite the direct impacts both would have on my future as a young woman in Ireland. Had the voting age been lowered to 16 at the time, I would have been first in line at the polls. With the While cynics may argue 16 and 17-year-olds are too young to form a valid political opinion, we already trust them to pay tax through part-time Simon Harris 'does not expect' poll on Irish unity in this decade Many will move away from home to start college, work or apprenticeships and rent their first property having never voted in this country. Politics and society was introduced as a Leaving Cert subject in 2016, with the first exam sat in 2018. In 2022 Norma Foley, then Minister for Education confirmed 2,261 pupils sat the subject in 2019, 3,476 in 2020 and 4,084 in 2021. Steadily increasing numbers which could be further increased if all senior cycle students had the opportunity to vote, not just the handful of 18-year-olds in 6th year. The interest is there from Ireland's young people and now is the time for that interest to be heard. Jodie McCormack This also gives Being young does not equate to being uninterested in politics. The Central Statistics Office report a voter turnout of 50 per cent in the 2022 General Election in the 18-25 age category. In 2024, Both didn't have a vote just a handful of years before that. The evidence is clear, the interest is there from Ireland's young people and now is the time for that interest to be heard. AGAINST - ADAM HIGGINS 5 Adam Higgins says he 'can't imagine many 16-year-olds are even interested in voting' Credit: Crispin Rodwell - The Sun Dublin CAN we not let kids be kids anymore? Why are we rushing to ask teenagers to start making important decisions about who should run the country when they barely know who they are as a person yet? At 16, kids should mainly be worried about their I don't think it is fair to put it on 16-year-olds to help decide what direction the country should go in. GROUPS TARGETED In the run up to elections, politicians and their PR machines specifically target different groups in a bid to win votes. In the past it was solely through clever slogans, policy proposals and quotes in media interviews and at press events. However, increasingly politicians are using Do we really want our teenagers' social media pages bombarded with messages from political parties of all hues warning them about all the things that are wrong in the country and how they are the only ones that can fix it? Surely there's an easier way to increase voter turnout than lowering the voting age? Adam Higgins This is a time when we are constantly reading about rising levels of anxiety and mental health issues in our young people. Social media is often blamed as one of the main reasons for this – do we really want to throw politics into that mix? I think it is important to get more people into politics and try increase engagement with the system. But surely there's an easier way to increase voter turnout than lowering the voting age? WHO BENEFITS? What about automatic voter registration for every citizen over the age of 18? I think we also have to consider who would benefit from this change. I can't imagine many 16-year-olds are even interested in voting. How many of you reading this now were engaged in politics when you were 16? Some teens are really passionate about it already and they would probably make great TDs, let alone voters. But for the majority of teens, they will probably just listen to their parents and vote for whomever they vote for. Let's leave our teenagers with two more years of life experience before we ask them to form an opinion about the future of the country. 5 Should Ireland allow people to vote from the age of 16? Credit: Getty Images - Getty
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Please, Sir Keir, racing is being battered and we NEED your help before it's too late
SIR KEIR, are you listening? Do you know what is going on? Has anyone talked to you? Tax nightmares. Affordability checks. Labour peer frustrations. 1 Racing is booming at the moment with punters returning to tracks - but huge headwinds in the shape of harsh taxation lie in wait Credit: PA It appears racing is being battered in every direction. Who is listening? It remains hard to know. I've written before and I'll write it again. Considering horse racing is loved by the King and Queen downwards, it's quite extraordinary that it seems anyone who is part of the sport seemingly finds it impossible to get the ear of the Prime Minister. But while everyone is shouting from the rooftops about the current mayhem and possible nightmares around the corner, whether those in charge of Government have any idea what is happening behind the scenes is just a guessing game. We know Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria, like horse racing. Remember the day after the General Election? Victoria was having a day out at the Eclipse at Sandown. Not so long ago Sir Keir was also at Doncaster for the St Leger to watch Jan Brueghel land his victory for Aidan O'Brien. And yet, there is every chance the Labour Government is on the verge of lumping a huge taxation on the Sport of Kings that could be the beginning of the end. Most read in Horse Racing For those of you who don't know, that's because there is a current Treasury proposal to harmonise remote gambling tax rates, which could result in a raise to the rate on sports betting (including horseracing) from 15 per cent to 21 per cent. It all comes at a time when racing attendances are up - although no doubt partly due to good weather - allowing the sport to remain as the second most watched in the country. Above all that, though, horse racing already contributes over £4billion to the national economy and supports in the region of 85,000 jobs. Why would you even contemplate wrecking that? All this is going on at the same time Lord Allen continues to sit on the bench while he decides whether he wants to become BHA chairman. Many in racing think he is sent from God to make everything all right, although as of yet I've seen nothing on paper to back that up. That all said, everyone knows the governance needs a massive change. We really only hear one side of the Lord Allen 'will he join or won't he join' saga. But I'm led to believe he's put forward a proposal which basically says accept it or I walk. I am also led to believe he wants a hefty salary for whoever he makes CEO in place of Brant Dunshea. I can't back this up. It's just the word on the street. If Lord Allen is the Messiah, though, you would have thought he'd have already been talking to Sir Keir and messages would be coming back to racing about the tax issue. It's been silent as far as I am aware. So Sir Keir. The question is simple. Do you hear us? Do you know what is going on? FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
