Latest news with #IrishState
RTÉ News
4 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Apple escrow account rises in value by €470m
The fund holding back tax from iPhone-maker Apple owed to the Irish State rose in value by €470 million after expenses in the 16 months to May of this year. The increase in the value of the investment follows an increase of €400m in 2023. The Department of Finance has published the final National Treasury Management Agency's accounts for the Apple Escrow Fund. It said that in September of last year, €12.67 billion was transferred to the Revenue Commissioners following a case in the Court of Justice of the European Union which Ireland lost. A further €1.56bn was transferred to the Exchequer following a direction from Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe in May of this year. It means a total of almost €14.25bn was transferred to the State which was just below the original €14.3bn paid by Apple. The fund suffered from a number of years where it lost money as Ireland fought the original decision of the European Commission in the courts.
RTÉ News
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Controversial Irish film Suit Hung. Tied Tongue debuts online
A controversial Irish film about two Dublin brothers who become radicalised and murder an Irish politician debuts today on new Irish streaming site Hailed as "a masterclass in Guerrilla filmmaking", Suit Hung. Tied Tongue tells the story of Sean and Freddie Halpin, who lose their mother "through tragic and preventable circumstances" and turn against the Irish State, leading to a plot to brutally murder an Irish politician and share it online. The trailer below is suitable for a mature audience The fallout from their crimes brings national outrage, disgust and support. The film stars actors Paul St Leger and Alex Eydt, alongside William Morgan (Dublin Crust) and Sadhbh Larkin Coyle (Communion). Suit Hung. Tied Tongue, which was scored by Grammy nominee Dario Rodighiero, was screened at the Richard Harris Film Festival and won a nomination for Lead Role for Louth actor St Leger. It also won Best Feature Film at the Underground Film Festival as well as being nominated for Best Feature film at The Louth International Film Festival. It has also been nominated as Best Genre Film at The Vancouver Badass Film Festival. The film is being released with a completely separate subtitled version on for foreign audiences and for people who might need help with understanding Irish accents. "We filmed Suit Hung. Tied Tongue as a team effort of artistic collectivism," says Director Sau Dachi. "The actors themselves filmed parts and pieces to camera to add to the guerrilla style of shooting. Alex Eydt, who plays one of the brothers, composed the eponymous poem Suit Hung. Tied Tongue, and wrote and sang My Darling Dear Mother. "When we finished the film we knew we were on to something special. I'll be interested to see what emotions the film evokes in the general public towards the situations and opinions presented within the story." Simon Maguire, MD of said: "It's a pleasure to showcase this extraordinary film on Eiretainment. Our goal with the platform is to showcase the best Irish talent and Suit Hung. Tied Tongue fits that bill perfectly. It will be our 7th online premiere since we launched at the end of 2024."
Wall Street Journal
17-06-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
AIB Group Returns to Private Ownership as Irish State Completes Exit
AIB Group A5G -3.21%decrease; red down pointing triangle has returned to private ownership after the Irish state fully divested its stake in the lender, marking a significant step as governments across Europe move to unload their crisis-era bailout positions. Ireland's finance ministry late Monday announced the sale of its remaining 44 million shares in AIB–representing 2.06% of its issued share capital–to institutional investors for 305.3 million euros ($353.0 million).
Irish Times
28-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Why is Ireland so far off its climate targets?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published its latest projections for the 2030 climate targets and it's bad news for Ireland. The Irish State has the worst emissions per capita in Europe – projections show our greenhouse gas emissions will fall by just 23 per cent by 2030, compared to our original national target of 51 per cent, according to EPA data published on Wednesday. The latest figures indicate none of the State's biggest emitting sectors – transport, agriculture and electricity – will meet their climate commitments. In most sectors, emissions continue to rise or are going down only marginally. The cost of missing these targets is obvious – extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and disruptive. And countries who fail to meet these commitments must pay huge fines. READ MORE What can Ireland do between now and 2030 to reduce emissions? And how much will Ireland pay if it fails to meet these legally-binding targets? Today, on In The News , why is Ireland so far off its climate targets? Irish Times environment and science correspondent Kevin O'Sullivan discusses the implications of Ireland's failure to meet climate targets. Presented by Sorcha Pollak. Produced by John Casey.
Irish Daily Mirror
28-05-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
'I've been drinking Guinness for years and just realised what the logo means'
Guinness isn't just any beer - it's Ireland most iconic export and a proud symbol of Irish heritage recognised all over the world. This famous dry stout, brewed in Dublin since 1759, is instantly recognisable by its rich, dark colour and creamy white head. Loved for its unique roasted malt flavour, over 10 million glasses of Guinness are enjoyed every single day across the world. But there's something even the most seasoned Guinness drinkers might not know - the famous logo you see on every bottle, can and pint glass isn't just a decoration. After years of drinking the legendary beverage, many people are only just realising what the Guinness harp really means, and it's deeply Irish story. The harp isn't just any harp. It's inspired by one of Ireland's oldest and most treasured symbols, the Brian Boru harp. This ancient 14th-century Gaelic harp, sometimes called the O'Neill harp, is kept safe at Trinity College Library in Dublin, where visitors from all over come to see it. Guinness explains: "Ireland was well-known overseas at the time for its rich culture and musical heritage. The harp was a significant emblem of this tradition and has been a heraldic symbol of Ireland from the 13th century. The Guinness Harp is based on the 'Brian Boru Harp', considered to be one of the finest surviving examples of the Gaelic harp, or cláirseach. "The mythology of the harp itself is that it once belonged to Brian Boru, High King of Ireland, who died at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. More recently, the harp has been dated to the 14th century but maintains its nominal association with Ireland's legendary king. The original creator of the harp remains a mystery. The harp was donated to Trinity College Dublin in 1782, where it continues to be on display today." The harp first appeared on a Guinness bottle label back in 1862 and while it has gone through several redesigns over the centuries, it's been synonymous with the brand ever since. In what might come as a twist, the Guinness harp actually faces the opposite way to the official Irish harp used by the government. Guinness said: "The Irish Free State chose the same Brian Boru harp as the official emblem on its founding in 1922 and it remains on the Republic of Ireland's national coat of arms. It appears on the Presidential seal, as well as coins and passports. As Guinness had already trademarked the logo, the Irish State were required to 'flip' the image harp faces in the opposite direction - compare the logo on an Irish coin to your pint glass!" This little detail has clearly surprised fans on social media, especially with the recent 'split the G' trend, where people have been dissecting and celebrating Guinness's logo like never before. One person wrote: "How am I just noticing that Guinness logo is a harp?" Another shared: "Am I the only one that is just realising that the Guinness logo is a harp?? I seriously thought it was just a weirdly bent piece of gold."
