‘She’s tough’: Low-profile operator becomes Ireland’s most important diplomat for the next six monthsAingeal O’Donoghue, Ireland’s top diplomat in Brussels, is a tough negotiator who ‘doesn’t suffer fools’ and has heaps of experience in EU-politickingWed Jul 01 2026 - 10:00
Zelenskiy to arrive in Dublin as Ireland assumes EU presidencyThis is eighth time Ireland has held rotating presidency since joining bloc in 1973Wed Jul 01 2026 - 06:00
European market ‘flooded’ with unsafe vapes, EU anti-fraud chief says Recent crackdown uncovered millions of vapes shipping into EU labelled as toys, earphones, shoes and essential oils to avoid taxTue Jun 30 2026 - 06:00
Ireland a hub for shell companies facilitating cross-border tax frauds, says EU prosecutorRepublic is one of three countries who have not joined EU-wide agency investigating financial crimes spanning multiple jurisdictionsMon Jun 29 2026 - 19:27
Kevin Barrett to be appointed ‘chef de cabinet’ for EU commissioner Michael McGrath Position is a commissioner’s point person on high-level policy debates within European CommissionThu Jun 25 2026 - 18:59
Ireland braces for hottest day of 2026 as heatwave grips Europe Soaring values in France, Italy, Spain, England and other western European states exerting significant strain Thu Jun 25 2026 - 06:00
No free lunch for Burnham if he is at the table for UK-EU reset talksEurope letter: Starmer’s departure offers UK government a chance to ‘reset the reset’ in autumn EU deal Thu Jun 25 2026 - 06:00
Brussels open to 150,000 cap on post-Brexit ‘youth mobility’ schemeConcession to stop UK universities charging EU students international tuition fees could be ‘decoupled’ from reset deal Thu Jun 25 2026 - 05:14
Soaring temperatures continue to break records across EuropeBrussels-based officials in EU institutions advised to eat plenty of fruit and wear a hat when braving heatwave gripping Europe Wed Jun 24 2026 - 19:00
Public urged to stay safe in heatwave as temperatures soar across EuropeFrance, Spain, Italy and Luxembourg on alert, while Met Éireann warns Ireland set for ‘exceptionally hot’ Thursday Tue Jun 23 2026 - 21:16
‘I feel like a museum piece’: Meet the ‘Brexit refugees’ who stayed working in EU institutions after UK leftA decade on from the Brexit referendum, British nationals are a rare sight around the EU’s corridors of power, but they still exist Tue Jun 23 2026 - 06:00
Warning of reputational risk if Government departments don’t pull weight during EU presidencyFrench authorities ‘open’ to sending police officers to assist gardaí in security arrangementsSat Jun 20 2026 - 06:00
How will Ireland try to make its mark during its stint with the EU presidency?Irish Ministers and diplomats will chair EU-level discussions and broker compromises between the other 26 countries from July 1st until the end of this yearSat Jun 20 2026 - 06:00
António Costa should represent EU in future Ukraine peace talks, Martin says Necessary for EU to open a ‘direct’ line of contact to Kremlin, European Council president says Fri Jun 19 2026 - 18:53
A divided EU turns to Ireland to stitch together its next budgetClashing demands over farm subsidies, defence and debt set the stage for a challenging Irish presidencyFri Jun 19 2026 - 15:19
Failure to land European budget deal would leave EU in ‘limbo’, Taoiseach says Current €1.2tn budget covers farm subsidies and regional development grants among funding schemes Thu Jun 18 2026 - 18:59
European leaders debate getting tough on China: ‘We have to defend ourselves’ Having spent the last year and a half avoiding a trade war with Washington, European leaders may not have the stomach to start one with BeijingThu Jun 18 2026 - 15:49
Brussels blame game masks member states’ role in Gaza inactionA coalition of hesitant governments has repeatedly derailed efforts to impose trade or diplomatic costs on IsraelThu Jun 18 2026 - 05:49
A clear front-runner has emerged in the race to join the EU - can it cross the finish line?Balkan country’s push to become next member state a test of whether enlargement path is ‘credible’, says chief negotiatorThu Jun 18 2026 - 05:30
Aughinish Alumina complained to EU about ‘lack of access to public funds’Co Limerick plant told European Commission officials last year half of its alumina was exported to Russia, minutes showFri Jun 12 2026 - 06:00
Six-day week the new normal for Irish officials in Brussels as EU presidency loomsIreland prepares to steer EU’s unwieldy machinery through turbulent geopolitics Thu Jun 11 2026 - 10:30
The EU plan to add seven new member countries, including Ukraine EU enlargement commissioner Marta Kos says Ukraine making good progress on structural reforms under ‘almost impossible’ conditions Thu Jun 11 2026 - 06:00
Irish Government fights rearguard action in EU amid push for Aughinish Alumina sanctionsIrish officials say sanctions would disrupt supply of raw material to European industryTue Jun 09 2026 - 21:30
Russia sanctions having an impact, top Irish diplomat says amid Aughinish Alumina pressureEstonian foreign minister has called for a ban on alumina exports, like those from Limerick, to be included in next round of EU sanctionsTue Jun 09 2026 - 11:06
Balkans summit: EU must pick up pace of enlargement negotiations, says von der Leyen French and German governments pitch idea for gradual integration of candidate countries into EU decision-making process Fri Jun 05 2026 - 17:46
Ireland wants no ‘hand’ in supplying material for weapons damaging Ukraine, says TaoiseachGovernment to discuss findings of Aughinish Alumina investigation with European Commission Fri Jun 05 2026 - 14:20
Hardline Israeli ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich barred from travel to Ireland ‘Their behaviour justifies sanctions at EU level as well,’ Micheál Martin saysFri Jun 05 2026 - 12:24
Trump’s unlikely tariff lever: a 1930s law on forced labourFresh US tariffs based on American law aimed at combatting forced labourThu Jun 04 2026 - 12:52
It’s the fish, stupid: Iceland referendum on EU talks won’t be a slam dunk Fishing rights and sovereignty fears the big questions in Icelandic vote on restarting EU membership talks Thu Jun 04 2026 - 05:24
Ireland’s reliance on US multinational tax take ‘poses risks’, European Commission warnsCorporate tax receipts from US companies well in excess of what could be explained by their domestic economic activity in Republic Wed Jun 03 2026 - 17:14
Trump begins rebuilding protectionist wall with proposed new tariffsEarlier levies were struck down by the US Supreme CourtWed Jun 03 2026 - 09:58
EU agrees plan to unblock €16bn in frozen funds to HungaryNew Hungarian government commits to rush through structural and anti-corruption reforms before end of August Fri May 29 2026 - 19:34
How Europe is preparing for potential Ukraine talks with PutinBefore deciding on the name of any envoy to do the talking, European governments are weighing up what they want from Ukraine settlement Fri May 29 2026 - 12:12
EU sanctions on Russian-owned Aughinish Alumina would be ‘self-defeating, says Taoiseach Micheál Martin denies Government had been threatened not to impose sanctions on company or that it had lobbied EUFri May 29 2026 - 09:02
Ireland wants to make ‘swift progress’ on Ukraine’s EU bid Ireland hopes to ‘prepare the ground’ for union’s next enlargement during upcoming EU presidency Thu May 28 2026 - 06:00
Frugals no more? Europe’s budget hawks try on a ‘moderniser’ makeoverCoalition known as Europe’s frugals try to rebrand as ‘modernisers’ in upcoming EU budget fight Thu May 28 2026 - 06:00
‘Such a pity’: Fuel protests forced group of ministerial advisers to scrap trip to Brussels Two-day visit to Brussels had been organised to brief ministerial advisers before EU presidency Wed May 27 2026 - 06:00
Four dead, including two children, after train collides with schoolbus in BelgiumFurther five children were seriously injured but in ‘stable condition’ after incident at level crossing in north of countryTue May 26 2026 - 18:05
EU’s big six push to centralise financial oversight in move that will worry IrelandLeaked proposal from bloc’s largest economies would see the European regulator gradually take over more and more responsibility currently in individual states’ powerThu May 21 2026 - 14:32
What is the EU-Israel association agreement and could it be suspended?Support for suspending key deal has never reached required threshold Thu May 21 2026 - 13:29
A call for help catches the eye at an Amsterdam metro stationAmsterdam letter: Lack of EU-wide regulation of sperm donation has allowed national loopholes to be exploited Thu May 21 2026 - 05:00
EU negotiators strengthen ability to suspend EU-US tariff deal if Trump reneges on agreementEuropean Parliament had insisted on extra safeguards as price of ratifying its side of US tariff pact and include 2029 ‘sunset clause’ Wed May 20 2026 - 13:30
Irish diplomats were warned about ‘approaches’ from Big TobaccoWarning issued by senior Irish official to more than 280 diplomatic staff in BrusselsTue May 19 2026 - 06:00
Russia and China may exploit Iran fallout to increase global leverage, EU ministers are warned Officials advised developing world could face ‘significant food shortages and price increases’ before year’s endMon May 18 2026 - 18:07
‘You have to be ready for war’: Legacy of limbo in Armenia after loss of Nagorno-KarabakhA lightning quick offensive in 2023 saw Azerbaijan take control of the disputed region in a devastating blow to ArmeniaSun May 17 2026 - 05:55
Is Michael McGrath the EU’s Big Tech whisperer? The EU’s justice commissioner has spent more time meeting US tech giants than tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen hasThu May 14 2026 - 05:00
EU agrees to place fresh sanctions on extremist Israeli settlersBreakthrough sees blacklist imposed on violent settlers for first time in nearly two yearsMon May 11 2026 - 13:57
Irish failure to recognise Armenian genocide creates awkward moment for Martin in YerevanInconsistency between Government reluctance to formally acknowledge Armenian genocide and clear stance on GazaMon May 11 2026 - 06:00
Options being drawn up for possible EU action on Israeli settlement trade Early sign of ‘momentum shift’ towards curbs on trade from Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territoriesSun May 10 2026 - 15:28
Officials questioned how nominating Phil Hogan for key UN post would ‘benefit’ the StateRole based in Rome carries $265,000 annual salary plus extra $50,000 ‘representation’ allowanceSat May 09 2026 - 06:00
