Ben Scallan

16 hours ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he has not picked up on “huge pressure” from the European Union over Ireland’s hate speech laws, but added that “attacks on particular ethnic groups” are “not acceptable.”Speaking to Gript outside Government Buildings on Tuesday morning, the Taoiseach addressed reports that Ireland has been given two months by the European Commission to update its hate speech laws or face legal action from the Court of Justice of the European Union.

17 hours ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

The entry of a convicted rapist into Ireland without a visa has prompted the Tánaiste to say the State must look again at visa-free travel policies. Speaking to Gript outside Government Buildings ahead of this week’s Cabinet meeting, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris described Randi Gladstone as a “heinous criminal who has carried out the most horrific crimes.”“This is a bad individual that committed a horrific crime,” he said.

2 days ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to “finally take back control of our borders”, warning that the country is at risk of becoming “an island of strangers” without significant immigration reform. Speaking at a press conference in London on Monday to unveil the government’s new Immigration White Paper, the Labour leader said that “nations depend on rules” and that the current system has allowed “chaos” to replace control.

2 days ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

Pharmaceutical companies in the US are set to face sweeping price cuts, with Donald Trump announcing he will sign an executive order to reduce costs by between 30% and 80%, describing it as “one of the most consequential executive orders in our country’s history.”In a post on Truth Social on Sunday evening, the former US President and Republican frontrunner accused drug companies of exploiting American patients for years.

5 days ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

On Thursday this week, I was due to speak at an event titled “Is Ireland Safe?” – a straightforward and necessary discussion on the reality of crime in modern Ireland. Not migrant crime specifically, mind you – that is, of course, a legitimate issue which came up during the discussion, but it was not the particular focus of the event. This was merely an event to discuss crime, full-stop, including organised gang feuds, sentencing, prison spaces, policing priorities, and so on.