Ben Scallan

Dublin

Senior Political Correspondent at Gript

Senior political correspondent at @GriptMedia, Irish journalist and commentator • [email protected]

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Articles

Unfairly banned online in the EU? You can now appeal it

3 weeks ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

Users in the European Union can now challenge “unfair” account suspensions on major social media platforms, the Appeals Centre Europe has announced. This week the Dublin-based organisation said that individuals whose accounts have been suspended by Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube can submit a free appeal. The Centre described the move as a “new way to challenge unfair account suspensions.”“Being banned from social media affects people’s lives,” the Centre said.
Martin: Free speech doesn’t apply to "blatant lies"

3 weeks ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has confirmed that it has not conducted any analysis or research into the potential free speech impact of misinformation and disinformation regulations.
Gardaí recruited at Dublin Mosque prior to closure

3 weeks ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

An Garda Síochána held recruitment drives at Dublin’s Clonskeagh Mosque just months before the centre was closed over a “heightened security situation” and amid allegations of extremist influence within elements of the organisation. According to Freedom of Information records released to Gript, Gardaí carried out “recruitment outreach” sessions aimed at “minority target groups” at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland (ICCI) in Clonskeagh on February 23rd and 26th of this year.
Post-mortem of Carlow shooter to be carried out today

3 weeks ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

Dear Reader, It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.
Fears over crime, services voiced at Citywest meeting

1 month ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

“We’ve been complete victims of harassment, stalking, violence,” one speaker told a packed hall, as over 200 locals gathered to oppose State plans to convert the Citywest Hotel into a permanent migrant accommodation centre. The meeting, held at the Green Isle Hotel on Wednesday night, was called in response to government plans to purchase the Citywest Hotel outright for use as a long-term International Protection Accommodation (IPA) centre.
Heated scenes as vote looms on Israeli bonds ban bill

1 month ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

TDs are due to vote today on Sinn Féin’s Restrictive Financial Measures (State of Israel) Bill 2025, following a stormy Dáil debate last night that was interrupted by heckling from the public gallery and frequent clashes between Government and Opposition benches. The proposed legislation seeks to prohibit the Central Bank of Ireland from authorising or facilitating the sale of Israeli government bonds, which Sinn Féin claims are being used to fund Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
RTÉ to face questions on €3.6 million failed IT project

1 month ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

Dear Reader, It is a simple statement of fact that if you are looking for diversity of thought in the Irish media, you will struggle to find it. That is why we founded Gript – to serve the gap in the market left by so many of our colleagues, when they decided that the job of journalists was not to challenge consensus thought, but to herd around it, and defend it fiercely.
“Weaponised” objections delaying housing, says Minister

1 month ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

Judicial reviews are being “weaponised” to “prohibit very badly needed homes,” Housing Minister James Browne has said. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Fianna Fáil Minister said the Government’s reforms to planning law would help ensure that only individuals with a “legitimate interest” in a development could bring legal objections. “I do believe judicial reviews have been weaponised by some people, with a view to simply, if you delay a project long enough, the project will fall,” he said.
IPAS spending has not been value for money, says Harris

1 month ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he is “absolutely not” satisfied that the State has received value for money in its spending on the IPAS accommodation system. Speaking to Gript outside Government Buildings on Tuesday morning ahead of this week’s cabinet meeting, the Fine Gael Minister said the current model is “absolutely not” appropriate either. “Am I satisfied we’re getting value for money in relation to IPAS? Absolutely not,” he said. “Am I satisfied that the model is appropriate?
Public Accounts Committee to probe €5m-a-day IPAS costs

1 month ago | gript.ie | Ben Scallan

The Public Accounts Committee will launch a formal investigation in June into how the State is spending billions on accommodation for asylum seekers and refugees. The move was confirmed today in a statement by the committee’s chair, Sinn Féin TD John Brady, who said the inquiry would focus on the governance, oversight, and value for money of State payments made through the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS).