Jane Matthews

4 days ago | thejournal.ie | Jane Matthews

THERE IS CROSS-party support in the Dáil for a Social Democrats bill to ban the “barbaric practice” of hare coursing. Hare coursing is a controversial sport that involves a hare being released in an enclosure and chased down by greyhounds, before being let go into the wild. Although the dogs are muzzled, the hares can still be injured and even killed. It is a practice that is banned in the UK, including Northern Ireland, and most European countries.

1 week ago | thejournal.ie | Jane Matthews

TRANS AND INTERSEX Pride Dublin has said it will ban Sinn Féin from participating in its Pride march this summer unless it clarifies its position on yesterday’s UK Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman. The UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the UK Equality Act do not include transgender women. The ruling could have a major bearing in how sex-based rights are applied through the Equality Act across Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales.

1 week ago | thejournal.ie | Jane Matthews

WE ALL KNOW that buying a home in Ireland is not easy. From saving for the deposit to entering the bidding process, none of it is for the faint-hearted. The new Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Regional Independents government has pledged in its programme for government to make the home-buying process clearer and more transparent. They’ve said they will do this by establishing an expert group that draws on international best practice.

1 week ago | thejournal.ie | Jane Matthews

ENTERPRISE MINISTER PETER Burke is “determined” to bring the short-term let legislation to Cabinet next week in a bid to free up housing stock. As reported by The Journal during the week, the bill was taken off the agenda of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting amid concerns raised by some ministers that more work was needed on legislation.

2 weeks ago | thejournal.ie | Jane Matthews

TAOISEACH MICHÉAL MARTIN has pushed back on claims made by Independent TD Barry Heneghan and his adviser, former TD Finian McGrath, about a deal secured as part of government formation talks. The Taoiseach said McGrath, a former Minister for Disabilities, would “have form in the odd bout of hyperbole”. In a press release issued yesterday, Heneghan, the first time TD for Dublin Bay North, welcomed additional funding for Beaumont Hospital.