Irish voters are deciding Thursday whether to accept the terms of a European Union fiscal treaty tied to financial aid and designed to bolster the troubled 17-nation euro currency bloc. Ireland signed the treaty in March with most other EU countries. The treaty imposes strict limits on debt and budget deficits. But Ireland is the […]
Irish Voting on EU Fiscal Treaty in Thursday Referendum
Irish Voters to Decide on EU Fiscal Treaty in Thursday Referendum
Irish voters will decide in a referendum Thursday whether to accept the terms of a European Union fiscal treaty tied to financial aid and designed to bolster the troubled eurozone. Ireland signed the treaty in March with most EU member countries. The treaty imposes strict limits on debt and budget deficits. But Ireland is the […]
OSCE Chief Calls for Return Presence in Belarus
The new Irish head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is calling for the reinstatement of an OSCE presence in Belarus, where he says the “continuing erosion of human rights” is cause for concern. Ireland’s deputy prime minister and foreign affairs minister, Eamon Gilmore, spoke Wednesday in Washington before the U.S. Helsinki […]
Ex-Culture Minister Elected As New Ireland’s New President
Irish poet and human rights activist Michael Higgins has been elected Ireland’s president for the next seven years. Election officials said Saturday that Mr. Higgins won nearly 57 percent of the vote in the final count. The 70-year-old former culture minister for the Labor Party defeated independent businessman and reality television celebrity Sean Gallagher, and […]
Ireland’s Labor Party Candidate Set to be Next President
Human rights activist and poet Michael Higgins is set to be named as Ireland’s next president when final election results are announced on Saturday. Election officials say the Labor Party candidate received almost 40-percent of all first-preference votes in Thursday’s polling, which gives him a sizable lead over the other six candidates. His strongest challenger, […]
Irish Voters to Select President and Decide Referendums Thursday
Irish voters head to the polls Thursday to elect a new president and decide referendums on the constitution. Political analysts say there is no clear cut frontrunner in the race between Martin McGuinness of the Sinn Fein Party, Independent Sean Gallagher, and Michael Higgins of the coalition government’s Labor Party. The winner will succeed Mary […]
Dublin Hit by Severe Flooding
Severe flooding has hit the Irish capital, Dublin, leaving one person missing. The police officer is feared dead after he was swept away by the flood waters in the County Wicklow area. The region received torrential rain, resulting in quickly rising water levels. The flooding overwhelmed homes and businesses, disrupted rail travel and flooded roadways. […]
Judge Refuses Bail for Suspected IRA Bombers
A judge in Northern Ireland refused bail for three suspected Irish Republican Army dissidents Thursday, after they were charged with possession of a bomb. Police discovered the explosive device Monday when they stopped the men’s car at a road checkpoint on the outskirts of Londonderry. The men were questioned and arrested. Several IRA splinter groups […]
Vatican Reassigns Ireland Envoy to Czech Republic
A papal diplomat at the center of a bitter confrontation between Ireland and the Vatican has been transferred to the Czech Republic. Pope Benedict recalled Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza from Dublin earlier this week following the Irish parliament’s strong criticism of the Roman Catholic Church for its role in covering up child sex abuse. Leanza will […]
Vatican Recalls Its Ambassador to Ireland
The Vatican has recalled its ambassador to Ireland, following the Irish parliament’s severe criticism of the Roman Catholic Church’s role in covering up child sex abuse. A Vatican spokesman said Monday that Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza had been recalled from Dublin for consultations. The highly unusual step came after Ireland’s parliament accused church officials of covering […]