Dolly Parton will be remembered around the world as a legendary singer-songwriter. But the musician, who died on Tuesday, was proud of being known as 'the Book Lady' to the millions of children she gave free books to through her Imagination Library. jrnl.ie/7142218

Dolly Parton's literacy legacy: How singer gave millions of books to children around the world

The programme she founded in 1995 has given hundreds of millions of free books to children worldwide, including in Ireland.

jrnl.ie

This week on The Candidate: Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan joins us in studio. We ask what needs to change after the M9 collision, whether the State is failing young people it can't reach, and why its approach to migration has changed. Listen now: pod.link/1439226641/e...

“Every time I make a concession, the Law Society just bag it and say, ‘We want more’.” Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan says he is hopeful the criminal legal aid dispute will be resolved by October, but insists he will not revoke the new regulations. jrnl.ie/7141454

Chair of the Oireachtas Education and Youth Committee, Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe, is facing criticism for a Facebook post in which he said he is "sick of seeing people eulogising and heaping praise" on the five "thugs" killed in Sunday's crash on the M9. jrnl.ie/7135818t

TD and Youth Committee chair stands by post criticising 'eulogising' of 'thugs'

His comments have been labelled “beyond disturbing” by Independent Senator Lynn Ruane.

jrnl.ie

Ever wonder what TDs and MEPs read on their holidays? It's an eclectic mix. jrnl.ie/7118691t

From George Orwell to sci-fi: Here's what Irish politicians are reading over the summer holidays

It’s an eclectic mix of poolside reading for Irish politicians this summer.

jrnl.ie

The Government has stalled its long-promised plans to roll out shared mobility hubs, which would include bike and electric car-sharing facilities, across the country because they included e-scooters. jrnl.ie/7118501t

E-scooter ban puts promised bike and electric car rental hubs on ice

The Green Party has criticised the government’s decision to stall the pilot scheme as ‘totally spurious’.

jrnl.ie

"What we know about Budget 2027 so far is that it is going to have a big focus on 'the squeezed middle', but what about the children on the margins?," writes political correspondent Jane Matthews. jrnl.ie/7111574t

Has Harris forgotten his goal of making Ireland the best country in the world to be a child?

What we know about Budget 2027 so far is that it is going to have a big focus on ‘the squeezed middle’, but what about the children on the margins?

jrnl.ie

At kiosks across the city, only a third of the phones worked this week – but all the attached advertising billboards did. “You simply cannot just say you're putting out a phone when really what you're actually doing is you're putting out a massive advertising board.”

At kiosks across the city, only a third of the phones worked – but all the attached advertising billboards did

“You simply cannot just say you're putting out a phone when really what you're actually doing is you're putting out a massive advertising board.”

dublininquirer.com

The European Parliament has passed a non-binding vote calling for a ban on the export of all alumina to Russia, in a move that increases pressure on the Irish Government in relation to Aughinish Alumina in Limerick. www.thejournal.ie/aughinish-al...

European Parliament votes to back ban on export of alumina to Russia as Fianna Fáil MEPs abstain

Fianna Fáil MEPs have been heavily criticised by some of their colleagues for their decision to abstain on the vote.

thejournal.ie

The Irish Coursing Club has refused to provide evidence for its claim, repeated by the junior minister for agriculture, that hare coursing contributes €70m to the Irish economy annually. It comes ahead of a Dáil vote to ban the blood sport tomorrow night. jrnl.ie/7094305t

Hare coursing group refuse to provide evidence of claim coursing adds €70m to economy annually

The Dáil will vote on whether to ban the blood sport tomorrow night.

jrnl.ie

Sinn Féin's Martin Kenny tells the Dáil his party will not be supporting @paulmurphy.pbp.ie 's bill to ban hare coursing. FF and FG also against the bill. FF's Niall Collins tells SocDem's Jennifer Whitmore that it is a "nonsense comparison" to liken hares to domestic pets like cats or dogs.

And so it begins… Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed António Costa, President of the European Council, to Government Buildings as Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union formally kicks off today. (What a mouthful!) @thejournal.ie

Tánaiste Simon Harris says he “rejects outright” the idea that it is irresponsible of his government to further subsidise fossil fuels in the midst of the climate crisis. @thejournal.ie

Update on this: the Oireachtas Health committee has agreed this afternoon to invite the Rotunda and CUMH into a committee hearing on June 1, with the hope of getting answers to a number of outstanding questions.

The Journal@thejournal.ie · 2mo ago

During Leaders' Questions this afternoon, the Social Democrats revealed that public-only consultants in Cork University Maternity Hospital have been receiving gifts to carry out private care. It follows the revelation that the practice is also happening in the Rotunda Hospital. jrnl.ie/7072440t

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told the Dáil he will be voting in favour of Sinn Féin's bill to remove the three-day waiting period to access abortion care. jrnl.ie/7072297t

Sinn Féin defends not supporting Soc Dem bill to remove 3-day abortion wait as it tables its own

The party’s health spokesperson said he is “very confident” today’s bill will be passed.

jrnl.ie

Ahead of bringing a bill to the Dail tomorrow which calls for a moratorium on data centres, Labour TD Ciarán Ahern asks “how much is enough” when it comes to them. He says all renewable energy that's currently made in Ireland is being “cannibalized” by data centres & undermining climate goals.

Stamp duty relief for first-time buyers is off the table, Tánaiste Simon Harris told The Journal's politics podcast The Candidate. But a tax package, childcare fee cuts and a renters' credit increase are all in play for October's budget. jrnl.ie/7066343

“This is bigger than football…At this present moment in time, there's an ongoing genocide in Gaza,” Sinn Féin TD Joanna Byrne. Ahead of her party’s Dáil motion tonight, Byrne has stressed that the Nations League fixtures against Israel should not go ahead, full stop.

The votes are in and counting is about to begin for the Galway West and Dublin Central byelections - stay with us for updates. jrnl.ie/7048768

Ballot boxes to be opened as counting set to begin in two byelections - stay with us for updates

Two new TDs will soon be chosen to fill the seats left vacant by President Catherine Connolly and former finance minister Paschal Donohoe.

jrnl.ie

The Journal joined Sinn Féin's Mark Lohan for a canvass in a rainy Galway West this afternoon. With just days to go until voters go to the polls in the byelection, Lohan has his doorstep pitch down to a T. jrnl.ie/7044909t

Despite the polling, Sinn Féin believe it's between them and Fine Gael in Galway West

The Journal joined Mark Lohan for a canvass in a rainy Galway this afternoon.

jrnl.ie

I tried out the government’s AIReady.ie courses you don’t have to! And, really, I don’t recommend you do!!! Here’s a rundown of the experience 🧵👇 (1/30)

Green TD Roderic O’Gorman says Simon Harris has pulled the rug on EV sales and retrofitting with his announcement that there will be some sort of package. He said people who were thinking of investing in a heat pump or EV won’t invest now until supports come in. Says details are needed now.

With one month to go until the by-election, Dublin Central's left-wing candidates kicked off the official campaign last night with a call to vote left, transfer left. The delivery of the message was somewhat lacklustre from the candidates themselves, however. jrnl.ie/7022100t

Candidates call for left transfer pact as Dublin Central competition gets off to friendly start

Left leaning candidates in the constituency chose to play nicely as they took part in the first panel event of the electoral race.

jrnl.ie

Taoiseach Micheál Martin was on the defensive during Leaders' Questions as he criticised opposition party leaders for how they responded to last week's fuel protests. jrnl.ie/7013337t

Taoiseach says McDonald and Cairns lack 'courage' and Bacik was 'afraid' to go into Government

The postmortem over last week’s fuel protests continued today in the Dáil.

jrnl.ie

Fianna Fáil's youngest TDs aren't happy with government as fuel protest fallout persists. TDs James O’Connor, Albert Dolan and Ryan O’Meara say the "social contract is strained to breaking point". jrnl.ie/7013671

Fianna Fáil's youngest TDs aren't happy with government as fuel protest fallout persists

While the three TDs aren’t pointing fingers, the statement is being viewed by some within the party as direct criticism of the Taoiseach.

jrnl.ie

From 'G.I Jim' and 'Rambo' to 'Timmy Doolittle', there was a lot of name-calling in the Dáil today. And some of it made more sense than others. jrnl.ie/7012454t

From 'G.I Jim' to 'Timmy Doolittle', there was a lot of name calling in the Dáil today

And some of it made more sense than others.

jrnl.ie

Michael Healy-Rae is resigning from the government over the fuel protest crisis. Addressing the Dáil he said he "adored being a minister" and signed off by telling the chamber "I am sorry and I thank you all very much". Full story to follow shortly.

🚨 Michael Healy Rae has just resigned as a minister of state and will vote no confidence in the Government over its handling of the fuel protests.

Speaking in the Dáil this afternoon, Labour leader Ivana Bacik was deeply critical of the Media Minister’s call for a review into media coverage of the protests. “Goodbye Viktor Orbán, hello Patrick O’Donovan," Bacik said. www.thejournal.ie/simon-harris...

Tánaiste slaps down minister's call for a probe into media coverage of fuel protests

Media Minister Patrick O’Donovan suggested that media coverage has been “lopsided” in favour of the fuel protests.

thejournal.ie

NUJ Assistant General Secretary Séamus Dooley said the comments this morning from Minister Patrick O’Donovan were “sinister and deeply disturbing” and an interference in editorial independence. www.thejournal.ie/patrick-odon...

Minister's comments about coverage of protests criticised as 'sinister and deeply disturbing'

Patrick O’Donovan has suggested that media coverage last week was biased in favour of the protesters.

thejournal.ie