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.”

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...

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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...

Some pro-government Independent TDs still mulling over confidence vote decision jrnl.ie/7011569

Fianna Fáil politicians tell Taoiseach that life-long party supporters have said they will never vote for the party again after the government's handling of the fuel protests jrnl.ie/7011568

Talks between the Government and transport organisations have finished for the day, with sources saying a finalised fuel support package is "close". jrnl.ie/7009690t

'F***ed off and f***ed over': Fianna Fáil backbenchers furious over handling of fuel protests jrnl.ie/7009143

Public Order Unit has just arrived at Department of Agriculture ahead of 2pm meeting between government and representative groups on fuel protests. @thejournal.ie

Taoiseach tells RTE Radio 1 that he doesn't think "people out there understand the gravity of the situation". "Unelected and self-appointed people can't determine who gets fuel in this country," he says.

There are plenty of respondents who fully support the protesters, while many are strongly opposed. Some expressed backing for the principle behind the protests but not the actions of those taking part. jrnl.ie/7008178

Fuel supplies at more forecourts are under threat of running dry as a days-long blockade of major supply depots continues. Already this morning, there is a full road closure in place on the M50 northbound after Junction 6, with motorists warned to expect long delays. jrnl.ie/7008524

Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan says the fuel protesters “need to cop” on to the damage they’re inflicting. He says it has gone on too long and they have made their point. He claims they’re now being “manipulated by outside actors”.

We tried to help a reader with her efforts to get an EV charger installed. The whole process was a pain. jrnl.ie/6998275t

Finance Minister Simon Harris has said he wants to see the Government's new State-backed investment scheme up and running next year. He said the current tax system for investments "has not worked" in people's favour. jrnl.ie/6998973t

There were mixed views from The Journal readers on illegal streaming. jrnl.ie/6998314t

Fine Gael TD Maeve O'Connell spoke to The Journal about what got her into politics, the highs and lows of Leinster House, and what it's like when your husband is also a TD. jrnl.ie/6996627t

People whose bikes have been stolen in Dublin say that they have been left frustrated by the lack of garda response - even when the victims can pinpoint exactly where their stolen bikes are. jrnl.ie/6993195

The Northern Commuter Line trains into Dublin will be my villain origin story. Government policy to build thousands of houses in north Dublin with bare minimum bus services and without expanding capacity on the trains. And in the Minister for Transport’s own constituency no less 🤠

Press conference getting underway here as coalition leaders formally announce the emergency fuel support package agreed by Cabinet this morning. “Temporary and targeted” are the words of the morning. @thejournal.ie

Government leaders have tonight agreed to cut excise duty on diesel by 20 cent and by 15 cent on petrol until the end of May. The changes will take effect from midnight tomorrow subject to Dáil approval. jrnl.ie/6992285t

Government spent over €400,000 in 2024 and 2025 on advertising campaigns to attract construction workers back to the country. However, despite the significant spend, no reporting metrics were gathered to track whether the campaign was successful or not jrnl.ie/6988739

The Oval Office verdict is... it wasn't a disaster? Martin met Trump, defended Starmer, and told the US president he's doing his bit for peace in the Middle East (gulp). The Candidate's debrief on the White House visit is out now pod.link/1439226641/e...

Happy St. Patrick's Day, New York.

An awkward moment from today’s Oval Office meeting came when Trump referred to President Connolly as a man. When asked what he made of her remarks criticising violations of international law in the Middle East, Trump said: “Look, he’s lucky I exist, that’s all I can say.”

From Trump's hatred of windmills to his misgendering of the Irish President, it was a whirlwind of a St Patrick's Day press conference in the Oval Office with the Taoiseach. jrnl.ie/6987738t

“I know as I prepare for my research space flights, which could take place within the next 18 months, I take a lot of dreams with me on this mission,” Irish aeronautical engineer Norah Patten says. She and her colleagues will be the world’s first (!!) all female research crew to head into space.

“It’s worth remembering that many of our ancestors did not receive the warmest welcome. Let us learn from our mistakes.” The most political speech at this morning’s breakfast was delivered by Governor of Massachusetts Maura Healey, who called out Trump’s treatment of immigrants in American.

“Whatever my legacy may be, I hope it will be said that I never stopped striving for the cause of democracy.” Former US President Joe Biden at today’s breakfast. @thejournal.ie

Former US President Joe Biden has appeared as the special guest here at the Irish American Partnership breakfast in Boston. @thejournal.ie

Here in Boston, Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee is the keynote speaker at a breakfast hosted by the Irish American Partnership. Dr Nora Patten, who is set to make history by becoming the first Irish person to travel to space, is also due to speak at today’s event as the guest of honour.