Pope Leo XIV to diplomats today: I interpret this as a message addressed especially to Russia and the USA where he was born and raised

“This island needs a national dialogue with facilitated local forums established in every county, a responsibility that may ultimately fall to civic society, should political parties fail to unite.”

The relevant law allows for significant fines for companies, and for fines and up to 14 years in prison for directors or officers of companies that commit offences with their consent, connivance or neglect. There's no gap in the law here. X needs to be subject to criminal investigation.

Section 5(1)(f) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 (as amended) makes it a criminal offence to knowingly facilitate the production or distribution of sexualised images of children. The problem here isn't the law - it's the political willingnesss to enforce it against X.

We should have NO trade with Israel, not to mind imports from the Occupied Palestinian Territories increasing. Our government must immediately pass the #OccupiedTerritoriesBill in full, including services Imports from Occupied Palestinian Territories rise www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

Prof Conor O’Mahony: Ireland could prosecute Twitter/X for AI 'child porn' deepfakes. Horrific child sex abuse material produced every day by Grok already banned under Irish law. The real test is if we are ready to enforce that law against large tech companies www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/comm...

Woman shot in cold blood by ICE in Minneapolis and RTÉ Primetime interview a demonstrably biased ICE apologist who justifies the killing. What a ridiculous editorial call. @rteprimetime.bsky.social

The government’s admission that it will miss its legally-binding climate target by a wide margin shows why legal action is necessary, according to lawyers involved in climate litigation.

An interesting piece from Ben Collins. irishborderpoll.com/2026/01/08/e...

‘The Dying, Death and Bereavement in Ireland 2026 report cites previous research showing that two in three people who lost a loved one were not told that death was imminent.’ www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...

President Connolly says lives lost in Venezuela during US intervention ‘appalling’ and ‘overlooked’ jrnl.ie/6920418

So despite all denial we're now openly facing up to failure on emissions targets and massive fines. The industry of spin through last year on denial on impact of data centres, nitrates etc and lack of media challenge on Government has failed our future #climate www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...

Jan 6th rioter: “You can't gaslight me. I was there — I saw the officers being pepper sprayed. I watched one of them fall down & hit his head & his back — So don't be telling me it wasn't violent. Don't come to me with that ever again”

On January 19th, we will be launching a new report highlighting the realities of Older Adult Homelessness 🏘️ We are thrilled to host this event with Galway Simon, and to have President Catherine Connolly joining us to launch the report! Register today 👇 www.eventbrite.ie/e/1977507780...

“As Ireland makes the final preparations for its ascension to council president, it must reflect on what it gains by eroding human rights in Europe when the entire rule-of-law-based world order is under threat.” ~Andrew Forde Irish Examiner

State will be liable for fines as high as €28 billion, as Minister for Climate says State will get only halfway to 2030 target #ClimateTargets irishtimes.com/politics/2026/…

What exactly is Europe going to do when this happens?

“Why would free money make people work more? Because it takes money to make money. Basic income acts like venture capital for regular people.”

The Nobel peace prize has become a meaningless gong!

Good to see this.

Five years ago.

‘Extreme weather events driven by human-induced climate change continued to disproportionately hit poorer communities in 2025, a group of international scientists found.’ www.rte.ie/news/2026/01...

Pope Leo called for Venezuela to remain an independent nation and said he was following developments after the United States' toppling of President Nicolas Maduro with a "soul full of concern" on Sunday. For @reuters.com:

From the World Bank: Over 900 million children in developing countries do not have access to education, health, housing, nutrition, sanitation, or water. See the latest data: wrld.bg/Kq7e50XyinL #EndChildPoverty @globalcoalition @WorldBank @UNICEF

Let’s hope the payment set is commensurate with costs. www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41...

“The forcible capture of a sitting head of state by another country, without a clear mandate from an international court, represents a dramatic departure from established norms of law” ~editorial The Irish News

A wonderful Christian and social justice activist. RIP. 🙏 Sister Brigid Reynolds, co-founder of Social Justice Ireland, has died aged 82 jrnl.ie/6918095

As I constantly teach my students, reading well isn't just understanding what's on the page but what's not on the page (and why). I now have the easiest in-class example I could ever hope for.

Ireland and the EU should be actively shouting about US breaches of international law right now - failure to do so contributes to normalisation of a new era of colonial gangsterism.

America’s pretence of respecting sovereignty in Latin America is over, but the consequences will reach far beyond Venezuela, writes Edmund Heaphy

Pope Leo: “With great concern, I am following the developments in Venezuela. The well-being of the beloved Venezuelan people must prevail over every other consideration and lead to overcoming violence and embarking on paths of justice and peace, guaranteeing the sovereignty of the Country…

Bombing a sovereign nation and kidnapping the President is the behaviour of a cowboy state. The United States’ attack on Venezuela is illegal — and it is utterly shameful that the UK government refuses to condemn this reckless act of war.

‘When the Taliban came, I lost everything. I found Ireland like paradise’ www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

At least some countries and politicians have principles and courage.

‘The pretence of respecting sovereignty in Latin America is over, and the post-Iraq consensus died with it’. www.rte.ie/news/analysi...

Amidst the darkness, two lights shine brightly. Happy 23rd birthday, Greta!

And so it continues.

The future of Gaza: Should Ireland contribute troops to the proposed Gaza Stabilisation Force? jrnl.ie/6914899

JOINT STATEMENT: Over 50 international humanitarian organisations warn that Israel’s new registration measures threaten to halt aid operations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. READ: oxfam.org/en/letters-and…

‘Peace does not drive procurement cycles or justify emergency budgets or fast -tracked contracts’.

"This bread that you have set aside is the bread of the hungry...those riches that you have hoarded belong to the poor." #SaintBasilTheGreat #LiveTheGospel #RememberThePoor

Let’s build on those movements that are advocating for greater equality in society.

Still some way to go to become an inclusive society.