The removal of more than 100 tents housing asylum seekers in Dublin city centre captured the political spotlight this week. Kitty Holland reported on the sweep along the Grand Canal, where the State authorities demonstrated a more concerted effort than previously. However, she also voiced concerns for the lack of a sustainable housing solution for unaccompanied male asylum seekers, who remain exceptionally at risk.
Despite the tear down, more tents began to reappear the following day, raising alarm at the top government echelons due to what one insider called “unprecedented” influx of new arrivals. The state’s resources are stretched thin as it struggles to find additional living space to accommodate them. Yesterday, over 30 tents were spotted along a different section of the canal.
Public discourse has recently focused on the issue of refugees crossing into the Republic from Northern Ireland. Recent survey data reveals a popular sentiment favouring border checkpoints to regulate the inflow of asylum seekers from the UK. Fintan O’Toole, however, in his column, questions this attitude, reminding us of the tangled Brexit complications and suggesting the exaggeration of the issue is less about the actual influx of people and more about a distorted narrative. He accuses the government of being a minor character in a harmful Tory narrative.
On a similar note, Newton Emerson proposes the introduction of mutual identity cards between Britain and Ireland as a potential resolution.
Apprehensions concerning immigration are exacerbated by the persisting housing crisis. Cliff Taylor poses the question of the efficiency of the large sums being invested to mitigate the housing problem. He posits the need for careful evaluation to ensure funds are targeted effectively at tackling the actual obstacles hindering housing development.
The week saw a prominent publication of a series of reports on Irish public service broadcaster RTÉ. Jack Horgan-Jones describes the reports as revealing a problematic work culture at RTÉ, marked by years of negligent, apathetic and uninterested management. The issue came to light with the undisclosed payments to prime presenter Ryan Tubridy last year. Our editorial opines that the lack of a definite objective for RTÉ within the Irish community contributed to these persistent issues as well as its self-inflicted downfall over the past year. If this problem is not addressed, a repetition of such troubles could be anticipated.
The untimely demise of the young 20-year-old Josh Itseli in Drimnagh reaffirms the persisting threat of the violent Dublin underworld. Conor Lally reports that newly emerging rivalries, involving very young men, have led to increased worries about a new wave of organised crime violence, entering what may be termed the “post-Kinahan era”.
At the Eurovision, Bambie Thug represented Ireland, delivering Ireland’s best outcome in the competition in almost a quarter century, coming in sixth, with Switzerland taking the top spot. The day in Malmö was fraught with tension with the Dutch act being prohibited from performing due to an inquiry into an alleged backstage incident on Thursday. Bambie Thug missed the afternoon dress rehearsal due to an “urgent situation” that demanded the immediate attention of the European Broadcasting Union. After more than 8,000 Eurovision-oriented words, she plans to go buy a pink flamingo jacket and potentially some body paint.
This weekend, there will be an exclusive conversation with singer Gemma Hayes from Tipperary, as Ed Power recalls his 2018 interview with Billie Eilish and discusses the eerie vibe of her latest album.
The hurling championship witnessed a thrilling day of games.
Cork has successfully kept its aspirations for the All-Ireland title alive after overcoming defending champions, Limerick, in a riveting match held at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. In a surprising outcome, Carlow achieved an infrequent draw in a game against Kilkenny. Meanwhile, in URC, Munster distance themselves from Connacht. Ian Madigan, the retired former half-back for Ireland, engaged in a chat with Johnny Watterson, describing his life in Belfast following his retirement last September and reflecting on his mixed bag of a career. Concurrently, Róisín Ní Riain, the young swimmer, emerged as the Sportswoman of the Month, attributing to her winnings of five medals, two of those being gold, at the European Para Swimming Championships in April.
Turning to financial matters, in this week’s issue of ‘On the Money’ newsletter, Dominic Coyle interrogates why Irish consumers remain hesitant to transfer their savings into accounts yielding high returns. He emphasised that it’s hard to ignore the fact that a significant fraction of Irish consumers are being exploited by the banks.
As is customary, the latest film reviews and restaurant recommendations are also provided, alongside all the fresh news in the world of sport.