By Sarah Gill
01st Sep 2023
01st Sep 2023
Your speedy summary of today's must-read stories.
PSNI chief constable
PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne has said he will not resign following a meeting with the Northern Ireland Policing Board that lasted for almost seven hours. The meeting was held to discuss the fallout from a High Court judgement which stated that two junior officers were unlawfully disciplined for making an arrest at a Troubles commemoration event in 2021. Mr Justice Scoffield said the decision was made to discipline the officers to allay any threat of Sinn Féin abandoning its support for policing in Northern Ireland.
VAT and fuel price increases
Consumers are facing a double hit of cost increases as petrol and diesel prices rise and VAT rates return to pre-covid levels in hotels, bars, and restaurants. Petrol excise rates rose by 7 cents per litre overnight, diesel prices increased by 5 cents, and agricultural diesel went up 1 cent. The increase is the second of three planned tax increases on motor fuel, aimed at reversing cuts made in 2022 when global oil prices soared after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The third excise increase, set for October 31, will see the price of petrol rise by a further 8 cents per litre, and the price of diesel rise by 6 cents per litre.
Clonmel crash
Today, the funeral of Grace McSweeney and Luke McSweeney takes place. The brother and sister who died in last Friday night’s crash in Clonmel, which claimed the lives of four young adults, repose in their home at Mountain Road in Clonmel, and large crowds are expected to attend their funeral mass in the town. The cortege will make its way from Mountain Road to the quays and into the town centre, with mass taking place at 11.30am at St Peter and Paul’s Church on Gladstone Street.
Free contraception scheme
Women, girls and other people identifying as transgender or non-binary aged 27-30 can avail of free contraception following the expansion of a State-funded scheme. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly announced the broadening of the initiative, which has been open to those aged 17-25 since last September. It was expanded to include 26-year-olds last January. “Ireland has come a long way in terms of the supports it offers for sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equity and family planning,” the Minister said. “Increasing access to free contraception through the free contraception scheme and the National Condom Distribution Service (NCDS) is therefore a key priority for this Government, supporting positive sexual health and choice in family planning.”
Ukrainian refugees
Tented accommodation is expected be used for Ukrainian refugees starting from next week. The Department of Integration said there are more than 24,600 temporary protection beneficiaries in Ireland at the moment. Since May 1, there has been a notable increase in the number of Ukrainian nationals arriving in the country. While the Government has contracted almost 7,000 extra beds to accommodate these arrivals, there is still a significant shortage of housing for those seeking refuge in the coming weeks. According to a spokesperson from the Department of Integration, as a result of this shortage, tented accommodation will soon be utilised to house new arrivals from Ukraine.
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