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The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Mr Jim O’Callaghan has secured approval, in principle, from Government, for a new approach to applications for the consideration of a Presidential Pardon.
Article 13 of the Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann) provides that the right to pardon is vested in the President, exercisable only on the advice of existing Government.
Historically, Presidential pardons have been granted sparingly in exceptional cases only. Between 1937 and 2014, only three Presidential pardons were granted, none of which were granted posthumously and none related to cases pre-dating the founding of the State in 1922.
Since 2015, five further pardons have been granted. Four of these relate to convictions that pre-date the foundation of the State.
To grant pardons, a State must acknowledge that it has responsibility for miscarriages of justice administered by that State. There are also significant challenges associated with processing historical cases which predate the foundation of the State, including the likelihood that many of these cases may not be sufficiently documented.
Consequently, under this new approach, only convictions which have been imposed after the foundation of the State in 1922 would be eligible for consideration for Presidential pardons going forward.
In recent years, the volume of requests for Presidential pardons has increased.
While pardons were granted in the past related to cases prior to the foundation of the State, the Government now wishes to ensure that the power to pardon is not in some way devalued by overuse, especially in circumstances where the threshold of proof grounding any proposal for a pardon is lowered due to the passage of time.
The new approach to applications for consideration will adhere to the statutory scheme under the 1993 Act.
EPA reports good compliance at licensed sites, but persistent challenges remain across the food and waste sectors.
- The EPA carried out 1,681 inspections in 2025. This was an increase of 28 per cent compared to 2024.
- Overall compliance among industrial and waste licensed sites is good. However, in 2025, ten licensed sites (1 per cent of the total) were identified as National Priority Sites.
- The food and drink sector and the waste sector continue to feature prominently as a focus for EPA enforcement.
- Sites in the waste sector had the highest rates of non-compliance with EPA licence conditions in 2025.
- In 2025, the food & drink sector continued to receive the most complaints, mostly regarding odour and noise.
- Odour emissions and discharges to water remain the most common compliance issues at licensed sites.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published its Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2025. It shows that the EPA carried out 1,681 inspections at 656 licensed sites across all 26 counties in 2025. This was an increase of 28 per cent compared to 2024.
The report shows that there is a good level of compliance overall among EPA licensed industrial and waste sites. However, ten sites, or 1 per cent of all licensed sites, were identified on the EPA’s National Priority Sites List in 2025. The food and drink sector and the waste sector continue to feature prominently as National Priority Sites. Odour and discharges to water were the primary compliance challenges.
Sites in the waste sector had the highest rates of non-compliance with EPA licence conditions in 2025, particularly anaerobic digestion sites, non-hazardous waste transfer stations and landfill sites. Some anaerobic digestion sites had persistent issues relating to the control of odour emissions.
Emissions to water remain a compliance challenge across a limited number of sites. Corrective actions are being actively enforced at sites that pose a risk to water quality, with one site being directed by the EPA to cease their effluent discharge in November 2025 until necessary corrective actions were taken.
Commenting on the report Ms Pamela McDonnell, Programme Manager in the EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “While the overall level of compliance continues to be good, the EPA has seen a continued pattern of non-compliance in a small number of sites. The consequences of non-compliance can be significant for the environment and those living locally. The EPA will continue to maintain strong on-the-ground presence across our licensed community to target those failing to comply.”
The EPA received 1,181 complaints from the public in 2025, most of which related to odour emissions. The food and drink sector accounts for 51 per cent of all complaints received by the EPA during 2025. Just five sites accounted for nearly two-thirds (59 per cent) of all complaints received. The EPA has investigated these sites and is taking appropriate enforcement actions.
Commenting on the levels of complaints received in 2025, Ms McDonnell continued: “Odour is a persistent issue at a small number of licensed sites. Operators must be good neighbours by preventing nuisance odours from impacting on people in their local communities. The EPA will continue to take action where odour nuisance occurs, including escalating enforcement measures. Site operators must run their facilities without causing nuisance by applying all appropriate odour‑control measures and, where needed, investing in additional odour‑control infrastructure.”
The Industrial and Waste Licence Enforcement Summary 2025 is available on the EPA website.
A major new report from the Ombudsman for Children’s Office has delivered a stark assessment of Ireland’s child care system, describing it as “broken” and failing to act in the best interests of vulnerable young people.
The report finds that, in some cases, children experience greater harm after entering State care. Serious concerns include instances of sexual grooming and assault, children going missing for days, and repeated moves between unregulated placements.
It also highlights situations where children have been held in secure care for extended periods, despite not committing any offences, due to a lack of suitable placements. In one case, two young siblings were placed in a facility with teenagers and a large staff presence because no foster home was available.
The Ombudsman, Dr Niall Muldoon, questioned how the State has reached a point where it cannot guarantee safe and stable care for highly vulnerable children.
The report identifies key systemic issues, including shortages of social workers, insufficient placement options, and ongoing difficulties in recruiting and retaining care staff. It also points to an increasing reliance on private providers and the growing use of unregulated accommodation.
Funding pressures remain a central concern. Despite a significant rise in child protection referrals over the past decade, the agency responsible, Tusla, is described as chronically under-resourced and receiving substantially less funding than required.
With nearly 6,000 children currently in care, the Ombudsman is calling for urgent reform. A forthcoming national consultation and the development of Ireland’s first National Alternative Care Plan are being framed as a critical opportunity to overhaul the system and better protect children’s rights.
An Garda Síochána has issued an appeal for information following a serious assault that occurred in Birdhill, Co Tipperary, on Saturday evening.
A woman in her 20s remains in a critical condition in hospital after sustaining significant injuries during the incident, which took place on the R494 at approximately 5.30pm.
Gardaí have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and that they are examining all available evidence. They are aware that video footage of the incident is circulating online and are urging members of the public not to share such material. Instead, any footage or information should be provided directly to investigating officers.
Authorities are particularly seeking information from individuals who were travelling on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5:00pm and 6:00pm, and who may have dash-cam or other recordings.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station Tel: (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses following a serious assault on the R494 at Birdhill, Co Tipperary, on Saturday evening. The incident happened shortly before 5.30pm on March 21st 2026.
A woman in her 20s was seriously injured in the incident and was airlifted to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.
The scene has been preserved for a technical examination, while the road remains closed with local diversions in place.
Investigating Gardaí are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. They are also appealing to motorists who travelled on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5:00pm and 6:00pm on Saturday afternoon, and who may have camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, to make that material available to investigators.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station, Tel: (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line, Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.
As expected investigations remain ongoing.
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