Here's What Happened Today: Thursday

NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

• Several anti-immigration protesters were forcibly removed from O’Connell Bridge this evening as gardaí mounted an operation to break up a sit-down demonstration.
• The €336,000 project to construct a bike shelter at Leinster House was hit by delays with concerns over the removal of car parking spaces for TDs and Senators as well as challenges over when work was allowed or not.
• One in ten candidates from migrant backgrounds didn’t canvas during the local elections for fear of violence and harassment, a new report said.
• Support for Fine Gael increased by four percentage points to 27%, making it the most popular party ahead of Sinn Féin.
• Victims of paedophile Michael Shine have been told that files have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions after new allegations against the former surgeon were reported to Gardaí.
• There have been calls from the opposition for the Government to apologise to the victims of the 1979 Glen of Imaal Army range explosion, following an extensive investigation by The Journal Investigates.
• All childminders will be required to register with Tusla by 2027 under new regulations published by the Department of Children today.
• Former president Mary McAleese spoke out about the “state of terror” facing children due to the historic use of corporal punishment in Irish schools.
• Hazardous heatwaves in Dublin lasting two to three weeks at a time could become the norm if the world allows global average temperatures to continue to rise at their current projected pace.
• Simeon Burke has written to the Council of the Bar to complain that he has been “effectively shut out” of practising law as he has not been able to find pupilage.

INTERNATIONAL

#LEBANON: The Hezbollah chief said his group will not stop fighting Israel until the war in Gaza ends, as the death toll from explosives placed in the group’s devices rises to 37 people. 
#FRANCE: A man among dozens accused of raping Gisele Pelicot while she was unconscious at her husband’s instigation accepted the charges today, saying he did not think it was abuse but then noticed “something was wrong”.
#PAY ROW: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer insisted he is “completely in control” following a row within the UK Government over his top adviser’s pay.
#STOLEN INTEL: Iranian hackers sought to interest President Joe Biden’s campaign in information stolen from rival Donald Trump’s campaign, the FBI and other federal agencies said.
#AL FAYED: A woman who alleges she was raped by her former employer Mohamed Al Fayed, the Egyptian billionaire who owned Harrods for more than 25 years, has said she is still “petrified of someone that’s no longer alive”.

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PARTING SHOT

As the Dáil returned from its summer break, so too did the rumours of an early election being called in November.

However, Tánaiste Micheál Martin has been quick to pour cold water on the idea and said he wants the Government to go to full term. 

So in today’s poll, we wanted to know what do readers want?

We asked: When would you like a general election to be held?

Take part in our poll here or see how others have been voting.

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