Darragh O’Brien
Carbon tax U-turn calls Government’s climate commitments into question
Environmental groups despair as Budget 2027 sees polluter-pays principle reversed
More than €1 billion set aside for bus and rail but passengers face another fare review
O’Brien would not confirm if fares are going up but suggested money would need to be raised one way or another
Air travel in Ireland is ‘growing faster than expected’
Carbon-dioxide emissions from departing flights rose to 1.7m tonnes in first half of year
Should every motorway have an HGV lane? Ideas to tackle fuel crisis
On budget day we will see if the Government is capable of taking a long-term view
Under-18s banned from using e-scooters from today
Fees for detention and storage of seized e-scooters also double amid crackdown on the vehicles
Weather whiplash leaves us with no illusions about the reality of climate change
And yet the Government is still speaking out of both sides of its mouth
Dublin Airport cap move could face legal challenge, Minister warns
Government has no plans to tighten work permit laws, Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke tells tourism conference
Mixed messages unhelpful on hitting climate targets
Doubt over sustainability of microgeneration credits from solar panels may give consumers cause to pause
EU’s top judges to rule on Dublin Airport passenger cap in two weeks
Decision will answer questions raised by airlines’ legal challenge in High Court here
Scrapping carbon tax means handing ‘billions of euro to Ursula von der Leyen’
Simon Harris says he is ‘not going to stand for’ misinformation around the introduction of carbon tax
O’Brien defends bus and train fares hike, says public transport affordable by EU standards
Public transport fares are to increase by 15 per cent on average from January
Ireland’s EU presidency may be about to hit a snag
Inside Politics: Civil servants’ work-to-rule could cause ‘serious disruption’; meanwhile, this is a dangerous moment in the North
Limits on non-EEA workers relaxed ‘temporarily’ to tackle staff shortages in healthcare
Enterprise Minister Peter Burke will tell Cabinet colleagues change will last until more Irish staff are trained
Benefits of Ireland’s solar boom should not go only to the big energy firms
Looking at the list of solar farm projects, one thing stands out: an absence of farmers
Airline industry outlook: Time to fasten the seat belts
Top 1000: Ireland’s aviation sector could be in for a bumpy ride writes Eoghan Corry
Boiler scrappage scheme: how it will work, what’s on offer and who can avail of it
Measure tackles reliance on fossil fuels – especially kerosene – amid rising prices
Proposed boiler scrappage scheme ‘could be worth €2,000 to Irish households’
Government to bring forward boiler scrappage scheme that could be worth thousands to households, Darragh O’Brien says
When will Ireland finally achieve full fossil fuel phase-out?
Transition is under way but the task lacks the timeline and tough decisions to complete the job
‘MetroLink is happening’: Market bids can begin for construction of Dublin rail line
New estimates indicate cost of 19km railway will range from €14.4bn to €17.5bn, Darragh O’Brien says
Ireland ‘seriously considering’ importing fracked US gas for LNG reserve in Clare
New Mexico petroleum body says talks centred on creating a ‘long-term supply relationship’; Ireland previously banned importation of fracked gas
‘Progress’ made on public transport security force as meeting hears attacks continued over summer
‘We have been hearing about a public transport police as long as I have been around,’ said Niamh Whelan
Electricity firms seek change in pricing model to promote switch away from gas
Levies and network charges on electric bills ‘deterring consumers’ from green choices such as heat pumps
More than 200 property owners face compulsory purchase orders for Dart+ West
Expansion of Dart line aims to serve numerous communities with services at least every 10 minutes
Boy (12) dies and man injured after train hits car at crossing in Co Mayo
Irish Rail says the line between Westport and Athlone has reopened as of 4.10pm
Irish bus and rail fare hikes of up to 35% are confirmed
It is envisaged increases of more than 30% on some tickets will take effect from January, says National Transport Authority
Commuters to face increased fares on buses and trains
Rising cost of State funding for public services has been a spending concern for some time
Ministers divided over plans to reclassify e-scooters as motor vehicles
Reclassification of vehicles with a 20km/h speed limit could become a de facto ban if insurance is not available
Further deferral of increases in fuel prices beyond November remains possible
Now-delayed restoration of excise would have added 10 cent to litre of diesel and 9 cent to petrol from Monday
Uber-style fixed fares will remain part of Irish taxi market, says NTA
Transport authority will not ban fixed-fare model, which is says is allowed for under the regulatory system
Active travel: NTA report highlights economic benefits of walking and cycling to work
Report outlines how investment in active travel infrastructure ‘puts money back into people’s pockets’
Right-to-repair law takes effect in bid to extend lifespan of household goods
EU directive also aims to tackle waste mountain that grows by million of tonnes each year
‘Of great concern’: Energy authority scolded by Minister for €120m budget underspend
Darragh O’Brien said SEAI money ‘should have been put to use’, in a clear reference to retrofitting targets
Teenage boy seriously injured in e-scooter crash
Incident is latest in wave of injuries among young e-scooter users prompting concern over recent weeks
Ireland considering nuclear power as Government attitude shifts amid fresh energy crisis
A modern conventional plant that began operating in Finland in 2024 is proposed as a potential case study
Putting pressure on regulator will not improve incoherent energy strategy
Criticism of marine regulator for delays in offshore infrastructure ignores fundamental issues
Why it matters what Re-turn pays executives and directors
The first thing to understand about Re-turn is that it is not a charity. It is a company set up and controlled by the drinks and packaging industry.
Wexford wind farm must continue restricting operations, court rules
Noise levels from two-turbine Ballyduff Windfarm near Enniscorthy amount to ‘unreasonable interference’, High Court said
Wind farm delays prompt ministerial criticism of Irish marine regulator
Mara handles consents and licensing for big projects such as offshore wind farms and subsea cables
The Irish Times view on Ireland’s EU presidency: wildfires send a clear message
Without a liveable environment, competitiveness will be an empty aspiration
ESB secures 29% rise in pay to €410,000 for chief executive Paddy Hayes
First increase in salary since 2011 follows review of executive pay for CEOs of commercial state bodies
Doubts raised about companies’ ability to meet EU climate targets
Minister has asked if flexibility will be allowed if firms do not fulfil carbon capture obligations
Irish officials proposed scrapping ‘linchpin’ of climate legislation
Move would have ‘scuppered any notion that this Government takes climate action seriously’, environmentalists say
E-scooter users would need licence and insurance under proposals explored by Government
Darragh O’Brien to work with Road Safety Authority on proposed legislation over the summer
Billion-euro expansion announced for country’s most congested rail line
Fourteen-kilometre stretch from Dublin Connolly to Malahide is to be doubled from two-track to four-track
Minister set to have final say as planning application for State LNG storage expected this year
Law to give Minister powers to directly approve facility passed by Government last week
Darragh O’Brien to axe Dublin Airport cap ‘as soon as possible’
President signs into law Act allowing Minister for Transport to end passenger limit
Five-day miscarriage leave set to be approved
Absence will also be available to women who have abortions
MetroLink: Are we are setting in motion another financial runaway train?
MetroLink resonates deafeningly in cost terms with what went wrong with the children’s hospital project
Department of Transport ‘wants to avoid’ MetroLink costs spiralling like children’s hospital
Official says cost of project connecting city centre to airport will cost ‘well north’ of initial €9.5bn estimate
Environmental groups take challenge to legal costs caps in successful cases
New costs rules breach Irish and EU law, An Taisce, Friends of Irish Environment say
Ireland’s land use fails to safeguard water or support climate action, report finds
Two-thirds of all land is used for farming that is subject to recurring income volatility
Bill to end Dublin Airport passenger cap passes in Dáil
Legislation will now go to Seanad; Darragh O’Brien says Opposition claims he did not meet local residents’ groups ‘simply untrue’
Live hares used as bait for muscular 35kg dogs is a depressingly Irish bedtime story
More than 3,000 hares were captured from the wild during the 2023-2024 coursing season
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Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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