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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Protesters blocking the Garvaghy Road on Sunday. Picture: Peter Morrison/PA Wire</p>

comment-analysis

Drumcree dispute shows Northern Ireland’s troubled past still threatens its peace

The two governments will be hoping the standoff can be defused so the ghosts of the past can no longer haunt today’s still emerging Northern Ireland.

<p>El Niño typically occurs every two to seven years, when weakening trade winds result in warmer waters in the eastern Pacific. Picture: iStock</p>

world

What is super El Niño? How the powerful weather pattern could affect the world

<p>
<span data-contrast="none" lang="EN-GB" xml:lang="EN-GB">Efforts to convince the social networking giants like Meta and TikTok to make their products safe for children have to date proved largely fruitless.</span>
</p>

spotlight

ieExplains: The EU is putting Big Tech on notice — but will its new Kids Act actually work?

ieExplains: What is a compulsory purchase order and how does it work

comment-analysis

ieExplains: What is a compulsory purchase order and how does it work

Fianna Fail Ard Fheis

news

ieExplains: What are the proposed changes to citizenship rules and what effect may they have?

E-scooters use

news

ieExplains: New e-scooter rules come into effect — what riders need to know

Tupac Trial

ieExplains: What to know about evidence that led to conviction in Tupac Shakur’s killing

Duane ‘Keffe D’ Davis spent years talking about the 1996 shooting with many people.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Grand Canyon Flooding

ieExplains: How intense rains in the Grand Canyon turned into a deadly disaster

Flash flooding in Arizona tourist destination was likely triggered by compounding climate factors, such as drought and warming in Pacific Ocean.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

NEPAL-WEATHER-FLOOD

ieExplains: What caused the catastrophic flash flood in Nepal and Tibet – and how does a glacier collapse?

Did a massive glacial collapse in the Himalayas trigger the disaster and is climate change involved?

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Friedreich’s ataxia: What is it, and how can Skyclarys help patients?

Friedreich’s ataxia: What is it, and how can Skyclarys help patients?

The HSE has approved funding for Skyclarys after Biogen made a substantially improved financial offer for the treatment

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

ieExplains: Leaving Certificate results — your grades, CAO points, and what comes next

ieExplains: Leaving Certificate results — your grades, CAO points, and what comes next

From 10am, students will be able to access their results online

Fri, 21 Aug, 2026

ieExplains: How to retrofit your home and what grants are available

ieExplains: How to retrofit your home and what grants are available

From the 'One Stop Shop' to the Warmer Homes Scheme, we look at how homeowners and people on social welfare can make their homes more energy efficient

Mon, 17 Aug, 2026

Spain Ceuta

ieExplains: What to know about Ceuta, Spanish city on EU’s border in Africa

Enclave has been a diplomatic flashpoint and is seen as a destination for people trying to reach Europe

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

Rotunda Hospital row

ieExplains: Why is the health minister so critical of HSE South West?

Controversy erupts after Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked why she should fund further beds around Cork when beds in Mallow are lying empty

Sun, 28 Jun, 2026

Ireland EU presidency

ieExplains: How will Ireland's presidency of the EU work and what events will take place?

A massive amount of behind-the-scenes preparation has gone into hosting European leaders, with extra staff taken on, security measures put in place, facilities upgraded, and diplomatic relations strengthened, writes Elaine Loughlin

Fri, 26 Jun, 2026

Building stock

ieExplains: What are the new rules on one-off rural housing?

Plans are set to make it easier for people to build their one-off rural homes, with housing minister James Browne saying it will ease restrictions on building across rural Ireland

Sat, 20 Jun, 2026

Unrecognizable couple arriving at the accommodation with their suitcases

ieExplains: How will restricting Airbnb-style short-term lets affect housing supply?

Short-Term Letting and Tourism Bill 2025 proposes to curtail Airbnb-style short-term lets to free up properties that could be rented by people living in an area rather than tourists

Tue, 16 Jun, 2026

ieExplains: What has caused the standoff between the Rotunda hospital and health minister?

ieExplains: What has caused the standoff between the Rotunda hospital and health minister?

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has given a Monday evening deadline for the Rotunda to explain why publicly contracted doctors are offering private maternity services

Mon, 08 Jun, 2026

Irish migration

ieExplains: What is the EU Migration Pact, and can Ireland opt out?

Ireland officially opted into the pact in June 2024 and, in the intervening two years, the Government has been adopting legislation to enact the pact. But what is it?

Sun, 07 Jun, 2026

Beauty in solarium.

ieExplains: Why sunbeds are under scrutiny — and could face a total ban

As the Government considers restricting commercial sunbeds, health experts are pushing for a full ban as a Category 1 carcinogen

Wed, 27 May, 2026

Spring weather May 25th 2026

ieExplains: What is a heat dome? The phenomenon breaking temperature records across Europe

Meteorologists warn prolonged extreme heat could pose serious health risks across Ireland and large parts of Europe

Tue, 26 May, 2026

ieExplains: Why signing up to Irish Examiner newsletters is a good idea

ieExplains: Why signing up to Irish Examiner newsletters is a good idea

If you want the best of the Irish Examiner across a range of topics delivered straight to your inbox at a time that suits you then read on.

Mon, 25 May, 2026

ieExplains: What is the Occupied Territories Bill and why is it in the news?

ieExplains: What is the Occupied Territories Bill and why is it in the news?

The Occupied Territories Bill was first introduced in 2018, but the Government is set to bring it back for debate to the Dáil in the coming weeks

Mon, 25 May, 2026

Ireland to vote

ieExplains: Everything you need to know about the Dublin Central and Galway West by-elections

Voters in two constituencies will head to the polls this week to elect new TDs to the Dáil

Thu, 21 May, 2026

RTE pay revelations

RTÉ: What is the financial scandal facing the broadcaster?

Senior RTÉ executives face a fresh grilling by the Oireachtas media committee today after their meeting with the media minister yesterday. Here's why

Wed, 20 May, 2026

US Trump China Pomp

ieExplains: Trump and Xi meeting in China — five key issues on the table

It is nearly 10 years since the US president made a state visit to China, and Iran, Taiwan, trade, AI and drugs look set to dominate

Wed, 13 May, 2026

The Navigator Thames Oil Storage Depot As Oil Prices Dive

Explainer: What is Opec, and what happens now that UAE has left

The UAE’s exit on May 1 after six decades of membership is the culmination of years of tension with Opec leader Saudi Arabia, both over oil output policy and competition for regional political influence

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

ieExplains: What are EU countries doing to counter energy price rises?

ieExplains: What are EU countries doing to counter energy price rises?

Below are some of the measures deployed so ‌far by European Union governments since the disruption caused by the Middle Eastern conflict

Thu, 23 Apr, 2026

ieExplains: Building and renting out modular cabins

ieExplains: Building and renting out modular cabins

Government pressing ahead with plans to allow people to build modular cabins in their back gardens without planning permission

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

ieExplains: What is a no-confidence motion and how does it work?

ieExplains: What is a no-confidence motion and how does it work?

While no-confidence motions are common political tools, they virtually never succeed in bringing down a government in the Dáil

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Emirates Iran US Israel

ieExplains: Why is the US threatening to block Iranian ports and how would it work?

Threat has left markets in another period of uncertainty, with questions over how the blockade will be enforced

Mon, 13 Apr, 2026

ieExplains: What is behind Ireland’s fuel protests?

ieExplains: What is behind Ireland’s fuel protests?

With the nationwide fuel protests entering a fourth day on Friday, here is an explanation of some of the key points

Fri, 10 Apr, 2026

eczema dermatitis on hands and feet. red spots on the skin. dry skinThe concept dermatology, treatment fungal. woman scratching

ieExplains: Would a new assessment process cut waiting lists for dermatology treatment?

Health watchdog Hiqa last week published advice for a national system connecting GP patients with hospitals to assess patients with skin conditions

Mon, 06 Apr, 2026

NASA Artemis Moonshot Countdown

ieExplains: How Nasa's Artemis II moon mission will unfold

Artemis ‌II is designed to pave the way for future missions aimed at returning astronauts to the lunar surface later this decade

Thu, 02 Apr, 2026

Donald Trump

ieExplains: Trump’s order to limit mail-in voting — does he have the authority?

Critics say ‘election integrity’ plan to compile national voter list is unconstitutional and will be blocked by the courts

Wed, 01 Apr, 2026

When are the clocks going forward?

When are the clocks going forward?

Brighter days are coming

Sat, 28 Mar, 2026

Stryker cyberattack Q&A: Who is responsible and why was the Cork-based company targeted?

Stryker cyberattack Q&A: Who is responsible and why was the Cork-based company targeted?

The Stryker cyber attack could be seen as a logical continuation of Iranian reprisals, causing havoc with an important American multinational

Wed, 11 Mar, 2026

Use of mobile payment apps rising

ieExplains: Irish banks launch Revolut rival — What is Zippay and how do I get it?

The new mobile payments app was launched by Bank of Ireland, AIB, and PTSB on Monday

Mon, 09 Mar, 2026

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor arrested

ieExplains: Why has Britain's former prince Andrew been arrested – and what happens now?

Mountbatten-Windsor, who was a UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011, is in custody as police search addresses

Thu, 19 Feb, 2026

ieExplains: What are the new drone flight restrictions in Cork and why are they coming into effect?

ieExplains: What are the new drone flight restrictions in Cork and why are they coming into effect?

Beginning this week, the majority of drone operators will have to apply to Cork air traffic control two days before they intend to fly a drone over Cork City

Tue, 10 Feb, 2026

ieExplains: What was said at the HSE's World Cancer Day webinar?

ieExplains: What was said at the HSE's World Cancer Day webinar?

Exercise or physical activity can help reduce cancer risks, and every single move counts, a free HSE webinar marking World Cancer Day has heard.

Wed, 04 Feb, 2026

Justice Department Jeffrey Epstein

ieExplains: What have we learned from the newly released Epstein files?

Latest documents indicate high-profile figures continued friendships with financier after child sex abuse convictions

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026

ieExplains: What is the triple lock — and why the Government wants to abolish it

ieExplains: What is the triple lock — and why the Government wants to abolish it

The Government plans to remove UN approval from overseas troop deployments, reshaping Ireland’s long-standing defence and neutrality framework

Tue, 27 Jan, 2026

ieExplains: Why do storms get names and how are they picked?

ieExplains: Why do storms get names and how are they picked?

Here is everything you need to know about why storms are named, how a name is chosen, and who we share names with

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

ieExplains: Why Elon Musk can’t buy Ryanair despite his online jibes

ieExplains: Why Elon Musk can’t buy Ryanair despite his online jibes

Despite online bravado, strict EU ownership rules mean Elon Musk cannot buy or control Europe’s largest airline

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

ieExplains: What next as Mercosur deal is approved

ieExplains: What next as Mercosur deal is approved

Vote on the key trade agreement comes down to the wire

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

ieExplains: Why has US attacked Caracas and captured Venezuela’s president?

ieExplains: Why has US attacked Caracas and captured Venezuela’s president?

Trump’s unprecedented capture of Nicolás Maduro follows months of military campaign and years of strained relationship

Sat, 03 Jan, 2026

ieExplains: What do employers need to know about pension auto-enrolment as registration opens?

ieExplains: What do employers need to know about pension auto-enrolment as registration opens?

Businesses across the country being asked to register in advance of January 1, 2026

Wed, 31 Dec, 2025

ieExplains: What to do if you find yourself in a Revolut fraud

ieExplains: What to do if you find yourself in a Revolut fraud

The banking app warns customers to never share their password, passcode, PIN, selfie, or one-time passcode (OTP) with anyone else, even if they claim to be from Revolut or another financial institution

Fri, 12 Dec, 2025

ieExplains: Access to cash is guaranteed under new laws

ieExplains: Access to cash is guaranteed under new laws

In September, the value of total cash withdrawals from Irish ATMs stood at €1.09bn. The average withdrawal stood at €150.49.

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025