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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>ICSA protest against the Mercosur Trade Deal outside Leinster House. </p>

farming

ieExplains: What next as Mercosur deal is approved

Vote on the key trade agreement comes down to the wire

<p> Storm Herminia created huge waves that washed over the sea wall at Garretstown, Co Cork. File picture: Dan Linehan</p>

news

ieExplains: How do we name storms and why has Storm Goretti got a French name?

<p>Government supporters display posters of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, right, and former President Hugo Chávez in downtown Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. Picture: AP Photo/Matias Delacroix</p>

world

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

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

companies

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

Detail of cow muzzle.

farming

ieExplains: What is bluetongue and should farmers be worried?

ieExplains: Breaking down the promises in Government's new housing plan

politics

ieExplains: Breaking down the promises in Government's new housing plan

Air traffic control delays

ieExplains: Ryanair's boarding pass rules are changing. Here's what you need to know

From Wednesday, November 12, Ryanair is getting rid of paper and moving to a 100% digital boarding pass model

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Looking back on the way out

ieExplains: What does a housing order for poultry mean?

All owners of poultry and captive birds are to adhere to a compulsory housing order which will be implement from Monday, November 10, as directed by the Department of Agriculture

Mon, 10 Nov, 2025

Fintechs Illustrations

ieExplains: What is Raisin Bank and is it safe?

Is Raisin Bank's new starter account offering 3.1% interest too good to be true?

Fri, 07 Nov, 2025

ieExplains: What the potential PTSB sale means for you and your mortgage

ieExplains: What the potential PTSB sale means for you and your mortgage

The State is the majority owner of the bank

Thu, 30 Oct, 2025

ieExplains: What Fastway receivership means for its workers and parcels

ieExplains: What Fastway receivership means for its workers and parcels

The company has 50,000 packages and parcels awaiting delivery

Wed, 29 Oct, 2025

ieExplains: When do the clocks change and why must I still do this every year?

ieExplains: When do the clocks change and why must I still do this every year?

Here's what you need to know about when and why the clocks are going to change

Sat, 25 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

ieExplains: What happens if Jim Gavin wins the presidency after dropping out?

Jim Gavin’s withdrawal came too late to remove his name from the ballot, meaning he could still legally win

Wed, 22 Oct, 2025

Irish Budget 2026

What Budget 2026 means for you — welfare boosts, new housing funds, and tax changes

Budget 2026 delivers major spending boosts for welfare, housing, and health, alongside new taxes on fuel, vapes, and cigarettes

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Irish presidential election

ieExplains: Will Jim Gavin's name stay on the presidential election ballot paper?

The former Dublin football manager dropped out of contention late on Sunday night

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

ieExplains: What does the Jim Gavin scandal mean for the presidential election?

ieExplains: What does the Jim Gavin scandal mean for the presidential election?

While TDs and senators are due to hold their weekly parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday, some are agitating for an earlier convening to discuss the fallout from Mr Gavin’s campaign

Mon, 06 Oct, 2025

Donald Trump,Benjamin Netanyahu

ieExplains: What’s in Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza?

Plan calls for immediate end to war between Israel and Hamas but lacks detail on how key points will be executed

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Race for the Áras: Three candidates confirmed for 2025 presidential election

Race for the Áras: Three candidates confirmed for 2025 presidential election

Catherine Connolly, Jim Gavin and Heather Humphreys will contest the October 24 presidential election

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

flu medicine at DrugSmart pharmacy at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., on Monday Feb. 1, 2016.

ieExplains: Is Tylenol the same as paracetamol and does it have links to autism?

US president’s claims around painkiller also known as Tylenol contradict scientific consensus

Wed, 24 Sep, 2025

Donald Trump

ieExplains: What did Donald Trump say about autism and paracetamol?

Donald Trump’s unproven claim that paracetamol in pregnancy causes autism is rejected by Irish doctors, scientists, and autism advocates

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Jimmy Kimmel

ieExplains: What did Jimmy Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk’s killing to get taken off air?

In his Monday evening monologue, Jimmy Kimmel had suggested Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, might have been a pro-Trump Republican

Thu, 18 Sep, 2025

TOPSHOT-BELGIUM-NATO-FINLAND-DEFENCE-DIPLOMACY

ieExplains: What is Nato, and is Ireland a member?

Nato faces fresh scrutiny after Poland’s airspace was breached by Russian drones, raising questions about security, neutrality, and Ireland’s role

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Conceptual image of a person voting during elections

ieExplains: What will happen in the run-up to the presidential election?

Polling day will take place on Friday, October 24. The latest date for receipt of an application to register is 15 days before polling day, excluding Sundays

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

ieExplains: How does the CAO's random selection process work?

ieExplains: How does the CAO's random selection process work?

Admission for the vast amount of college courses is based on exam results and CAO points that are awarded for different Leaving Cert grades.

Thu, 28 Aug, 2025

ieExplains: What is the triple lock and why is it so important?

ieExplains: What is the triple lock and why is it so important?

This week, the Government is to take the first step in dismantling Ireland's triple lock system that governs the deployment of peacekeepers abroad

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

Leaving Cert 2025: Everything you need to know about this year's results

Leaving Cert 2025: Everything you need to know about this year's results

Schools have been asked to make arrangements to support the students receiving results today

Fri, 22 Aug, 2025

Food distributed to Palestinians battling hunger in Gaza

ieExplains: What is the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict?

Britain, France and Canada plan to recognise Palestine — but deep divisions still threaten the viability of a two-state solution

Thu, 31 Jul, 2025

Man watching TV, lying on sofa, legs on table

ieExplains: What is a 'dodgy box'? Is it illegal, and what's happening with them now?

We ask a legal expert all about them...

Wed, 30 Jul, 2025

ieExplains: Why does every infrastructure project in Ireland take so long?

ieExplains: Why does every infrastructure project in Ireland take so long?

New report show timeline of key infrastructure projects has doubled in 20 years

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

New Garda Commissioner

ieExplains: Who is new Garda commissioner Justin Kelly?

Mr Kelly first joined the gardaí in 1992

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

ieExplains: What is listeriosis, the infection linked to the recall of ready-made meals

ieExplains: What is listeriosis, the infection linked to the recall of ready-made meals

An adult has died with a confirmed case of the rare bacterial infection listeriosis as health officials continue to investigate an 'extensive outbreak'

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

Government press conference

ieExplains: What are the summer economic statement and the National Development Plan?

Budget 2026 will be unveiled on October 7 with an overall package worth €9.4bn

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

ieExplains: Who can vote in a presidential election?

ieExplains: Who can vote in a presidential election?

There are fewer than four months until the polls open to decide the resident of Áras an Uachataráin for the next seven years

Fri, 11 Jul, 2025

Stock - Car Maintenance

ieExplains: The CCPC is cracking down on the motor industry. What does it mean for me?

While it has yet to take formal proceedings against any particular firm, the CCPC has said it stands ready to do so on foot of customer complaints to its helpline

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

Greece Wildfire

ieExplains: The 'silent killer' — what you need to know about heatwaves

How spells of hot weather put us in danger and what measures we can take to protect ourselves

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

USS George H.W. Bush

ieExplains: What is the Strait of Hormuz and why is it so important for oil?

Iran has in the past threatened to close the strait but has never followed through on the move, which would restrict trade and impact global oil prices

Mon, 23 Jun, 2025

Generic health pics

ieExplains: The organ donation system is changing. Here's what you need to know

Everybody will now be considered an organ donor unless they choose to add their name to a consent opt-out register, or are among a so-called excluded group

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Donald Trump

ieExpains: How can Trump use the national guard on US soil?

Trump ordered the deployment of 4,000 national guard and 700 marines to LA amid Ice protests – here’s what to know

Wed, 11 Jun, 2025

Person working with microscope in lab

ieExplains: What is the new covid variant and is it in Ireland?

A new variant has led to a return of covid in headlines. Here's what we know about it

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025

Trump

ieExplains: What is Trump’s new travel ban, and which countries are affected?

US president’s sweeping proclamation targets citizens of many countries and would dramatically reshape US border policy

Thu, 05 Jun, 2025

7/6/2009. Leaving certificate Exams Begins Signs Notices State Examinations Commisson

ieExplains: Key dates for Leaving Cert students, teachers and parents

Leaving Cert exams start on Wednesday morning and run until Tuesday, June 24

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

US Economy Is Set to Lose Billions as Foreign Tourists Stay Away

ieExplains: Trump is pausing new student visa appointments. What does this mean for the J1?

It is believed those who have already received their J1 visas for the US this summer are unlikely to be impacted

Wed, 28 May, 2025

VATICAN-RELIGION-POPE-MASS

ieExplains: How does the conclave work and when will a new pope be chosen?

Cardinals will enter the Sistine Chapel on Wednesday to begin the process of electing a pontiff

Wed, 07 May, 2025

ieExplains: How would a 100% tariff on foreign-made films impact Ireland's economy?

ieExplains: How would a 100% tariff on foreign-made films impact Ireland's economy?

US President Donald Trump has threatened levies of 100% on foreign-made films in a bid to combat what he called a 'dying' American film industry

Tue, 06 May, 2025

Vatican Pope

ieExplains: When is Pope Francis’s funeral, who will be there and what happens next

The late pontiff’s funeral, due to take place on Saturday, will attract dignitaries and worshippers from around the world

Fri, 25 Apr, 2025

The Conclave Of Cardinals Have Elected A New Pope To Lead The World's Catholics

ieExplains: How conclave will elect a new pope and who are the favourites?

The election itself is shrouded in secrecy, with cardinals forbidden from communicating with the outside world

Mon, 21 Apr, 2025

The Funeral Of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Takes Place In St Peter's Basilica

ieExplains: What happens after a pope dies? The rites, rituals and funeral plans for Pope Francis

Pope Francis simplified the rites of papal death, funeral and burial — here’s what changes and traditions remain

Mon, 21 Apr, 2025

ieExplains: No more tax discs? Here’s what motorists need to know

ieExplains: No more tax discs? Here’s what motorists need to know

We answer all your questions as Ireland moves to scrap physical motor tax discs and adopt smarter road tech

Thu, 17 Apr, 2025

ieExplains: Will the new national planning framework really help resolve the housing crisis?

ieExplains: Will the new national planning framework really help resolve the housing crisis?

More land for housing developments is likely to be provided, with a direct order from James Browne under new the new Planning and Development Act

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025

Limerick v Tipperary - Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Final

ieExplains: Why the GAA is planning to regulate faceguards and hurleys

Due to the ash dieback crisis, which has nearly wiped out timber suitable for hurley-making, the GAA is going to strengthen its oversight of the hurley-making market as alternative materials are sought.

Tue, 08 Apr, 2025