Best Reads<\/p>\n
Labour leader Ivana Bacik is also raising Harvey Morrison Sherratt. She said she met with his parents, who went through a \u201cdreadful, dreadful trauma\u201d.<\/p>\n
As well discussing long waiting lists in health, Ms Bacik brings up the cost-of-living and the housing crises, asking how the Government will address these issues in the budget next month.<\/p>\n
She notes that Fianna F\u00e1il \u201ccrashed the economy in 2007\u2033 and said the current housing and health crises are \u201creally hurting children more than anyone\u201d.<\/p>\n
Responding, the Taoiseach offered his \u201cdeepest condolences\u201d to Harvey\u2019s family.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is an extraordinarily traumatic thing to happen to any family but, in these circumstances, even more traumatic in terms of the experiences that the family and Harvey had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Martin said efforts are being made to tackle waiting lists, noting ongoing engagement with the Health Service Executive, Children\u2019s Health Ireland and other stakeholders.<\/p>\n
He said \u201cvery significant resources have been allocated by government to CHI\u201d.<\/p>\n
Sinn F\u00e9in leader Mary Lou McDonald is now raising the case of Harvey Morrison Sherratt<\/a>, who died over the summer following a sudden deterioration in his health. The nine-year-old had waited several years for spinal surgery.<\/p>\n Ms McDonald said Harvey\u2019s parents, Stephen and Gillian, are \u201cheartbroken, shattered by the loss of their beautiful little boy\u201d.<\/p>\n She said many other children remain on long waiting lists. <\/p>\n \u201cThe longer they wait, the more complex surgeries they will require. The risk of permanent paralysis is very real. The fear of becoming inoperable is very real.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms McDonald called on Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin to outline what he will do to address the \u201cneglect\u201d of these children.<\/p>\n Ahead of Leaders\u2019 Questions, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy spoke about the \u201calarming rise in the serious threats and online abuse directed at a significant number of members of the houses of the Oireachtas, of all parties and none\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThis abuse often emanates from unverified profiles on various online platforms which facilitate unsavoury discourse and foster unhealthy narratives that bear little resemblance to fact or reality,\u201d Ms Murphy said.<\/p>\n \u201cIn my capacity as Ceann Comhairle I have a duty to safeguard both this assembly, its members and the wider public interest. This chamber must remain a secure environment for the conduct of parliamentary business.<\/p>\n \u201cIn addition to my concern for current members, I am concerned that this environment may deter decent people from entering public life. <\/p>\n \u201cIf we allow a culture of fear and intimidation to take root, we risk losing the very essence of democratic representation. It is incumbent upon us all to collectively defend the integrity of political debate and cultivate an environment that encourages participation without fear or reprisal.\u201d<\/p>\n Ms Murphy said a recent report on the abuse faced by politicians needs to be supplemented by \u201cconcrete legislative proposals\u201d.<\/p>\n She requested a meeting with all party leaders and groups with a view to formulating an \u201cappropriate consensus response\u201d to the issue.<\/p>\n She concluded her remarks by saying: \u201cAs we embark on this term, I urge all members to reflect on the tone and tenor of their deliberations.\u201d<\/p>\n On Monday it was reported that violent threats against T\u00e1naiste Simon Harris and his family are being treated as a \u201cnational security\u201d issue by garda\u00ed<\/a>, who are employing anti-terrorism legislation to catch the perpetrators.<\/p>\n Garda\u00ed now believe at least one of the threats came from overseas and have asked Interpol for assistance in coordinating with other police forces.<\/p>\n If you need to catch up on the Eoin Hayes \u2018blackface\u2019 controversy, the latest episode of the In the News podcast<\/a> has you covered.<\/p>\n As we await Leaders\u2019 Questions at 2pm, Jack Horgan-Jones<\/b> has an update on Arts Council spending. <\/p>\n The council spent almost \u20ac1 million<\/a> with outside consultancy firms in the 18 months up to this summer, new records show.<\/p>\n The spending included hundreds of thousands on legal advice, with \u20ac244,000 in 2024 and \u20ac320,000 in the first six months of this year, paid to Beauchamps solicitors.<\/p>\n Spending at the Arts Council, which administers grants and support programmes for the arts nationwide, has been under significant scrutiny since it emerged earlier this year it had spent \u20ac6.7 million on a mothballed IT project<\/a>.<\/p>\n Across the water, US president Donald Trump has arrived at Windsor Castle to meet senior members of the British royal family on the first full day of his state visit to the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n In his column, Michael McDowell<\/b> writes about the moral emptiness of the visit.<\/p>\n \u201cThe grotesque charade of Trump paying his second state visit to London, this time to meet King Charles, underlines the fact that no other western government wants to host any such event.\u201d<\/p>\n Read the full article here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Independent Ireland requests a minute\u2019s silence in D\u00e1il for Charlie Kirk<\/b><\/p>\n Independent Ireland has written to Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy asking for a minute\u2019s silence to be observed in the D\u00e1il on Wednesday afternoon in memory of the assassinated US right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk, Harry McGee<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n Party leader Michael Collins said the request was in the name of Mr Kirk but would include all people who have been either killed or hurt by political violence.<\/p>\n Asked if such a motion would be viewed as contentious and might rub people the wrong way, Mr Collins said it was not only for him but for everybody who has been affected by, or threatened with, violence.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen tourists in this country continuously being threatened, which had to be condemned in some way. We are standing here today for Charlie Kirk, because that was an absolutely atrocious murder of a human being, regardless of his political views.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cWe certainly feel that this is sending a clear message that you don\u2019t attack people whether you are a politician or anything else.<\/p>\n \u201cThe anger and violence towards politicians since I was elected in 2016 have gone to very high and dangerous levels.\u201d<\/p>\n Presidential election<\/b><\/p>\n Looking at the presidential election, a fourth candidate is halfway there in terms of securing a nomination. <\/p>\n With the support of Tipperary County Council and Kerry County Council, businessman Gareth Sheridan might make it on to the presidential ballot paper<\/a> come October 24th.<\/p>\n There are a few lessons to take away from this and the votes cast so far, Jack Horgan-Jones<\/b> reports.<\/p>\n Eoin Hayes controversy rumbles on<\/b><\/p>\n On Monday evening, Social Democrats TD Eoin Hayes issued an apology for wearing brown make-up on his face and hands while dressed up as former US president Barack Obama for a Halloween party some 16 years ago.<\/p>\n In a statement, Mr Hayes said: \u201cWhat I did was completely inappropriate and a huge mistake. I condemn racism in all its forms and do not condone that behaviour under any circumstances.\u201d<\/p>\n He\u2019s still in the party \u2013 for now \u2013 but two Soc Dems members in Dublin have quit the party, in part citing the controversy<\/a>.<\/p>\n Local election candidate and chairman of the party\u2019s branch in Dublin West, Luke Daly, and his partner and party secretary in the constituency, Jack O\u2019Reilly, have bowed out.<\/p>\n Conor Pope<\/b> breaks down the origins of blackface<\/a> and why it is so offensive.<\/p>\n National Ploughing Championships<\/b><\/p>\n The three confirmed presidential candidates \u2013 Heather Humphreys<\/a> (Fine Gael), Jim Gavin<\/a> (Fianna F\u00e1il) and Catherine Connolly<\/a> (Independent) \u2013 were all canvassing at the National Ploughing Championships on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Some 78,500 people attended the opening day of the three-day event. <\/p>\n A glimpse of what lies in store for the successful candidate was apparent when President Michael D Higgins<\/a> arrived in a five-car entourage led by two garda\u00ed on horseback, Ronan McGreevy<\/b> reports<\/a>. <\/p>\n Bob Geldof<\/a> has said being president of Ireland would be interesting \u201cup to a point\u201d, but that he doesn\u2019t have the time.<\/p>\n The Boomtown Rats singer was linked to a possible \u00c1ras bid after it emerged he discussed the issue with Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin<\/a> over the phone<\/a> late last month.<\/p>\n Speaking to Sky News, Mr Geldof (73) said \u201cfairly high-powered\u201d people rang him to see whether he was seriously considering a run, to which he responded no, as: \u201cLiterally, I have no time.\u201d<\/p>\n He said they pushed further, asking him to talk to the Taoiseach about it. \u201cHe got the same lobby saying: \u2018Will you talk to Geldof?\u2019 … So Miche\u00e1l called me.\u201d<\/p>\n Read about what they discussed here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Outside of Leinster House, the hunt for another presidential candidate<\/a> continues apace with a small number of hopeful Independents making pleas to councils across the State. <\/p>\n Meanwhile, the other big political set piece of the autumn \u2013 the National Ploughing Championships<\/a> \u2013 continues apace in Screggan, Co Offaly.<\/p>\n![\"Harvey](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/M6PPLWEJEVHVRBY7F5FFTSAFGM.jpg\")
Harvey Morrison Sherratt was just nine when he died. Photography by Morrison\/Sherratt family<\/p>\n![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/2QEWARGSLQQITUGW4GGPONI2VY.jpg\")
US president Donald Trump speaks with Britain’s Prince William upon arrival at the grounds of Windsor Castle on Wednesday. Photograph by Aaron Chown\/Pool\/AFP via Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/WYQ2ABKSEDTY5OZCMIYJMDLJKU.jpg\")
A photograph of Charlie Kirk is seen in a makeshift memorial outside the headquarters of Turning Point USA on Tuesday. Photograph by Joe Raedle\/Getty Images <\/p>\n![\"Presidential](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758115873_588_DR6U4FBACXFOERWBNM6AEI7TLY.jpg\")
Presidential candidates Heather Humphreys and Jim Gavin speak to each other while canvassing at the National Ploughing Championships in Co Offaly on Tuesday. Photograph by Niall Carson\/PA Wire <\/p>\n![\"Independent](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758115873_467_XD4VKSXNIRCGHFZEU3SDN6QJ3Q.jpg\")
Independent TD and presidential candidate Catherine Connolly with Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik at the National Ploughing Championships on Tuesday. Photograph: Dan Dennison <\/p>\nBob Geldof\u00a0has said being president of Ireland would be interesting ‘up to a point’. Photograph by Chris Hoare\/The New York Times<\/p>\n