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Daily Poll

Poll: Would you like to see homework scrapped?

PRESIDENT MICHAEL D Higgins won the adoration of plenty of children, not to mention some adults, when he called for homework to be banned in recent days.

He argues that this would make time for youngsters to partake in more creative pursuits outside school hours.

It has long been the bane of after school evenings but there has been increasing debate in the sphere as to its usefulness.

So we want to know, would you like to see homework abolished?

Yes
No
I don't know

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See Results

Monday 30 January

Today's Top Stories

# Salmonella

Eight poultry flocks in Ireland confirmed positive for Salmonella

# DePaul

Man jailed for setting fire to homeless hostel that left woman with catastrophic injuries

# Nursing Home

Release of documents on illegal nursing home charges to be discussed by government

# Pride

Former All Blacks prop comes out publicly as gay

# pandemic

Three years on, WHO says Covid-19 is still a global emergency

Show more Top Stories

# Schools

Teachers who qualified abroad able to register in Ireland amid staffing shortages

The Teaching Council is trying to increase the supply of registered teachers.

164

3 minutes ago

# Peshawar

Blast at Pakistan mosque kills at least 47 people and injures 150 others

The attack happened during afternoon worship in the provincial capital of Peshawar.

2.7k

Updated 4 minutes ago

# Courts

Gun enthusiast found with 'ammunition factory' of bullet heads, cartridges and gunpowder

Gavin Blanchfield was given a six-year suspended sentence today.

3.7k

34 minutes ago

# Pride

Former All Blacks prop comes out publicly as gay

Campbell Johnstone played three Tests for his country in 2005.

25.6k

1 hour ago

Sponsored

QUIZ: How much do you know about Irish dairy?

Take the National Dairy Council’s quiz to test your dairy knowledge.

# Nursing Home

Release of documents on illegal nursing home charges to be discussed by government

Minister Darragh O’Brien added that these discussions will inform the ‘appropriate steps that need to be taken’.

3.7k

1 hour ago

# DePaul

Man jailed for setting fire to homeless hostel that left woman with catastrophic injuries

The fire at the Depaul Hostel in Dublin 7 was started by Keith Riggs (38) in March last year.

5.6k

1 hour ago

SPOTLIGHT

Redacted Lives

The Journal’s podcast series explores the impact of the mother and baby home system

Pregnant from Ireland

'Who paid for my flight from England?'

Redress

'Five grand can't give me my son back'

Tuam

Gardaí investigating 20 alleged crimes related to homes

Church and State

'We were a pure Catholic nation'

# Defence Forces

Women of Honour group have received no updates and await independent report

Micheál Martin said last week that he plans to fulfill the recommendations within the report.

1.9k

2 hours ago

# Courts

'Rather sad' no one to speak in court on behalf of man killed in his own home, judge says

Noel Lennon (49) was charged with the murder of Isaac Horgan.

14.5k

2 hours ago

# st brigid's day

Brigid, Bridget and Bríd: how popular is the saint's name in modern Ireland?

Ahead of the first St Brigid’s Day bank holiday, the CSO has revealed how the name’s popularity has waned in recent years.

7.1k

Updated 2 hours ago

# Books

Three Irish novels among 70 books nominated for the 2023 Dublin Literary Award

The winner will be announced by Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy on 25 May 2023.

3.6k

2 hours ago

# pandemic

Three years on, WHO says Covid-19 is still a global emergency

The WHO first declared a so-called public health emergency of international concern on 30 January 2020.

5.2k

3 hours ago

# Salmonella

Eight poultry flocks in Ireland confirmed positive for Salmonella

All eight flocks have been restricted and are under Department controls.

11.4k

3 hours ago

# Rape Crisis Network Ireland

Rape Crisis Network calls for independent authority on domestic, sexual, gender based violence

This post would independently monitor and scrutinise the coordination and implementation of policy and practice.

2.5k

3 hours ago

# Holly Newton

Boy (16) appears in court charged with murder of teenage girl in England

Holly Newton (15) was found hurt shortly after 5.10pm on Friday and later died in hospital.

15.4k

Updated 4 hours ago

Listen Now

The Explainer helping make sense of challenging news stories every single week.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts:

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SPOTLIGHT

Voices

A wide mix of viewpoints, analysis and first-hand experiences

Leopard tanks

How these tanks could give Ukrainian forces a 'dramatic advantage'

Tom Clonan

CAMHS report

The report came as no surprise to anyone caring for children in turmoil

John Church

Child mental health

CAMHS is not working – we need to act urgently to reform how it operates

Mary Lou McDonald

Trauma

The law on pregnancy concealment is outdated and cruel to women

Lorraine Clifford-Lee

# Austria

Man arrested after being found living in Austrian cellar with six children and woman

Local media reported that the man is a follower of a right-wing extremist conspiracy group.

19.2k

4 hours ago

# missile threats

Johnson says Putin threatened him with missile strike during phonecall before Ukraine invasion

The Kremlin has disputed the claim, saying there was “no threats with missiles” during the conversation.

10.1k

4 hours ago

# Ashtown

'Racist' attack on Dublin homeless camp described as a 'sickening low'

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and integration junior minister Joe O’Brien have both condemned the incident.

20.5k

4 hours ago

# Sexual Assault

Ireland's six Sexual Assault Treatment Units saw over 1,000 people last year

The figure increased by almost 200 people compared with 2021.

2.2k

4 hours ago

# Westminister ethics

British Prime Minister Sunak under pressure over handling of Zahawi tax row

Rishi Sunak sacked Nadhim Zahawi from his role as Tory party chairman after an investigation found he breached the ministerial code.

3.4k

4 hours ago

# Island Nation

Housing constraints ‘causing serious risk’ for islanders trying to sustain populations

Planning blockages, high building costs and no rental options are creating a housing crisis on our offshore islands.

5.9k

4 hours ago

# Asylum Seekers

Residents in Lismore protest against use of town's refurbished hotel for direct provision

Over 200 people reportedly gathered yesterday for a demonstration in the west Waterford town, arguing that the building had been earmarked for tourism.

21.9k

Updated 5 hours ago

# Golf

Rory McIlroy holds off Patrick Reed to win Dubai Desert Classic

McIlroy birdied the final two holes at Emirates Golf Club to card a closing 68.

27.6k

Updated 5 hours ago

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Contribute to The Journal to keep our news free &
open for everyone, always

Support us now Learn more

# Poll

Poll: Would you like to see homework scrapped?

Michael D Higgins argues that the time could be better spent allowing youngsters to partake in more creative pursuits outside school hours.

17.3k

6 hours ago

# Housing Crisis

Business group Ibec warns housing crisis is 'critical barrier to growth and business investment'

It has offered some key recommendations which the group claims would ‘cut the cost of new home by €30,000′.

5.2k

7 hours ago

# Irish Rugby

'He really gets the most out of those players' - Furlong ready to take on Gatland's Wales

The Ireland tighthead has worked with Gatland on two Lions tours.

12.4k

Updated 8 hours ago

Good Morning

The 9 at 9 Inadequate healthcare on offshore islands, calls for clarity over nursing home charges and US Secretary of State visits Jerusalem amid a ‘death spiral’.

4.2k

8 hours ago

# Santry

Man hospitalised with serious injuries following apparent stabbing incident in Dublin

Shortly after 8:15pm last night, gardaí and emergency services attended at Shanliss Way, Santry, following reports of an assault.

16.8k

8 hours ago

# Flooding

Auckland faces ‘dangerous’ amount of rain after four killed in floods

More rain is forecast as at least 5,000 homes and businesses in Auckland are being assessed for flood and landslide damage.

7.6k

8 hours ago

# Palestine

US secretary Blinken due in Jerusalem to discuss de-escalation of Israel-Palestinian bloodshed

Israel has sought to demolish the east Jerusalem family home of a Palestinian gunman as part of measures to punish the relatives of attackers.

3.2k

9 hours ago

# Job Losses

Philips cuts 6,000 more jobs after sleep device recall

The Amsterdam-based firm unveiled net losses of €1.605 billion last year, largely due to massive recall of faulty sleep respirators.

26.9k

9 hours ago

# Perth

Mining company 'sorry' for losing radioactive capsule in Western Australia

The solid, silver-coloured cylinder is smaller than a human fingernail but authorities say it could cause acute radiation sickness.

19.7k

9 hours ago

# Childcare

Families in the North more reliant on friends and family for childcare than those in the Republic

Care by family and friends is much more comment in the North at 39%, while this figure is only at 6% in the Republic.

5.7k

10 hours ago

THE MORNING LEAD

‘Fragmented and unpredictable’: Healthcare services failing island communities

A report by

Niall Sargent

Broken down ambulances, no storage for supplies and outdated clinics among a litany of healthcare provider concerns.

HSE report finds island healthcare staff working “extremely hard" with "inadequate resources”

Regular breakdowns on Arranmore have locals tow-starting ambulance to get patients to safety

Clare Island GP: Our health centre is "completely outdated and unfit for purpose"

5.9k

16 hours ago

Yesterday

29th January 2023

# Nursing Homes

Calls for Government to publish records on 'secret strategy' for illegal nursing home charges

It follows a report in today’s Irish Mail on Sunday.

19.9k

18 hours ago

# Quiz

Quiz: How much do you know about the Irish language?

An Cailín Ciúin is the first-ever film in Irish to be nominated for an Oscar.

32.9k

18 hours ago

# GAA talking points

Mayo-Galway drama, Dublin shooting, and delight for the Rossies

Some of the talking points from the opening weekend of the Allianz Football League.

15.7k

20 hours ago