Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
LAST UPDATE | 28 Oct 2025
THERE IS “FRUSTRATION” among Fianna Fáil backbenchers on foot of the party’s disastrous presidential election campaign, as well as with a “lack of urgency” on national issues, TD Malcolm Byrne said this morning.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, the Wicklow-Wexford TD said he doesn’t believe Micheál Martin will be ejected as leader in the short term. Byrne’s comments follow a long weekend of speculation and defence of the Taoiseach’s position from senior party members.
GOOD MORNING.
Here’s all the news you need to know to start the day.
1. Former patients of psychiatric asylums and their families are calling for an inquiry and redress over the abuse that is alleged to have occurred in Irish institutions from the 1950s up until the early 2000s, including medical treatments that are viewed as questionable today.
Survivors and their relatives spoke to The Journal Investigates about their experiences and why they are seeking an inquiry.
2. Ireland has completed the third medical evacuation of sick children from Gaza, the Government has confirmed.
Seven children arrived in Dublin on Saturday evening, with 29 accompanying family members. The State announced that the Palestinian children are the latest to receive healthcare treatment here.
3. Hurricane Melissa is set to pummel Jamaica today as a catastrophic category five storm, the strongest to lash the island since record-keeping began 174 years ago.
The storm was expected to make landfall early today and slice diagonally across the island, entering near St Elizabeth parish in the south and exiting around St Ann parish in the north, forecasters said.
4. Brendan Rodgers has resigned as Celtic manager, with former Ireland boss Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney being put in temporary charge at Parkhead.
Rodgers’ second spell at Celtic ended after Sunday’s 3-1 William Hill Premiership defeat at Hearts left them eight points adrift of the Edinburgh side.
5. Japan’s new prime minister Sanae Takaichi lavished US leader Donald Trump with praise and vows of a “golden age” of ties on his visit to Tokyo today, before inking a deal with Washington aimed at securing critical minerals.
Takaichi – Japan’s first woman prime minister – pulled out all the stops for Trump in her opening test on the international stage, and even announced she would nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize, the White House said.
In return, Trump, who was meeting conservative Takaichi for the first time on an Asia tour that aims for a deal with China, said Washington was an ally of the “strongest level”.
6. The government has advised councils to restrict media access to new local committees on community safety involving gardaí, state agencies and councillors.
The National Union of Journalists has said the move does not make sense, and there should be a presumption in favour of press access to the new Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) currently being formed by councils nationwide.
Gary Gannon, the Social Democrats spokesperson on justice, said it was “deeply worrying” that there would be less publicity and scrutiny of local democratic discussion of policing and safety issues.
7. Amazon will lay off tens of thousands of office workers as the e-commerce and tech giant trims costs amid ramped-up investments in artificial intelligence, according to US media reports.
Some 30,000 positions will be cut in a belt-tightening move expected to begin on Tuesday, multiple news outlets reported.
8. A new report from the European Commission has said legislation banning hate speech and improving accommodation for international protection applicants are “matters of priority” in Ireland.
The Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI), set up by the Council of Europe, said hate speech “remains widespread” and is most commonly anti-migrant in nature.
9. There is “frustration” among Fianna Fáil backbenchers on foot of the party’s disastrous presidential election campaign, as well as with a “lack of urgency” on national issues, TD Malcolm Byrne said this morning.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, the Wicklow-Wexford TD said he doesn’t believe Micheál Martin will be ejected as leader in the short term.
Byrne’s comments follow a long weekend of speculation and defence of the Taoiseach’s position from senior party members.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say