Weekend on Cape Clear, worse places you could spend it

Harris goes to Brussels in his big boy pants

irishtimes.com/politics/2024/…

A long read on this day of vindication for the families and victims of the Stardust fire. These young people were unlawfully killed. But it took families 43 years to get the truth. It’s a stain on Ireland that it took this long irishexaminer.com/news/arid-4136…

European Council meeting: What goes on inside the room at EU summits? - my column from Brussels this week
irishtimes.com/world/europe/2…

Simon Harris calls for de-escalation of Iran-Israel tensions to avoid ‘catastrophe’
irishtimes.com/world/europe/2…

Fuming I got beat on this lettuce scoop, had a few FoIs in on it

Wherever he goes, it seems the circus follows. My report from inside the right wing conference in Brussels the police sought to shut down as Farage was on stage:
irishtimes.com/world/europe/2…

This week, the UK will likely pass a law saying Rwanda is 'safe' to deport asylum seekers to. Meanwhile, I was recently denied boarding on a flight to Rwanda, presumably because of my journalism on the treatment of refugees there. (THREAD) 1/

Story on unregulated (in this case illegal), care homes accommodating vulnerable children in care in England in tomorrow’s Observer, due to a major shortage of proper placements

Simon Harris: ‘new kid on the block’ is seen as an ‘unknown quantity’ in Brussels irishtimes.com/politics/2024/…

Taoiseach Simon Harris says it is “highly likely” more EU countries would follow Ireland and Spain in plans to recognise the state of Palestine

My column this week: Outcome of presidential election lifts check on Kremlin-friendly government in Slovakia
irishtimes.com/world/europe/2…

Higher walls and sharper barbed wire, here’s my analysis of the EU asylum reforms: irishtimes.com/world/europe/2…

Sad to say I've been laid off by openDemocracy, along with several of my incredible colleagues in the UK. It's one dark day of many for British journalism, but I'm immensely proud of everything we achieved together. Here's some of the best. 🧵

🚨i am being made redundant, alongside many of my amazing colleagues at openDemocracy

it is a sad day for radical, not-for-profit media (but also this seems strangely inevitable in this industry)

here are some pieces i'm proud of:

Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, said the new approach to asylum in the EU would be “fair and firm”

The European Parliament has approved a major overhaul of asylum policy that will harden the bloc’s borders after years of deadlock on the matter. Details here: irishtimes.com/world/europe/2…

Who is the Co Clare man taking over as von der Leyen’s acting chief of staff? Profile here: irishtimes.com/politics/2024/…

Taoiseach Simon Harris is set to travel to Brussels later this week, where it is expected he will meet with Ursula von der Leyen. Afterwards he will head to Warsaw to attend an informal dinner with several EU leaders organised by Charles Michel