Morning briefing — Irish Times
- State digital ID pilot:
- Government to pilot a PPS number–based digital wallet app with 10,000 users next week, led by the Department of Public Expenditure.
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Potential uses include Garda roadside checks, proof of age, banking and education credentials; aligns with EU digital wallet requirements.
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Travel trends:
- CSO’s Travel Behaviour Trends 2024 shows walking and cycling have fallen from pandemic-era highs.
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Public transport usage remains below pre-Covid levels; car travel remains dominant.
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Legal aid row:
- Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan urges solicitors to “be reasonable,” saying new criminal legal aid fees are fair.
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At least 88 resignations from the legal aid panel to date, with around 100 more in Dublin indicating they will resign.
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Crime and incidents:
- Belfast hit-and-run: Raven Adams (24), originally from Tipperary, died; another man seriously injured. Driver fled but was arrested nearby.
- Co Tipperary: Man in his 50s died in a single-vehicle crash on the R505 near Dundrum; Gardaí appeal for witnesses.
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Navan assault: Teenager injured on June 21 at the Watergate Bar has died; postmortem completed; investigation continues (a 36-year-old man has been before the courts).
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Environment:
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Irish Basking Shark Group mapped hotspots using 2,718 sightings from 1978–2024, noting a recent uptick in sightings off the Irish coast.
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Courts and employment:
- High Court landlord-tenant dispute settled; tenant had alleged threat with a hammer during an attempted eviction; judge welcomed resolution.
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Royal College of Physicians of Ireland to pay €14,500 after admitting unfair dismissal of project co-ordinator Monsurat Balogun; award covers time out of work.
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Community and sport:
- Dublin City Council to host a July 25 civic reception at Eamonn Ceannt Park for Shamrock Rovers captain and Cape Verde international Pico Lopes, recognising his achievements and local club Lourdes Celtic’s contribution.