National Lottery Seeks Bookmaker Ban, Ukraine Refugee Contracts End, and Jim Glennon Resigns

The National Lottery is urging the Government to ban bookmakers from accepting bets on its draws. A report indicates over €800 million was bet with bookies last year on lottery draws, a secondary market nearly as large as the actual draw, operating in a tolerated «grey zone».

Jim Glennon, a former Fianna Fáil TD and well-known rugby personality, has resigned from all employment and directorships after writing a «naive» and «wrong» reference letter for a man convicted of sexually exploiting a young boy. Glennon, who retired from politics in 2007, issued a formal apology.

The State will terminate over 500 contracts with hotels and other accommodations housing more than 16,000 Ukrainian refugees. This move, approved by the Cabinet committee on migration, implements previously planned efforts to wind down the accommodation system. The contracts are expected to cease over the next 12 months, affecting those who have received services since before March 2024.

Today's Cabinet meeting includes discussions on a «right to be forgotten» for cancer patients in the insurance market, travel support for domestic violence victims, and support schemes for hauliers and farmers. The Taoiseach will also present a report on artificial intelligence (AI) outlining five priority areas for its development in Ireland.

A Public Accounts Committee report reveals that An Garda Síochána may not be charging enough for policing public events like concerts and sporting fixtures. In 2023, over €7 million was recovered, but unpaid fees from previous years and flaws in the fee calculation model, such as excluding overtime and higher-rank pay, were identified.