Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · 2d

More than €1.1 million in taxpayer funds was paid last year to ministers, TDs, and Senators for social media, PR, and secretarial support.

Details of many of the payments are now kept secret with the Oireachtas saying they're personal information:

www.thestory.ie/2025/10/10/e...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · 4d

Ireland is leaving itself in a “decisively disadvantageous” position with some of the world’s highest electricity prices by ruling out nuclear power, an internal EirGrid briefing warns.

Our latest set of records available at:

www.thestory.ie/2025/10/08/i...

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Reposted by Ken Foxe

Right to Know @righttoknow.bsky.social · 9d

Three new special advisers for Ceann Comhairle, deputy speaker, and Seanad Cathaoirleach will cost taxpayer €325,000 annually.

Our latest set of records available at:

www.thestory.ie/2025/10/03/t...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · 9d

Leinster House has approved €325,000 a year spend for three new special advisers for the Ceann Comhairle, Leas Ceann Comhairle & Seanad Cathaoirleach.

Such roles were scrapped over a decade ago in the wake of the John O’Donoghue expenses controversy.

www.thestory.ie/2025/10/03/t...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · 16d

Fáilte Ireland warns key risks for tourism: Dublin Airport’s passenger cap, U.S. visitors feeling “less welcome” in Europe, and Ireland’s value-for-money proposition.

Our latest set of FOI records:

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/26/f...

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Reposted by Ken Foxe

Right to Know @righttoknow.bsky.social · 20d

Right to Know wins in landmark ruling requiring release of large cattle herd locations in Ireland.

Our latest successful case. Read more at:

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/22/r...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · 20d

Another big win for transparency.

Right to Know has forced the release of data on the location of Ireland’s largest cattle herds.

The Commissioner for Environmental Information said public interest trumps privacy claims.

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/22/r...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · 23d

Enterprise Ireland chairman wanted to stay on but told board his position was becoming a “potential embarrassment” to minister over accounting delays.

Latest set of records from @righttoknow.bsky.social available at:

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/19/e...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · 26d

Senior HSE management went to visit Ryanair to see how aircraft were dispatched in the early morning to see if they could learn lessons on managing waiting lists and hospital overcrowding.

Latest set of records from @righttoknow.bsky.social available at:

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/16/h...

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Reposted by Ken Foxe

Right to Know @righttoknow.bsky.social · Sep 12

Climate change “adding fuel” to storms that reach Ireland according to briefing for Met Éireann forecasters.

Our latest set of records available at:

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/12/c...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Sep 12

Forecasters at Met Éireann were briefed on how climate change was “adding fuel” to storms that hit Irish shores.

A guidance document on how to discuss the impact of global warming said there was high confidence that maximum rainfall rates will rise here.

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/12/c...

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Reposted by Ken Foxe

Colin Leonard @collyleonard.bsky.social · Sep 8

Frost Zone Stories Book 2, including terrific stories by @jennyhart2001.bsky.social @dianedooley.bsky.social @malcolmtimperley.bsky.social @camdenscorner.bsky.social Nick Young, Michael Penncavage, Kay Hanifen, D Thomas Minton, @kenfoxe.bsky.social Ann Wuehler and @maureenow.bsky.social

Colin Leonard @collyleonard.bsky.social · Sep 8

Book 2 of Frost Zone Stories arrived today from @frostzonestories.bsky.social. Full of chilling tales to lead us into the spooky season. I love the skeleton girl pointing the way.

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Sep 9

Dublin City Council said Construction Industry Federation showed “serious failure in duty of care and property management” after collapse of cottages onto public road.

Latest set of records from @righttoknow.bsky.social available at:

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/09/d...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Sep 6

I’ve a new short story called ‘Once Bitten’ in a just-released horror anthology from Rowan Prose.

You can buy the collection, print or digital, here:

books2read.com/u/4j7aW2

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Sep 5

There has been a steep rise in the number of citizens of the United States seeking asylum in Ireland.

Fifty-one people from the U.S. applied for international protection in the first half of this year, more than in 2023 and 2024 combined.

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/05/s...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Sep 3

Some of the 'light' reading material the U.S. State Department sent Ireland’s social media regulator ahead of a meeting earlier this year.

“Across Europe, governments have weaponised political institutions against their own citizens.”

www.thestory.ie/2025/09/03/u...

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Reposted by Ken Foxe

Rowan Prose Publishing @rowanprosepub.bsky.social · Aug 31

Time to indulge your dark side...
books2read.com/u/4j7aW2
🎃👻⚰️🕸️

#Halloween #horrorbooks #horroranthology #spookystories #booksky #readersky #horrorsky #rowanprosepub

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Aug 29

Transport Infrastructure Ireland mulls proposal to turn 36-acre surplus parcel of land in Cork into native woodland.

Our latest set of records available at:

www.thestory.ie/2025/08/29/t...

Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Aug 27

Want to know what your council or a government department has been up to?

Use #FOI to access official records – and environmental info too.

I wrote a free beginner’s guide (contributions welcome to keep it updated):

www.kenfoxe.com/foi-guide

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Aug 27

A pretty commonplace experience when making FOI requests in Ireland.

I looked for copies of high-level records on the overcrowding crisis in jails.

Irish Prison Service said there were no records.

I appealed to the Information Commissioner.

The records were magically located.

Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Aug 25

Department of Foreign Affairs agreed to rent hike that brought annual cost of Irish Ambassador’s residence in London to €508,925 per year.

A new set of records released under Freedom of Information laws:

www.thestory.ie/2025/08/25/d...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Aug 22

The Land Development Agency has appealed to the High Court to block release of their risk register under FOI in a case likely to cost taxpayer tens of thousands of euro.

It's the 3rd time in three years a public body has taken one of our cases to court.

www.thestory.ie/2025/08/22/l...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Aug 21

That was my story on RTÉ Joe. Just putting the documents online so people can have a look at them for themselves.

Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Aug 20

You might think that in the midst of a housing crisis, the Land Development Agency would have better things to do than go to the High Court to fight transparency and block release of their risk register to me and @righttoknow.bsky.social under FOI laws.

But you'd be wrong:

oic.ie/ga/cinneadh-...

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Ken Foxe @kenfoxe.bsky.social · Aug 18

Senior Dept of Justice official warned backlogs in dealing with asylum applications were quickly reaching “unmanageable levels.”

Department originally refused access to these records under FOI and they were released during appeal process.

www.thestory.ie/2025/08/18/d...

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