The Journal Investigates
@TJ_Investigates
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The new home for groundbreaking investigative journalism by @TheJournal_ie โข Support our work here: https://t.co/wT3Pkc3FXZ
Ireland
Joined January 2019
Our investigative unit is different. Not only is our team based outside Dublin, we have reporters in Ireland and Northern Ireland. That means we can really focus on lifting the lid on how the whole of Ireland works, not just in the capital:
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Today weโre launching Noteworthy, a new reporting project from @thejournal_ie. It will help to fund the type of in-depth investigative journalism the public wants to see #noteworthy.
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๐จ ๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก. We find that a significant proportion of academics and researchers are suffering from instability of employment and short-term contracts are rife in the third-level sector. #๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐จ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐.
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We want to build a picture of the most active and connected construction lobbyists in Ireland. We want to untangle their political connections, state jobs they have previously held and their networks of influence. Help us investigate:
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'Itโs been grazed down to nothing, bare soil, itโs a very sad scene' - Dr Rory Hodd on parts of the Twelve Bens in Connemara where rare plants are being lost due to the impact of persistent overgrazing. Read our #OverTheHill investigation now:.
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๐จ Latest investigation out tomorrow. It will expose the disturbing depths of wildlife crime in Ireland and how even the most serious of offenders escape criminal records despite being prosecuted. @trishdevlin explains โฌ๏ธ
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๐ชช #FreeData Investigation. Is the journey data of free travel pass holders being retained?. We delve into data gathering by the Department of Social Protection, the National Transport Authority and transport providers. Our main story by @mhdelaney: .
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๐จ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐๐. Thanks so much for your epic support over the past 12 hours!!! Our investigation into how the far right is influencing Irish public opinion online is now fully funded & we can begin our work. Find out more:
Thanks to your AMAZING support since last night, our EYES RIGHT project is almost 80% funded!!. We want to find out how the far right are operating online in Ireland, how they are reaching people and who they are targeting. Help us get it over the line:
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Today we are launching The Journal Investigates - our new home for groundbreaking investigative journalism. Building on the award-winning work of Noteworthy, our new venture is dedicated to lifting the lid on how Ireland works:.
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State refuses for first time to release ministerial pension payments for ex-taoisigh and other officeholders. Says their right to privacy outweighs the public interest. The latest story from Noteworthy:
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We want to build a picture of the most active and connected construction lobbyists in Ireland. We want to untangle their political connections, state jobs they have previously held and their networks of influence. Help us investigate:
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๐ Our wonderful reporter @Niall_Sargent just won the Investigative Writing category of the @irish_writing Awards #IFWA22 (for the second year in a row!). This was for his investigation into the impact of salmon farming: ๐
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Over the past six months, The Journal Investigates team has investigated the sinister underworld of wildlife crime taking place across the Irish countryside. @trishdevlin discusses how she conducted the investigation and what she discovered โฌ๏ธ
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How a local authority failed to carry out any environmental assessment before biodiverse wetlands in a Dublin park were destroyed. Our latest @noteworthy_ie story from @PeterMcGuireIE. Read more about it at:
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The Sisters of Mercy sold a number of convents recently - Rosscarbery Convent sold for over โฌ450,000 and one in Spanish Point in County Clare is currently for sale for โฌ500,000. โช Help us look into property sales by religious orders:
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โผ๏ธWe are just 13% off hitting our funding goal to fully investigate the impact of illegal slurry spreading in Ireland. @trishdevlin explains why our Up Manure Creek project is so important โฌ๏ธ Help us get there!. Click:
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Our latest investigation reveals that at least 3,000km of hedgerow have been cut by local authorities during the bird nesting season over three years at a cost of โฌ1.4 million. Read on for more details:
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๐ Congratulations to @Niall_Sargent for recognition of his work at the 20th global @sejorg Awards for Reporting on the Environment. Our SPRUCED UP expose into the Irish forestry model took 3rd Place in the outstanding investigative reporting category๐.
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๐งธ Children in the Traveller community are at a disadvantage from the moment they are born. Infant mortality is over 3 times higher, suicide is 6-7 times higher & life expectancy is over a decade lower. Help us investigate if this gap will ever close:
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๐ฅ Endometriosis is a condition that affects 10% of Irish women and yet the first endometriosis clinic in Ireland was only set up in 2021. We want to investigate if we are taking womenโs sexual and reproductive health seriously in Ireland:
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We are delighted and honored that both @mhdelaney and @Niall_Sargent won their categories at the Business Journalism Awards! @SmurfitSchool
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Hedgerows are vital to birds and wildlife during the summer, providing space for nesting, food and shelter. Yet, every year, social media is full of photos of decimated roadside hedges. Help us find out why:
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Ireland has one of the lowest rates of tree cover in Europe yet one of the highest rates of plantation forestry of mainly Sitka spruce. In Part One of our #SprucedUp investigation, we examine the environmental impacts of this model:
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A controversial bill on the records from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was debated today. #Dรกil . TD Holly Cairns said "the only question worth asking is whose interests are being served?" She added: "It's not the interests of survivors.". Thread ๐
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Enda Kenny has landed a new position on the board of the PR and lobbying firm Heneghan Strategic Communications. We want to connect the dots between the State and former officials turned lobbyists (Support us here: ).
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๐ข Wow. HUGE reaction this week to the story by our reporter @mhdelaney on alleged excessive data gathering by @welfare_ie on free travel passes. So much so that we're sharing our supporters' newsletter so you can catch up on it all:
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๐ก๐๐ช ๐ฃ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฃ๐ข๐ฆ๐๐. Children in the Traveller community are at a disadvantage from birth. Infant mortality is 3 times higher, suicide is 6-7 times higher & life expectancy is a decade lower. Help us investigate if this gap will ever close:
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Two former FG advisers led the successful lobbying campaign that secured certain funds an exemption from the 10% stamp duty rate introduced to stop investors buying up houses ahead of first-time buyers. ๐๏ธ Great reporting on housing policy lobbying in yesterday's @businessposthq.
Two former top Fine Gael government advisers, acting on behalf of large funds, were behind the successful lobbying campaign that ultimately secured the exemption from the new rate of stamp duty for funds that lease to the state.
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Hedge cutting is banned from today until the end of August to protect wildlife during nesting season, with the Government issuing a reminder that cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation is prohibited.
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Clearing of vegetation from waterways is a regular occurrence across the country as part of the mandated maintenance of over 11,500km of channels & 800km of embankments. ๐ We want to find out what records the OPW keep when it comes to this clearing:
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The current farm subsidy model is based on the amount of land you use for production, leaving farmers who try to do their bit for nature out of pocket. ๐ ๐ฐ We want to talk to farmers trying to protect biodiversity despite the financial cost:
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NEW PROPOSAL. There is evidence herbicides can cause long-term health impacts, yet, they are widely used in public spaces. by authorities. We want to examine the extent of their use & what nature-based solutions could be used in their place:
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We started with a simple question: what actually happens to soft plastic that we put in the recycling bin? . And it turns out that the answer is pretty complicated. This morning we published an investigation by @aflchambers into soft plastic recycling: ๐
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๐ฟ Japanese knotweed and rhododendron have become a common sight across many parts of Ireland - in particular in the West. We will investigate the funding allocated to deal with invasive species and find out if this is sufficient to tackle the problem:
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๐ง Water bottling companies, agri-food businesses & golf clubs extracting large volumes of water from our natural watercourse are doing so largely unmonitored due to lax regulations. Help us examine this issue:
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*HEDGE THREAD*. Our latest investigation reveals that at least 3,000km of hedgerow and verge have been cut by local authorities during the bird nesting season over the last three years at a cost of โฌ1.4 million. Read on for more details:
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We are so grateful and humbled that this proposal to investigate what might be done to better protect victims of domestic abuse has been fully funded in less than 36 hours. Can't wait to get started on the work. Thank you so much. #Covid19Ireland.
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๐ณ Uragh in Co Kerry - an ancient native woodland - is threatened by overgrazing with tree seedlings eaten by both wild deer & domestic livestock. We want to examine if measures to prevent grazing are being taken in this & other uniques nature sites:
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The most common tree species in Ireland is Sitka spruce, which occupies over 50% of our forest area. Help us investigate the impact this non-native conifer is having on the Irish ecosystem:
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Keys to the house: are we electing more landlords to the Dรกil and Seanad? We want to look at registers of interests over an extended period of time to find out:
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New investigation: Inside Irelandโs underground wildlife trade in Ireland where foxes, badgers, hares are snatched from the wild and sold off as live bait.
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LYING IDLE: How many state properties are vacant around the country? We want to investigate this, starting with sites owned by the Office of Public Works. Help us fund this project:
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โWomen who go into academia get trapped in exploitative forms of precarious work.โ . Part two of our #AcademicUncertainty๐ investigation looks at the impact of insecure work on women, people with disabilities & vulnerable groups in the sector. Out now:
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"This is the sort of thing we have to call time on in this country" - OPW Minister O'Donovan on a flood relief scheme "being held up" by the Kerry slug. RELATED: We want to investigate if adequate assessments are carried out for OPW river maintenance:
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๐ 40,000 people live less than 100 metres from the sea in Ireland, including in areas with repeated warnings of erosion risks. Are councils accounting for the impacts of sea level rise in planning decisions?. Help us find out:
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Irelandโs biodiversity is under threat. According to a report from last year, 85% of our EU protected habitats are in an โunfavourableโ condition ๐ฆ . We want to investigate the implementation of the National Biodiversity Action Plan. Help fund out work:
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Over 85% of pigs are now concentrated in just 10% of farms, millions of hens are kept in cages, and there is an increasing use of feedlots in the beef sector. We want to examine if we are prioritising profits over animal welfare:
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๐ฃ๏ธ Tรก lรญon na ndaoine gur fรฉidir leo Gaeilge a labhairt i gceantracha Gaeltachta ag titim. Ba mhaith linn fiosrรบ a dhรฉanamh ar an slรญ a bhfuil รบdarรกis รกitiรบla agus รdarรกs na Gaeltachta ag cur pleananna agus strรกitรฉisรญ na Gaeilge i bhfeidhm:
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Ireland has Europeโs largest concentration of wind farms on blanket bog despite concerns over the impact on our peatlands - our most important carbon sink. We will build a detailed profile of wind farms on peatlands across Ireland. Help us here:
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Ireland has Europeโs largest concentration of wind farms on blanket bog despite concerns over the impact on our peatlands - our most important carbon sink. We will build a detailed profile of wind farms on peatlands across Ireland. Help us here:
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#๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐จ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐ - PART 3. Unpaid โteaching contributionsโ are expected in most universities and ITs but PhD candidates canโt get โa liveable wageโ. Part three of our major investigation into the third-level sector is out now:
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Absolutely brilliant to see the impact - already - of our cross-border investigation on the poultry industry with @TheDetailTV & @guardian . Earlier today, our reporter @Niall_Sargent spoke to @BryanNewsatOne about our findings. Catch up here:
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๐ Our #OverTheHill investigation is out now:. Nature reporter @anthealacchia finds persistent overgrazing is causing 'devastation' in vulnerable habitats.
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๐ JUST PUBLISHED: #EyesRight .Part One of our four-part probe into far-right activity online in Ireland: a collab with @thejournal_ie & @ISDglobal . READ how direct provision centre plans became a focal point for far-right players to enter the fray โก๏ธ.
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๐ธ Have you taken any photos or videos over the past few months of junctions that are dangerous for cyclists?. We are looking for your help for our Bicycle Blackspots investigation. See @mhdelaney (maria@noteworthy.ie) explaining what we need and hope to achieve.
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We are fighting to have details of pensions paid to former presidents, taoisigh, and ministers put back in the public domain where they belong. Help support us in our work:
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๐งต THREAD - Our full investigation into public transport accessibility for disabled people is now online!. Over the past month, as part of @thejournal_ie's The Good Information Project, we examined a wide-range of obstacles hampering access to public transport. We revealed. ๐
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"If Ireland started with 10 players last Saturday in rugby, no one would say they had a team" - @HollyCairnsTD. Not one of the childrenโs disability network teams (CDNTs) is fully staffed, according to HSE headsย . Our latest report by @mhdelaney on this:.
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ICYMI: How a local authority failed to carry out any environmental assessment before biodiverse wetlands in a Dublin park were destroyed. Our latest @noteworthy_ie story from @PeterMcGuireIE. Read more about it at:
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๐จ JUST PUBLISHED ๐จ. The State promised 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030 through new builds and transfers from Catholic schools. How is it going? . Reporter @PeterMcGuireIE finds the divestment process practically at a standstill:.
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'A massacre of nature': This probe into hedgecutting around Ireland attracted a lot of attention on @thejournal_ie this week - We have been asked by our users to look into widespread tree-felling - support that investigation here:.
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Disabled people make up 13.5% of the population but represent 27% of the homeless population. We want to investigate the housing crisis facing disabled people left homeless or in unsuitable accommodation. Support this work here:
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Our new investigation into the use of pesticides by public authorities has found that thousands of litres of pesticides โ including the controversial glyphosate โ are used on Irish roads and forests each year #InTheWeeds
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While several EU countries no longer permit the use of herbicides such as Roundup near playgrounds, schools or public parks, their sale and use is currently unrestricted in Ireland. Helps us investigate: .
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#AcademicUncertainty๐ in the Dรกil. Since the publication of our investigation, it has been raised on three separate occasions in the Oireachtas - most recently, following a statement by Minister Simon Harris on Thursday. Here are the Dรกil highlights:. (๐ see thread for more)
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๐ Absolutely delighted that #ToughStart on the uphill battle facing Traveller children has been awarded the Mary Raftery Prize due to its "superb investigative journalism". It was led by @mhdelaney & @michellehtweet, with contributions from @Cormfitz - who all share the prize.
This evening we announce the winner of the Mary Raftery Prize for 2021. The standard of nominations was again phenomenal, so sincere congratulations to the winner, those shortlisted, and all who were nominated. @DCU_SoC @BAItweets @HumanitiesDCU
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๐ต๏ธโโ๏ธ ๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก. Our latest publication is out early in the morning!! . We teamed up with @businessposthq to conduct a major investigation into genomics in Ireland. Check out and tomorrow. #SellingOurGenes ๐งฌ
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*ALMOST 70% FUNDED*. Clearing of vegetation from waterways is a regular occurrence as part of the mandated maintenance of over 11,500km of channels & 800km of embankments. ๐ช We want to find out what records the OPW keep when it comes to this clearing:
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โOur farm subsidy model is broken & causing destruction to habitats. โ. As the biodiversity crisis gathers pace, researcher Ray Foley explains why a big fix is needed fast to mend a broken farm subsidy model. Read our overview in the short ๐งต below:
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The story even made it as far as the Seanad chamber as @LNBDublin called for answers on "who ordered this mass surveillance, on what legal basis it was carried out, who ordered the deletion of the database and how much public money was spent. "
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That's not a filter, that green colour is toxic algae at Keeldra Lough - the most restricted bathing spot in Ireland this summer. Its bathing water was classed as โexcellentโ all season but it wasnโt safe to swim for a lot of that time. Find out why:
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๐จ ๐ก๐๐ช ๐๐ก๐ฉ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐๐๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก. We find that a significant proportion of academics and researchers are suffering from instability of employment and short-term contracts are rife in the third-level sector. #๐๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐บ๐ถ๐ฐ๐จ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐๐.
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Around the world, indigenous minorities are more likely to be imprisoned than the general population. We want to investigate how Irelandโs own indigenous minority, Mincรฉiri (Travellers), are treated by the criminal justice system. Find out more:
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๐ฅณ FULLY FUNDED. More great news today. Our investigation to examine how we can stop rampant bike theft in Ireland is now fully funded!!!. ๐ดโโ๏ธ๐ด๐ดโโ๏ธ๐ดโโ๏ธ๐ดโโ๏ธ๐ด๐ดโโ๏ธ๐ดโโ๏ธ. Thanks again for your wonderful support! Find out more about what we are planning to look into:
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Our appeal against the Department of Public Expenditure decision to refuse access to a person-by-person breakdown of ministerial pension payments has been accepted. We can expect a decision on it by June 4 and will keep you updated:
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๐Brilliant news!! @PeterMcGuireIE has won the Mary Raftery Prize. Congrats to Peter & @BiddyEarly for their brilliant work on this @noteworthy_ie investigation #SpeakOrSurvive. And thank you to all of the survivors of sexual violence who spoke to us. ๐
This evening we announce the winner of the Mary Raftery Prize for 2020. Given the standard of nominations, it was a very difficult decision but congratulations to the winner, those shortlisted, and all those who were nominated. Keep up the good work.
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A new Noteworthy analysis reveals that serious concerns remain over environmental assessments undertaken by the State prior to granting plantation forestry licences.
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In less than six weeks, Noteworthy has been able to fund seven of our proposals. We've also published six articles and have another one coming for you later on this week. Find out more and help support our work:
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๐ฒ ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฒ. Our latest investigation on the eco-impact of plantation forestry reveals:. - Planting on peat & biodiversity-rich grasslands.- Concern over environmental assessments carried out.- Need for greater protection of threatened species.
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A few months ago, as part of research for our new investigation on the poultry industry, we discovered something that would alter the course of our research due to the serious nature of our discoveryโฆ here is what we found out ๐งต๐.
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๐AWARD ALERT ๐. Delighted to announce that we have been awarded with a merit prize at the @LawSocIreland Justice Media Awards 2020 for our "eye-opening" two-part investigation that exposed the myths of Irelandโs compensation culture:
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New investigation proposal:. The most common tree species in Ireland is Sitka spruce, which occupies over 50% of our forest area. Help us investigate the impact this non-native conifer is having on the Irish ecosystem:
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๐ฑ Pretty in pink? Not so when it comes to Rhododendron ponticum which is an invasive species present in many parts of Ireland. Our SOIL INVADERS project will investigate why invasive plants are spreading out of control here. Support this work:
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There is a reluctance within Ireland to be seen as an "activist reporter" but this might be blocking us from educating ourselves about the science of climate change. which touches every news beat - @Niall_Sargent at the @BAItweets launch of the Reuters Digital News Report 2022
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Investigative journalism can be time-consuming and expensive. We hope that this will be a platform for the more complex stories that are falling between the cracks in Ireland. #noteworthy.
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๐จ ๐๐จ๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ก๐๐๐. Thanks to your epic support our proposed investigation into Galwayโs long promised ring road is funded & we can get started. We will take a deeper look at the scheme, what is promised & potential alternatives. Find out more:
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Ireland has Europeโs largest concentration of wind farms on blanket bog despite concerns over the impact on our peatlands - our most important carbon sink. We will build a detailed profile of wind farms on peatlands across Ireland. Help us here:
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Garda operation โunder reviewโ as 62 migrant children missing after disappearing from State care said Minister for Children Roderic OโGormanย following publication of our investigation by @trishdevlin yesterday.
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Have you been evicted from a rental in Ireland by a landlord who said they were selling or renovating. only to see them re-advertise the property w/ higher rent?. We know this is happening & we're trying to find out more. DM or emailย information@noteworthy.ie.
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๐จ PUBLICATION ALERT. Our #NetLoss๐ investigation into the Irish fishing sector is being published over the next three nights. Part one which explores the impact of fishing on Ireland's wildlife is out tonight at 8.30pm on both Noteworthy & @thejournal_ie. ๐ SNEAK PREVIEW:
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#SprucedUp: Our investigation into forestry in Ireland highlights continued planting on sensitive peatlands and other high nature value areas despite known biodiversity impacts. Read Part One of our investigation now:
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โ๏ธ OVER 85% FUNDED. Travellers are significantly over-represented in youth detention, making up 26% of Oberstown detainees in 2020, but just 1.2% of the under-18 population. We want to investigate how Travellers are treated in the criminal justice system:
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โ๏ธ BREAKING THE BANKS. While the Office of Public Works says it is reducing the impact of arterial drainage work, waterways and their habitats โare still sufferingโ, reports @anthealacchia . Read our latest investigation now:
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๐จ NEW INVESTIGATION . Stay tuned for our latest investigation - out just after midnight.
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Critically endangered eels & protected fish species like salmon, trout and lamprey, are being killed, injured and trapped along the Shannon scheme. This issue has been known since at least 1935. Dr Will O'Connor explains how:
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Cruelty for clicks โ how social media is fuelling wildlife crime in Ireland. Cruel content glamorised on apps such as TikTok, Snapchat and FB. Read Part 2 of our investigation into wildlife harm in Ireland by @trishdevlin .
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Anyone who has travelled to the UK or Spain knows that we can pay multiples more for the same medicines in Irish chemists. We want to investigate if weโre getting a fair price for the medicines we take. Help support this investigation:
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โHow can Minister McConalogue continue to stand over hare coursing and claim that it is regulated?" @naracampaigns calls for independent investigation after Noteworthy revelations DAFM monitored just 4 out of 200 hare coursing events in 5 years.
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The EPA today warned only half of Irish rivers and lakes can sustain healthy ecosystems, with many water bodies in poor & declining condition๐๐. We want to get to the bottom of why this is happening & the impacts in several of our proposed projects.
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This proposed investigation is 80% funded! . The most common tree species in Ireland is Sitka spruce, occupying over half of our forest area. ๐ฒ Help us investigate the impact this non-native conifer is having on the Irish ecosystem:.
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New investigation proposal: . How are universities and institutes of technology allowed to employ so many researchers and lecturers on precarious contracts? . Help us find out:
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