The Tánaiste will meet the EU's chief Brexit negotiator in Brussels today.
Simon Coveney says he will speak to Michel Barnier about the government's recent meetings with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
The Tánaiste insists if there's to be a new deal before the current Brexit deadline of October 31st, it must achieve the same outcome as the backstop.
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Parents are paying up to 8% more for childcare this year.
Data collected from 4,000 centres across the country show average full-time fees are now costing €184 per week.
Full-time costs are up 3.6%, while part-time fees have increased by 8%.
It comes as the Government urges parents to check out a new scheme that will soon offer support to thousands of families across the country.
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A Garda was hospitalised after being slashed in the face with a garden trowel in Dundalk yesterday evening.
The assault happened at 5pm, when the young officer attended to public order incidents in the Bakehouse Apartments.
He was brought to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
A man in his 50s was arrested in connection with the incident.
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The Government is introducing new guidelines to clamp down on cyber attacks.
They will apply to about 70 organisations that provide essential state services, including in the health and financial sectors.
Communications Minister Richard Bruton says they will need to have robust protection and detection systems to prevent hacking.
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15 trainee gardaí have been suspended or dismissed from the Garda Training College in Templemore this year.
13 were suspended from the Co Tipperary facility, while two had their training terminated.
Details released under the Freedom of Information Act show there were 18 suspensions and two terminations last year.
All actions were down to behaviour and medical reasons.
