Taoiseach says UK Brexit proposals don’t meet backstop objectives
The Taoiseach has warned the UK Prime Minister that his Brexit border plans don’t meet the objectives of the backstop.
Leo Varadkar spoke to Boris Johnson by phone for around half an hour this evening.
Mr Johnson this afternoon published his proposals for replacing the backstop.
The plan would see Northern Ireland following EU regulations for at least four years but leaving the customs union - meaning checks would be required on some goods crossing the border.
Hurricane Lorenzo to bring risk of flooding
The Government is warning of the potential for tidal and spot flooding when Hurricane Lorenzo arrives in Ireland.
The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) met this morning after Met Éireann issued three weather warnings for wind and rain starting on Thursday evening.
A status Orange wind warning will come into force in Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick at 6pm tomorrow and will remain in place until 3am on Friday morning.
Meanwhile a Status Yellow wind warning will be in place for the entire country from 9am on Thursday until 6am on Friday.
Bernie Sanders undergoes heart procedure
US Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has cancelled his upcoming campaign events after undergoing surgery for an artery blockage.
His senior campaign advisor Jeff Weaver said he experienced some chest discomfort at an event yesterday evening.
“Following medical evaluation and testing, he was found to have a blockage in one artery and two stents were successfully inserted,” he said.
He said he is conversing and in good spirits but will be resting up over the next few days.
New €1bn cable to connect Ireland with European Electricity grid
The Minister for Communications has said a new underwater cable connecting Ireland’s electricity network to Europe is a “win, win on all fronts.”
Richard Bruton this afternoon announced a €530m European Commission investment in the Celtic Interconnector project.
Coming in at a total of €1bn, the 700 megawatts capacity cable will be capable of powering 450,000 households.
Minister Bruton said the project will bring a number of benefits to Ireland.
Human rights defenders prevented from travelling to Ireland
Five human rights defenders, who were due to attend an international conference in Dublin, have been prevented from travelling by their governments.
The Dublin Platform was opened on Wednesday morning by Tánaiste Simon Coveney and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.
However human rights activists from Azerbaijan, Russia, Algeria, Cuba and a fifth country were blocked from travelling to Dublin.
Front Line Defenders, which is organising the event, said more than 120 human rights defenders (HRDs) from over 80 countries are participating.
