Concern over delay in COVID-19 notification

Health officials have announced 10 further coronavirus-related deaths and 426 new confirmed cases.

The national death toll now sits at 1,506, with 23,827 confirmed cases here.

It marks a steep rise in confirmed cases compared to recent days; however, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said many of them are “not cases that have arisen in the last short period of time.”

He said there was a delay in notifications at one hospital in the south of the country, which meant the figures built up without the National Public Health Emergency being aware of them.

Letter reveal tension between NPHET and HSE

Newly published letters reveal tensions between the HSE and the National Public Health Emergency Team over the State coronavirus response.

In one of the letters published this afternoon, the HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid voices his anger at the NPHET decision to announce that COVID-19 testing would be expanded to 100,000 tests per week.

He notes that he was “very much taken by surprise” at the announcement and warned that the commitment did not take into account what the HSE was capable of achieving or by when.

Labour leader Alan Kelly said the letters show tensions at the highest level regarding NPHETs role in decision-making.

Reid says cancelling the private hospital contract would be “high risk.”

The HSE chief executive has warned that it would be a big risk to cancel the State contract with private hospitals.

Paul Reid said the contract may be extended to ensure we have capacity to deal with any potential surge in the coronavirus.

The deal is costing the Exchequer €115m per month and Fianna Fáil health spokesperson Stephen Donnelly has warned that many of them empty are sitting empty.

On The Hard Shoulder this evening, HSE chief Paul Reid said cancelling the contract at this point would be a “high-risk” move.

Scouting Ireland issue apology for to sexual abuse victims

Scouting Ireland has issued an apology to victims and survivors of sexual abuse in scouting who were failed.

Adrian Tennant, chair of the board of Scouting Ireland said: "As chairperson of the Board of Scouting Ireland, as an adult volunteer and as a father, I wish to make an organisational apology to the victims and survivors of historical sexual abuse in Scouting who were failed.

“On behalf of Scouting Ireland, I unreservedly apologise to you.

"We are sorry for the hurt caused to you and the legacy of that hurt which many of you still live with today.

Call for Dublin Port to be moved to Rosslare

An Independent TD is calling for Dublin Port to be moved to Co Wexford.

Verona Murphy claims the port facilities should be relocated to Rosslare because of the levels of air pollution in parts of Dublin.

The Wexford TD pointed to a recent environmental report which found nitrogen oxide emissions in parts of the city were at risk of breaching EU limits.

The Irish Road Hauliers Association has also backed the call.