Farmers take tractor protest onto Dublin streets
Farmers are continuing their protest near the Dáil tonight - and say they're going nowhere until they meet the Agriculture Minister.
Dozens of tractors have been parked at the corner of St Stephen's Green at Kildare Street in Dublin since early this afternoon.
It's been causing chaos for traffic in the city, and there's no sign of the protest ending yet.
They broke through a Garda blockade to block off traffic in the city this afternoon.
Four charged over Lunney abduction
Four men have appeared in court charged with the assault and false imprisonment of Kevin Lunney.
The men range in age from 25 to 66 and have addresses in Dublin and Cavan.
66-year-old Luke O'Reilly - of Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy in Co Cavan - 38-year-old Alan O'Brien of Shelmalier Road, East Wall in Dublin, 25-year-old Darren Redmond of Calendon Road, East Wall also Dublin and a fourth man aged 38 were arrested by Gardaí last week.
The men covered their faces using their hands and items of clothing as they were escorted into Virgina District Court on Tuesday morning.
Government “confident” of school places for children in Direct Provision
The Minister for Education has said he is “confident” all the children living in Direct Provision in Carrickmacross will soon be offered school places.
It comes after Newstalk revealed that up to 30 children living at the M Hotel in the County Monaghan town have not been attending school.
The failure to provide an education for the children is in breach of EU law.
In the Dáil this evening, Education Minister Joe McHugh said three of the children have been offered secondary school places.
Cabinet approves speeding penalties plan
Cabinet has approved plans to introduce new a system of penalties for speeding.
The legislation put forward by Transport Minister Shane Ross will see driver facing harsher penalties, the faster they go.
If the new system is brought in, drivers caught 10kph above the limit will face two penalty points and a €60 fine – less than the current sanctions.
However, anyone caught more than 30kph over the limit could face prosecution and a €2,000 fine.
No NMH relocation until land issue resolved
The Minister for Health has said the Government will not move forward with the relocation of the National Maternity Hospital until the Church transfers ownership of the land to the State.
It comes amid renewed concern that plans to build the new facility on the grounds of St Vincent’s Hospital may be delayed by the land ownership issue.
The Religious Sisters of Mercy announced in 2017 that they would have no involvement with the new National Maternity Hospital and would sell the land needed for the project to the St Vincent’s Hospital Group.
However, it emerged in recent weeks that the Vatican has yet to sign off on the plans – with pro-life groups lobbying the Church to block the transfer because the facility will offer abortion services.
