Over 230 new coronavirus cases in Ireland

There have been 235 new cases of coronavirus in Ireland, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said on Wednesday.

Two more people have also died.

The patients are a woman in the east of the country, with an underlying health condition, and a man, also in the east.

COVID-19: IMO moves to reassure members over pension concerns

The Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has moved to reassure its members over concerns about pensions in the event of their death.

It came after an earlier letter which suggested those operating in the medical card scheme may not have a lump sum paid to to their next of kin should they die in service of COVID-19.

GPs said they were informed of the move in a letter on Wednesday morning from the GMS (Medical Card) Pension Scheme.

Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil agree need to form "strong stable government"

Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil say they have agreed the need to form a strong, stable government.

Efforts to form a government are set to continue after it was revealed no new laws can be passed from next week.

The lack of a new government will paralyse the legislative process from midnight on Sunday.

Over 2,000 Irish people stranded in 86 countries around the world

The Government is trying to help over 2,000 Irish people return home from 86 countries around the world.

The Department of Foreign Affairs said the majority are in Australia and New Zealand – with the rest in small groups in other countries.

A spokesperson said officials are working through the “biggest shutdown in global aviation since the dawn of commercial flight.”

Contactless payment limits to increase 'by April 1st'

The contactless payment limit on cards should be raised from €30 to €50 by April 1st.

That is according to the Banking & Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI).

It says this rollout is "well underway" as banks, retailers and technology companies work towards a national completion by that date.