Health Strikes: Over 2,000 surgeries and procedures cancelled
The HSE has warned that over 2,000 surgeries and appointments have been cancelled due to today’s health support staff strike.
10,000 health support staff, including chefs, cleaners, porters and maternity care assistants, took to the picket lines for the first in a series of 24-hour strikes this morning.
The action is affecting 38 hospitals and healthcare facilities around the country.
Talks aimed at ending the dispute are due get underway at the Workplace Relations Commission tomorrow.
Woman who died in suspected Dublin stabbing named
The woman who died after a suspected stabbing in Dublin overnight has been named as 34-year-old Skaidrite Valdgeima.
The 34-year-old mother-of-three lived in Deerpark Walk in Blessington, County Wicklow.
She was originally from Latvia.
She was attacked in an apartment in the Bonham Street area of Dublin 8.
Gardaí have launched a murder investigation and are continuing to question a man in his 30s who is understood to have been known to the victim.
High temperature warning issued for tomorrow
A weather warning has been issued in six counties for high temperatures.
The status yellow alert is in place for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.
Met Éireann says temperatures will be reach over 27° Celsius here on Thursday afternoon.
The warning is valid from 1.00pm until 7.00pm on Thursday.
Government writes to Eir over €1bn broadband plan claim
The Department of Communications has written to Eir to see if the company's claim it could roll out the National Broadband Plan much cheaper "stacks up".
Eir says it could complete the project for €1 billion - around a third of the almost €3 billion price the Government intends to spend.
Under plans approved last month, a private consortium led by Granahan McCourt - the sole remaining bidder - would be appointed to roll out broadband to 540,000 homes and businesses in rural areas.
However, there has been widespread criticism of the planned spending by the State - with public spending officials warning it represents an "unprecedented risk".
Harris unveils medical cannabis pilot scheme
Medical cannabis is being made available on a limited basis under a new five-year pilot programme.
The legislation for the scheme, which will cover patients with three medical conditions, was signed today by the Health Minister.
It will allow for access to cannabis-based products for medical use, with the necessary legislation signed today.
Potential suppliers will now have to apply to have their products examined to see if they're suitable for medical use - and, if approved, they can then make them available in the Irish market.
