Coronavirus outbreak declared global health emergency
The World Health Organisation has declared the coronavirus outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern.”
The decision comes as the death toll from the virus reaches 170 in China - with health authorities saying there have been 7,736 confirmed cases in the country.
There have been 98 confirmed cases of the virus in 18 other countries – including France, Germany and the US.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the outbreak has been unprecedented; however, he noted that it has been met with “an unprecedented response.”
Party leaders clash over rent-freeze legality
Political leaders have clashed over whether the next Government is legally allowed to introduce a freeze on rents.
Seven party leaders are going head-to-head in the penultimate TV of the general election campaign tonight.
The Virgin Media One debate features Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald, Brendan Howlin, Eamon Ryan, Mick Barry and Catherine Murphy.
The debate, hosted by Ivan Yates and Matt Cooper, is the last chance for some of the panel to win the hearts and minds of the television watching public.
FAI handed €20bn rescue package
A major financial rescue package has been announced for the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) - including a doubling of Sport Ireland funding and a €7.5 million interest-free loan.
It follows a meeting between Government officials, the FAI, UEFA and Bank of Ireland in Dublin today.
Sport Ireland funding of €2.9 million has been restored for football development programmes - with the amount to be doubled from the previous amount to €5.8 million for the next four years.
That amounts to €11.6 million between this year and 2024.
Gardaí investigating alleged League of Ireland match-fixing
Gardaí investigating alleged match-fixing in the League of Ireland have carried out a number of searches in County Limerick.
The Garda Anti-Corruption Unit, Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) and Limerick detectives were involved in the searches this morning.
Investigators said they seized evidence of betting, mobile phones, electronic devices, a stun-gun and €20,000 in cash.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is continuing.
Government U-turn on threat to dock funding for protesting crèches
The Minister for Children has said crèches will not see their State funding docked if they take part in next week’s national protest.
Thousands of childcare workers, parents and providers are expected to take part in a march next week protesting against the “worsening childcare crisis” in Ireland.
Ahead of the protest, the Department of Children warned childcare services they would not receive childcare scheme payments for the day if they failed to open.
It also warned that they would not be paid if they opened on an alternative day to make up for the closure.
