The economy is set to emerge from recession, figures to be published later today are expected to show.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the second quarter of the year is expected to have risen slightly from the previous three months. The figures will be released mid morning by Central Statistics Office.
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Syrian leader Bashar al Assad says he is committed to destroying his stockpile of chemical arms - but warned it would take a year to do so.
In an interview with Fox News, Mr Assad said he was committed to getting rid of the arsenal but conceded it would cost at least €715 million.
He also insisted that his decision to destroy the weapons was not forced upon him by the threat of US strikes.
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At least 58 people are feared missing after their homes were buried in a mudslide caused by Hurricane Manuel in Mexico.
A further 80 have been killed in the two hurricanes which converged on Mexico this week.
Winds of 120 kilometres an hour have caused flash floods and landslides. The storms damaged bridges, caused rivers to overflow and flooded half of the resort of Acapulco, stranding tens of thousands of tourists.
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Gardaí investigating the suspicious death of Elaine O'Hara in Dublin - say they're following a number of lines of enquiry.
The 36 year old's remains were discovered by a woman out walking her dog in the Dublin Mountains last Friday.
Yesterday, Gardaí sealed off a second crime scene in Co. Wicklow when some of Elaine's personal belongings were found at Roundwood reservoir.
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The HSE and members of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) will visit two hospitals today to verify whether junior doctors are working shifts of more than 24 hours.
It follows talks at the Labour Relations Commission on ending the dispute on excessive working hours for non consultant hospital doctors.
Junior doctors plan to go on strike next Wednesday, September 25th to highlight that these working hours are in breach of an EU Directive which states junior doctors must not work more than 48 hours per week.
