Abortion and same-sex marriage laws in Northern Ireland could be brought in line with the rest of Ireland and the UK within months.
MPs have voted in favour of relaxing laws if Belfast does not get its power-sharing executive reinstated by October 21st.
It is the only part of the United Kingdom where gay marriage is banned and access to abortion is restricted.
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The group that represents Irish business is calling on the Government to take the "brave and necessary steps" to protect the Irish business model.
Ibec has outlined a range of policy measures in its pre-budget submission, including nurturing indigenous business and reinventing Ireland's offering to multi-national firms.
It says that Budget 2020 could be the most "strategically important period in a generation."
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Cancer patients are forking out up to €1,200 a month on costs linked to their diagnosis.
The Irish Cancer Society says paying for things like chemotherapy appointments, anti-nausea medication and hospital parking charges means patients are finding themselves under siege financially.
In their pre-budget submission to Government, the charity is calling for the removal of inpatient charges at hospitals, a reduction in the threshold for the Drugs Payment Scheme and the removal of prescription charges for medical-card holders.
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Sixty-five people are to lose their jobs with Coca-Cola in Drogheda.
The staff are to be let go at the company's integrated-services operation, which employs about 200 people.
But 10 new roles will be created.
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The family of murdered prison officer Brian Stack will meet with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris later to get answers over his killing.
Mr Stack - who worked at Portlaoise Prison - was shot in the neck by the IRA in Dublin in 1983 and died 18 months later.
His son, Austin, has previously accused the Gardaí of frustrating the inquiry into his murder.
Main image: Members of the LGBT community celebrate at the Maverick Bar in Belfast, as same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland came a step closer after British MPs voted to legalise it if a new Stormont executive is not formed by October | Image: Peter Morrison/PA Wire/PA Images
