1. Head of the Labour Relations Commission has lashed out at the government over it’s commentary on the Croke Park deal.

Kieran Mulvey says he’s aware of collective cabinet responsibilty, but it’s not helpful to have different ministers saying different things on the issue. Last week Minister for Health James Reilly said that the Croke Park Agreement would have to be revisited if he is to make the necessary savings in his department, prompting a rebuke from Labour’s Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin. CEO of the Labour Relations Commission Keiran Mulvey said the Minister Howlin should be the only government spokesperson on the deal:

2. The Agriculture Minister says any talk of a coalition split is exaggerated – and any suggestion of an early election is not real.

Simon Coveney was speaking as the Cabinet prepares to meet later today for the first time since the summer break, amid reports of a split between the coalition parties over €130 million worth of health cuts. Minister Coveney says there is a respectful relationship between Labour and Fine Gael Ministers – but he acknowledged there are differences of opinions:

3. A post mortem is expected to be carried out later on the body of an 8 year old boy found dead at his north Cork home

Efforts will today continue – to establish how an 8 year old boy, who was found dead in Cork yesterday, died. The body of Anthony Ward was found at his home in Charleville. A post mortem will be carried out at Cork University Hospital later today. The child’s mother is being treated at the facility.  The HSE says it was in contact with the family in the past – and it says it intends to undertake a “comprehensive review” of its involvement with the boy’s family.

4. There’s been a 33%t increase in the number of people seeking help from the Amen Support Services for men suffering from domestic violence.

2, 835 people contacted the charity between January and June of this year. While over 4,300 people contacted their helpline last year.  Some 38% of men reported verbal abuse, 24% of clients reported physical abuse and 37.5% reported psychological abuse.  Director of Amen, Eugene Wogan says the amount of men living with domestic violence in Ireland is staggering:

5. Team Ireland athlete Michael McKillop says securing his second gold medal of the London Paralympic Games last night was an unforgettable moment.

The 22-year-old, who has cerebral palsy, brought Ireland’s gold medal tally to five and also set a new Paralympic record in the 1500 metres T37 final. Michael was presented with his gold medal by his mother Catherine, who acted as ambassador for the official Games sponsors P&G. And he said that was something very special: