Sunshine News

The DSPCA is urging the public not to buy ducklings online, and to report the sellers urgently.

Filming on Disney's sequel to Enchanted gets underway today.

A major relaxation of Covid restrictions gets underway today for the first time this year, with 12 thousand businesses expected to reopen this week.

Ireland's mental health services are struggling due to a lack of resources.

A pilot programme to introduce a four-day work week for Dublin City Council staff will be proposed today.

A man in his 60s is due before the Dublin District Court later charged in connection with a drugs and cash seizure in Dublin over the weekend.

Labour Senator Ivana Bacik has been confirmed as the party's candidate for the Dublin Bay South by-election.

4 additional deaths and 434 new cases of covid have been confirmed.

Businesses in Dublin city centre have expressed concerns with the partial pedestrian plans to be trialled this summer.

The Sunday Independent has dropped long-time columnist and former senator Eoghan Harris, over an anonymous Twitter account.

A new law that allows murdered children to be named comes into effect today.

There are 393 new cases of Covid-19 and eight additional deaths.

Parents are being encouraged to go back to healthier eating habits as part of a new campaign from Safe Food.

A man and woman have been arrested in the midlands after a CAB operation led to the discovery of 220,000 euro worth of cocaine and cannabis.

The HSE has asked the government for flexibility to use the Johnson and Johnson Covid vaccine in people aged under 50.

Two thirds of people in emergency accommodation in Dublin have been homeless for more than six months, according to the latest figures.

The list has grown by almost a third since the pandemic began.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says it's still awaiting a response from government on its claim for extra holidays for staff.

418 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported here this evening.

One in four non-COVID ICU beds over the past year have been needed for people with alcohol-related injuries.

The Tánaiste says he hopes life can return to relative normality by August.

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-two who died following a stabbing in Dublin’s IFSC .

Dublin Lord Mayor and Green Party Chairperson Hazel Chu has confirmed she's making a bid for a Dail seat.

It happened at Kilshane Cross in Newtown at around 7.20 yesterday morning.

The Ombudsman's warning a large number of younger people are being left with 'no option' but to live in nursing homes due to a lack of State support.

A group representing retailers is calling on the Government to hold off on introducing minimum unit pricing for alcohol until the North is on board.

One in three young people who smoke cannabis once a week or more often are becoming addicted, according to a new report.

Health officials have confirmed 383 new cases of covid-19 have been confirmed here.

A dedicated Garda taskforce is needed to clamp down on antisocial behaviour on public transport.

A backlog of just under 90,000 passport applications will be processed in a matter of weeks.

It come as as the HSE advises that older people should continue to be offered the vaccine ahead of younger age groups.

More than 500 ESB network technicians have started a two-day strike this morning in an escalation of industrial action which started as a work-to-rule.

The government is considering the return of international travel in July as part of the EU green pass system.

1.5 million Covid-19 vaccines have now been administered across the country.

A post mortem will be carried out today on the body of a pensioner found in Dublin's south inner city.

Hairdressers, barbers and beauticians can all open their doors from the 10th of May after cabinet signed off on plans to re-open the country.

The body of a man has been found in suspicious circumstances in Dublin.

That's according to a draft of the revised vaccine plan, which is due to be published early next week.

Four gardaí and a private individual will face charges as part of a two-year garda investigation into alleged garda corruption in the south of the country.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has given birth to a baby boy.

The Government has accepted Sinn Féin amendments to a Seanad motion on the future of An Post.

The cabinet is due to meet this afternoon to sign off on plans to re-open most of the country for the summer.

The five-day average of new cases of Covid-19 has risen by 13 per cent in the past week.

A former Taoiseach says Arlene Foster's decision to resign as leader of the DUP and First Minister was an 'inevitable consequence' of Brexit.

A 51 year old woman has been detained after four people were found dead inside a hospital in Germany.

Kildare's Paul Mescal has earned a BAFTA nomination for his portrayal of Connell in Normal People.

The Health Minister says the vaccine rollout programme is not a race to the end of June.

A woman remains in hospital following a serious assault in Dublin city centre on Sunday.

An ambulance took over an hour to arrive at a life-threatening emergency call 282 times in six months.

The ratification of the EU's trade deal with Britain is expected to be confirmed later this morning.

The Agriculture Minister says he will resist attempts to further link EU farm payments to eco-friendly schemes.

Arlene Foster’s position as leader of the Democratic Unionist Party has been undermined after widespread reports that 75% of the party’s Northern Ireland Assembly members have signed a letter demanding a leadership contest.

MEPs in the European Parliament will vote on the proposal for a digital green certificate today.

Hospitality could begin to reopen in June under plans being considered by government.

Former Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy has resigned as TD for Dublin Bay South.

Disney is recruiting extras for the sequel to Enchanted which is being filmed in Wicklow and Dublin.

151 Covid-19 patients were in public hospitals last night - the lowest in over 200 days.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee is today expected to recommend the Johnson and Johnson vaccine be used on people over 50.

Plans to significantly reform the accountability of An Garda Siochana are going before cabinet Ministers this morning.

The Ombudsman for Children has called for an immediate end to the use of commercial emergency hotels for asylum-seekers. 

Jonathan Dowdall, with an address on the Navan Road in Dublin, was brought before the Special Criminal Court this morning.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee is recommending the suspension be lifted, and that it be used on everyone over 18.

She will remain a member of the government without a portfolio with Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys taking on the justice brief.

The funding is being given to projects in areas including the north and south inner city, Dundrum, Balbriggan, and Adamstown.

The Garda Commissioner is to look again at the resourcing of public order units and push for the early vaccination of gardai against Covid 19.

In a joint statement issued last night, the football associations here, Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland welcomed backing from the UK government for the bid, describing it as an "incredible opportunity".

19 counties had an increase in vacant business premises in the final three months of last year.

C and N Beauty Rooms on Dublin Street in Balbriggan was opened for a second day in a row this morning.

Wicklow County Council has rejected a claim that boxing coach Pete Taylor should be granted an injunction, preventing the council from terminating either his or Bray Boxing Club’s legal interest in a premises previously used by them at the harbour in Bray.

The Taoiseach has warned Ireland can't let its guard down quickly, saying any easing of restrictions next month will be modest.

Members of the public are being asked to give their input on a Masterplan for Glendalough and the Wicklow Mountains National Park. 

Dublin Airport is seeking contractors as part of expansion plans worth up to €50 million.

A former teacher at Terenure College in Dublin has been jailed for eight years for abusing 23 boys at the private school between 1973 and 1990.

The Education Minister says there's no plans to introduce mass testing for schools as part of this month's re-opening.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee's recommending that any currently authorised Covid 19 vaccine can be given to adults of all ages, including those aged 70 and older.

It means all remaining primary school students and 5th years at second level will return to class next Monday.

New laws on mandatory hotel quarantine have now passed all stages in the Oireachtas.

While the government's also preparing significantly increased fines for people who try to go on holiday during the pandemic.

While it had been hoped there would be 1.24 million doses of vaccine in the country by the end of March, the HSE now expects just 1.1 million instead.

Junior Cert 2021 has also been cancelled after a meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on education.

Gardai are reminding people they will continue to patrol public amenities and parks to ensure compliance with public health guidelines.

Level Five lockdown has been extended until April 5th as the schools are set to re-open next week.

It says the single dose vaccine can be administered for those aged 18 years and over.

Parts of the Sandymount Seafront in Dublin will be reduced to one way traffic from March 1st to allow for a new cycle route.

It makes Ireland the world leader in share of the grid from onshore wind energy.

The CEO of Ryanair says it's unrealistic to expect the EU to have a Europe wide digital vaccine passport to facilitate travel this summer.

More than 1,500 people have died in nursing home settings since the start of the pandemic.

The HSE is reviewing homeless deaths in Dublin last year.

Six people died on Irish roads last month despite a significant drop off in traffic volume.