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Children among 18 killed in Russian missile attack on residential area in Zelensky's home town
Funeral of GAA legend Mick O'Dwyer to take place in Co Kerry
China slaps extra 34% tariffs on US imports as Trump vows his 'policies will never change'
Good Morning
The 9 at 9 Trump shocks world with Putin phone call, argument in the Dáil over ‘bréaga’ comment, and questions over €6 million Arts Council spend on failed IT system.
GOOD MORNING. HERE are the top stories as the day gets underway.
1. Ag insint bréaga
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has written to the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy asking that she “formally follow up” with Taoiseach Micheál Martin to “ensure” he withdraws a remark made in Irish in the Dáil yesterday.
During a heated exchange on housing in the Dáil, Martin said to McDonald:
“Tá an Teachta Dála ag insint bréaga arís.”
This translates to: “The TD is telling lies again”.
2. Arts Council
The Government is facing further difficult questions over taxpayers’ money being wasted, after it was revealed the Arts Council spent €6.67m on a failed IT development project.
The spend by the Government agency was brought to the attention of the Department of Culture and Arts last summer, when Catherine Martin held that portfolio.
It was not publicly disclosed at the time.
3. Rent Pressure Zones
Housing Minister James Browne has moved to temper concerns about Rent Pressure Zones being abolished, stressing that the Government is “not making a decision now” to remove the measure.
Opposition parties have widely criticised the Government over plans to consider proposals to encourage more private developers to build housing and phase out rent pressure zones.
Trump said on social media that he had a “lengthy and highly productive” call with Putin.
Both leaders extended invitations of “visiting each other’s nations”.
6. Government spending
For the first time, the Programme for Government has a section which proposes detailing the breakdown of how much money is going where in each government department.
“The last government spent €44 billion across five Budgets on capital projects,” Ray Griffin, a strategic management lecturer, told The Journal.
”We can’t see the data on that but of the data we can see, Dublin gets between 55 and 65%, with only 30% of the population.
“Cork does okay but – and I’m not saying Cork doesn’t deserve this – nowhere else of a similar size was getting it like Cork was in the last government.”
Gardaí said they were conducting checkpoints in the Dublin 2 and Dublin 8 areas with an emphasis on enforcement and road safety awareness.
During the operation a probationer garda noticed a driver engage in suspicious behaviour while approaching a checkpoint and searched the vehicle. This search resulted in the seizure of €350,000 of cocaine and £15,000 cash sterling
8. Bird flu
Poultry and captive birds must be kept indoors from Monday to try to combat the risk of bird flu.
Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon issued the compulsory housing order this afternoon, giving a five-day notice before the rules come into effect at the start of next week.
Since early December, there have been five cases detected of avian influenza infection in wild birds in Ireland.
There has been a Status Yellow rain warning issued for Cork, which will be in place from 1pm today until 8am tomorrow, Friday. This morning will be mostly cloudy, the forecast says. Many areas will be dry and there’ll be some light rain or drizzle in parts of Munster and Connacht.
Heavier rain will spread northeastwards over Munster and Connacht through the afternoon and evening with spot flooding possible near the south coast.
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Children among 18 killed in Russian missile attack on residential area in Zelensky's home town
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Funeral of GAA legend Mick O'Dwyer to take place in Co Kerry
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China slaps extra 34% tariffs on US imports as Trump vows his 'policies will never change'
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