LAST UPDATE | 15 Oct

GOOD MORNING.

Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day.

‘Pissed off’

1. The latest Sinn Féin controversy is something the party didn’t need right now, Sinn Féin sources have told The Journal. 

“Pissed off” is how one Sinn Féin politician described it when asked how the party is feeling.

UNFIL

2. The UN Security Council has expressed “strong concern” after Israel fired on and wounded UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon during intensified fighting, reiterating its support for their role in supporting security in the region.

Diddy 

3. A new wave of lawsuits accuses Sean “Diddy” Combs of raping women, sexually assaulting men and molesting a 16-year-old boy.

At least six lawsuits were filed against the hip-hop mogul in federal court in Manhattan on Monday. They were filed anonymously, two by women identified as Jane Does and four by men identified as John Does.

Hospitality sector protest

4. There will be a “tsunami” of closures in the hospitality sector if the Government doesn’t step in to help, one restaurateur has warned.

Jamie Budd, who runs Budds restaurant in Ballydehob in Cork, said many businesses are “busier than ever” but still “in the red” due to rising costs.

GPO 

5. The new Dublin city centre taskforce has recommended that the GPO be redeveloped “as a major public building”, which could see it become a world class museum or the new home for RTÉ. 

The recommendation is contained in a report compiled by the taskforce, which includes ten major initiatives to revive the city centre. 

Cash 

6. Finance Minister Jack Chambers will outline to Cabinet today that under the new National Payment strategy all government departments and bodies under their aegis will have to accept cash or facilitate cash payments. 

RTB pursues landlords

7. The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) is to pursue over 1,500 landlords who receive HAP from their tenants but who are not registered with the regulator.

The measures are to be announced at a hearing later today of the Oireachtas Housing Committee, which will be attended by representatives of both the RTB and CSO.

Israeli strike in Lebanon

8. Lebanon’s health ministry said at least 21 people died in a rare Israeli strike on a northern Christian-majority village, far from Hezbollah strongholds yesterday, with DNA tests being conducted to identify body parts.

Racism

9. Ireland needs to do more to tackle discrimination, racism and prejudice against Travellers, the Roma people and migrants.

That’s according to the Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner Michael O’Flaherty, who was speaking following a visit to Ireland last week.