NEED TO CATCH up? TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of today’s news.

IRELAND

Elise Brennan, Emily Kilkenny and Justine Doswell at the launch of the St Patricks Festival. Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie / RollingNews.ie

• Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he is “sincerely” sorry for not adding further detail when asked about the costs of the construction of the National Children’s Hospital.
• Gardaí are investigating a fire at a hotel in Co Leitrim last night in what is the second suspected attack on the premises which has been earmarked for asylum seekers.
• Rail services were disrupted between Raheny and Clontarf Road after a “tragic incident” this afternoon at Harmonstown Dart station.
• A total of €24 million will be drawn down from the health capital budget across both 2019 and 2020 in order to meet the shortfall in the funding for the National Children’s Hospital, the government has said. 
• The High Court has ruled that anti-eviction activist’s Ben Gilroy continued detention in prison over his failure to complete an 80-hour community service order is lawful.
• Tributes have been paid following the death of former Mayo, Derry and Donegal coach John Morrison. 
• Doctors and nurses wrote to the Taoiseach to express their dismay and fury with him over comments he made about them taking annual leave over the Christmas and New Year period.
• The Nursing Pay Deal deal is set to cost an additional €10-€15 million this year with additional costs of €30-35 million in 2020, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has announced. 

INTERNATIONAL

St Mary's Lighthouse at Whitley Bay, North Tyneside before sunrise. PA Wire / PA Images PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images

#DEFEAT: Australia’s conservative government has suffered a monumental political defeat, the first time in decades that an Australian government has lost a vote on a substantive piece of legislation.

#BREXIT: British Prime Minister Theresa May has said that legally binding changes need to be made to the backstop.

#EL CHAPO: Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman – El Chapo – has been found guilty by a New York jury after a three-month drug trafficking trial and six days of deliberation.

PARTING SHOT

As the sporting world mourns the passing of World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, here’s a clip of Banks discussing his legendary save against Pelé in 1970. 

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