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

Residents of the Lee estate in Limerick city are transported by boat by the rescue services and locals after flash flooding. Pic: Laura Hutton

IRELAND

• Flooding has begun along parts of the coast tonight, as the bad weather continues around the country.
• A teenage girl was arrested along with four others as part of an organised crime crackdown.
• Both Senator David Norris and MEP Paul Murphy have raised the issue of homophobia in Irish and EU parliaments.
• A man who met the late Ross Cummins on the night he died is raising money for an alcohol charity.
• Minister Alan Shatter wants more transparency in charities, he said today in the Seanad.
• In related news, the courts ‘poor box’ is to be scrapped in favour of a ‘more transparent’ reparations fund.
• The Limerick floods were ‘like Dante’s Inferno’, and the building of a flood barrier is to begin immediately.
• HIQA is to review the death of babies in Portlaoise hospital, the Health Minister said.
• Gardaí are searching for missing man Patrick Bruton, who has not been seen since last Friday.
• Noel Curran is to remain RTÉ’s Director General for another four years – and Nicky Byrne was announced as the new 2FM mid-morning host.
• The ESB union chief quit, and said that ESB workers were “viciously attacked by some in the media”.
• A teenage girl who was trafficked to Ireland has told her story.

WORLD

Equality Network hold a rally outside the Scottish Parliament. Pic: David Cheskin/PA Wire

#SCOTLAND Scottish MPs voted in favour of a same-sex marriage bill today.

#UKRAINE MPs failed to strike a deal that would have weakened the Ukraine president’s powers.

#FRANCE A criminal investigation has been launched over a photo of Francois Hollande’s alleged lover, which appeared in Closer magazine.

#EUROPE The EU parliament has voted to protect LGBTI rights and proposed a plan to fight discrimination.

#PYLONS An EU report has failed to find evidence linking pylons with health risks, but says more research is needed.

#ITALY On 3 April, Queen Elizabeth will meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Buckingham Palace announced.

INNOVATION

Pic: Facebook Craze

• Facebook launched 10 years ago today. Here’s what it used to look like back then.
• Programmers who need advice can turn to experts over the internet by using AirPair – here’s how it works. [Techcrunch]

PARTING SHOT

Pic: Facebook

Meet Noel, Dublin Bus’s new mascot. What do you make of him? (Yes, he’s a football on a stick.)