LAST UPDATE | 29 Apr 2021

EVERY MORNING, The Journal brings you all the news you need to know as you start the day.

1. #GIMME THOSE LEAKS: From 10 May, inter-county travel ban is to lifted, hairdressers and barbers are to open, and click and collect will return under plans to be announced later today on Ireland’s summer reopening.

2. #SPENT: Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said that an alternative to the Government’s Stay and Spend Scheme is not being examined at present.

3. #FUTURE OF WORK: Dublin city has been shaken by the pandemic but the man in charge of bringing people back into the capital is hopeful for its future.

4. #UNIONISM: A DUP leadership contest has been launched – House of Commons MP Jeffrey Donaldson and Stormont MLA Edwin Poots are the favourites to take over.

5. #COVID HOSPITALISATIONS: There are 151 people in hospital with Covid-19, with 44 in ICU as of last night.

6. #BIDEN TIME: US President Joe Biden declared in his first address to Congress that “America is rising anew” on the verge of overcoming the historic pandemic.

7. #CASH FOR CUSHIONS: The Guardian reports on the reaction of the UK press to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s reaction in the House of Commons yesterday to accusations that he got a private donor to refurbish his apartment.

8. #GETS A PASS: The Irish Times reports that passport production is set to be deemed an essential service under new plans to be brought to Cabinet by Minister Simon Coveney.

9. #JUNIOR MINISTER: LMFM is reporting that Justice Minister and Meath East TD Helen McEntee has given birth to a baby boy.