EVERY MORNING,TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your first cup of coffee…

1. #EUROZONE: Ireland’s prospects for securing an improved arrangement on its banking debts have been dealt by a blow today, after it emerged that Germany had blocked Spanish attempts to have bailout funds injected directly to banks and not distributed via the government.

Meanwhile, the euro soared against other major currencies on the Asian markets this morning in the wake of the Spanish news.

2. #HEALTH REFORM: The Health Minister has established an expert group tasked with overseeing the implementation of various reforms at Tallaght Hospital following the publication of a scathing HIQA report last month, which found an “unacceptable situation for patients” in the facility’s emergency department.

3. #DISSIDENTS: Two men have been arrested in Co Mayo after explosive substances and bomb-making equipment were discovered by Gardaí at a house in Clogher, Claremorris, on Saturday evening. The men, aged in their 20s and 30s, were arrested as part of an ongoing Garda investigation into dissident republican activity in the West.

4. #EXAMS: The State Examinations Commission has confirmed that the Leaving Certificate Irish exam is to go ahead as scheduled today following a recent security breach.

The Department of Education has launched an investigation into how CDs for higher and ordinary level Leaving Cert Irish exam were inadvertently sent to some Junior Certificate exam centres over the weekend.

5. #ROADS: Speed limits on some of Ireland’s roads will be brought down to 25 kmh as part of new safety measures being implemented by the National Roads Authority, the Irish Independent reports today. Meanwhile, the Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar is expected to propose higher penalty points for speeding and the use of mobile phones while driving in a new review today.

6. #EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS: The second day of the 50th International Eucharistic Congress will get underway in Dublin today, with the focus of today’s discussions being placed on Christian unity. Yesterday, about 20,000 people arrived for the opening ceremony of the Congess in the RDS.

7. #FRANCE: French President Francoise Hollande’s Socialist party and its allies have won the first round of parliamentary elections – making it more likely that they will secure the majority needed to push through reforms, the Telegraph reports.

8. #BURMA: A state of emergency has been declared in Burma following the deaths of several people in sectarian clashes. The violence has raised fears of democratic reforms in the country being derailed, according to the BBC.

9. #TONY AWARDS: The Broadway stage production of Irish director John Carney’s musical film ‘Once’ has won eight prizes at the prestigious Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Published by OfficialTonyAwards