Republic of Ireland

February 2021

People increasingly pessimistic about return to pre-pandemic normality – CSO

People are increasingly pessimistic that their lives will return to a form of pre-pandemic normality, a Central Statistics Office study has shown.

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Irish Paralympic archer Kerrie Leonard targets medals in Tokyo games

A Paralympic hopeful has spoken of her plans to compete in this year’s games in Tokyo after a year of adapting her training around coronavirus restrictions.

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Teenager seriously injured in Dublin shooting

A teenager has been shot in an incident in Dublin’s south inner city.

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More than 6,600 data security breaches notified last year – watchdog

More than 6,600 data security breaches were notified last year, the State’s data watchdog has said.

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More than 10,000 arrivals into Dublin Airport last week, Health Minister reveals

Around 10,500 people arrived in Ireland through Dublin Airport last week, the Health Minister has revealed.

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Daryl McCormack to play title role in Good Luck To You, Leo Grande

Daryl McCormack will play the title role in Good Luck To You, Leo Grande.

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Parents warned over risk of child playdates as schools reopen next week

Parents of children returning to school next week have been warned that the reopening is not a signal for house visits and playdates.

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Ireland in line for enough vaccine to inoculate 10.3 million people – Donnelly

Ireland could have enough doses of Covid-19 vaccines to inoculate 10.3 million people, the Minister for Health has said.

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Affordable housing scheme echoes failed Celtic Tiger policies, Sinn Fein claims

The Government’s affordable housing scheme will inflate prices and put money back in the pockets of property developers, Sinn Fein has claimed.

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Pandemic recovery plan offers only a ‘wing and a prayer’ strategy, Dail told

The Government’s revised pandemic plan is a “wing and a prayer” strategy that contains nothing to give people hope, the Dail has heard.

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No practical purpose to extending Mother and Baby Homes Commission – O’Gorman

Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman has said an extension to the Mother and Baby Homes Commission would serve “no practical purpose” now that audio recordings of survivors’ testimony have been recovered.

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Government focused on making Northern Ireland Protocol ‘work in positive way’

The Government is focused on making Brexit’s Northern Ireland Protocol work, not ditching it, a Cabinet minister has insisted.

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Premium

How the Republic of Ireland's roadmap out of lockdown compares with England's

The Irish Government has unveiled its latest plan for 'Living with Covid-19'.

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Kilclooney urges Executive to give Ireland helping hand with vaccination programme

A former deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist Party has called on the Executive to help the Republic ramp up its Covid vaccination programme.

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Ramped up vaccine programme won’t be held back by supply issues – Martin

A delay in the delivery of the AstraZeneca jab will not impact Ireland’s plans to ramp up its vaccination programme, the Taoiseach has said.

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Government pressed to deliver ‘sustainable plan’ to safely exit lockdown

The Irish Government has been urged to deliver a “sustainable plan” to safely exit lockdown.

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Ulster Bank boss apologises to staff following months of uncertainty

The chief executive of Ulster Bank said she apologised to staff after they were forced to live with uncertainty about the future of their jobs for months.

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High level Covid restrictions to remain until at least April 5: Taoiseach

The highest level of coronavirus restrictions will continue in Ireland until April 5 at least, the Taoiseach has confirmed.

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Floods cause widespread havoc across Cork

Heavy rain and strong winds has caused widespread havoc across Cork, with parts of the county under water.

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Ulster Bank still taking on new business in the Republic despite closure plan

Ulster Bank has written to customers in the Republic stating that the bank remains open to new business despite announcing last week that it was winding-down and exiting the Republic of Ireland.

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Level Five restrictions to continue until April 5, Cabinet agrees

Level Five restrictions are set to continue in Ireland until April 5 at least, the Cabinet has agreed.

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Vitamin D ‘should be part of Government’s coronavirus health measures’

Vitamin D should be part of the Government’s health measures to help prevent the severity of Covid-19 illnesses, health experts have said.

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Low income families faced losing up to 30% of earnings without support – study

Low income households would have lost between 18% and 30% of their earnings during the first lockdown in 2020 were it not for new financial supports, figures suggest.

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Health experts urge Government to make vitamin D part of policy tackling Covid

Health experts have called on the Government to introduce a vitamin D policy as a central element of its Living with Covid-19 strategy, the health committee has heard.

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Premium

Families row over murder-suicide man's €400k will

Alan Hawe, who murdered his wife and three children before killing himself, left an estate with a total value of more than €400,000 (£345,600).

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Probe after Celtic star abused on Instagram

Instagram is investigating abusive messages sent to Ireland and Celtic defender Shane Duffy.

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More than 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines to be administered this week

More than 100,000 doses of Covid-19 are set to be administered this week, as supplies of the vaccine are to be ramped up over the coming weeks.

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Noah Donohoe mother ‘feels lost without him’

The mother of Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe said she felt lost without him.

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‘A void that will never be filled’ – CMO pays tribute to wife at funeral

Ireland’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said his wife has left a legacy “that can never be destroyed, and a void that will never be filled”.

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Plan to extend opening hours won’t come into effect until next year

Extending opening hours for pubs and nightclubs will not happen until next year at the earliest, as part of a Government plan to help the hospitality sector.