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Tuesday 28 March 2023 Dublin: 13°C

# Government

All time
# Local councils
Local authorities agree deferral of rates payments for businesses impacted by coronavirus outbreak
Each authority will manage repayment schedules with businesses into the future.
# mortgage payments
Paschal Donohoe to meet with five main banks about coronavirus plans
AIB, Bank of Ireland, KBC, Permanent TSB and Ulster Bank will meet Department of Finance officials at 4pm.
# NO MORE
No increase to general election spending limits for candidates over concerns it would cost an extra €190,000
Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy decided against the increase.
AS IT HAPPENED
No Taoiseach elected as new lineup of TDs meets for first day of Dáil
Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin, Mary Lou McDonald and Eamon Ryan have all been rejected by the house.
# only way
Eoin Ó Broin says Sinn Féin cannot form government without either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael
Ó Broin said that even if all the left-leaning parties came together, they’d fall short of a majority in the Dáil.
# ge20
What are the possible coalition options for the next government?
No one party has enough seats to do it alone – so who is prepared to pair up?
# United Ireland
The EU should support Irish reunification, Mary Lou McDonald tells BBC
The Sinn Féin leader also said the British government needs to start preparing itself for this constitutional change.
# seat projection
What are the coalition options for the next government, and what are the leaders' stances?
For the first time ever, combined Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael seats may not make up a Dáil majority.
# Searching
Sinn Féin is the most-Googled political party in Ireland for the past two weeks
Leo Varadkar is currently the most searched of all the party leaders.
# Saved
FAI say redundancies now unlikely as they receive financial rescue package
Shane Ross insists that the government have not bailed out the FAI.
# Claim
Stephen Kenny on soccer: 'We've been treated like a minority sport'
The soon-to-be Ireland senior boss feels not enough funding has been afforded to football in the last 20 years
# game workers unite
Game workers in Ireland are concerned about low pay, unpaid overtime and uncertain work
The Irish games industry employs around 2,000 people.
# SUPPORTS
Leo Varadkar signed off on former Taoisigh special support plan four months after taking office
New documents obtained under FOI detail what would be involved in the supports.
# getting it done
Johnson says he has an 'overwhelming mandate' to take Britain out of EU by end of January
Johnson lead the Tories to a massive victory in the general election.
# Procurement
Taoiseach's newspapers and embassy catering: hundreds of State contracts awarded outside official guidelines
Millions has been spent on services procured on almost 350 occasions over a three-year period.
# Waste
Single-use plastics ban Bill aims to put biodegradable packaging on supermarket shelves
This Bill would leapfrog over the government’s strategy, which Fianna Fáil has said is slow to materialise.
# stretched
Revealed: Data Protection Commission's pleas for more staff and 'fit-for-purpose' office
The watchdog’s pre-budget submission has been released following a Freedom of Information request.
# Four more years
Portugal's socialist party prepares for another term in government after general election
The party fell short of a parliamentary majority.
# speech
Taoiseach says he'd sooner bring back wolves to Ireland than let Sinn Féin into government
The Taoiseach mentioned Green Party leader Eamon Ryan’s idea of rewilding the countryside with wolves during his speech last night.
# Dark clouds
'We're preparing for worst-case-scenario': No-deal Brexit planning to be ramped-up by Government
Cabinet met to discuss preparations for a no-deal Brexit last night.
# Drugs
Talks underway between HSE and labs that could carry out drug-testing at festivals
A senior HSE doctor has outlined a number of ways drug-testing could be introduced in Ireland.
# LEAGUE PARTY
Italy's Matteo Salvini calls for snap elections amid coalition crisis
Salvini has clashed with his fellow Deputy Prime Minister Luigi di Maio of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement.
# glyphosate
Irish government says it will follow expert guidance after Austria approves ban of controversial weedkiller
Austrian members of parliament earlier this week approved a total ban on glyphosate.
# Gardaí
Varadkar says 'better enforcement' is needed to tackle scrambler bikes, but no new law
Varadkar said the use of scrambler bikes in parks and community areas is a ‘very serious and dangerous act’.
# Action Plan
'Action was taken and our fears were conquered': Varadkar inspired by his generation's acid rain and ozone layer threats
New government plans launched today include removing petrol and diesel cars, and doubling the reliance on renewable energy.
# Opinion Poll
Varadkar's popularity continues to slide as satisfaction with him and government at lowest level in years
From a high of 60%, Varadkar’s satisfaction rating now stands at 36%.
# Cannabis
The Explainer: Can Ireland grow its own medicinal cannabis?
This will make it significantly less of a grey area in Irish law – and it could also herald the start of the Irish cannabis industry.
# former residents
A national memorial and health supports: Zappone offers new measures for survivors of Mother and Baby Homes
But the forum of former residents of these institutions that made recommendations are frustrated the government won’t publish its full report.
# short-term let
Airbnb says new laws are 'unenforceable' but minister says locals know the short-term let on their street
The minister said neighbours see the wheelie suitcases going in and out of properties at all hours.
# oral health plan
To avoid 'traumatic' extractions, government set to expand dental care for kids under 6
Children receive free dental check ups in 2nd, 4th and 6th class but there has been huge cuts to those services.
# Homelessness
'A national trauma': There are now 9,987 people living in homeless accommodation in Ireland
This is an increase of 169 adults and 65 children on last month.
# Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis
Micheál Martin calls out Fine Gael as an 'out-of-touch and arrogant government'
Speaking at the party’s Ard Fheis, he said Fine Gael “simply don’t understand the pressures which people are facing every day.
# Strike
The Labour Court is intervening in the nurses' strike
A formal hearing will take place at 3.30pm.
# interference
Government fortifying IT systems for 'fear of Russian interference' in European elections
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted at the start of the year that he is concerned about potential interference.
# piggy bank savings
The Rainy Day Fund will not be used for Brexit
The rainy day fund will be supplemented with an annual €500 million from the Exchequer, starting this year.
# Constitution
Divorce referendum: Voters will be asked whether to delete 'living apart period' from Constitution
The government announced the terms of the referendum today.
# Industrial Action
Nurses' strike: HSE releases info on which health services will and will not operate on the day
The action will begin at 8am on Wednesday and finish at 8am on Thursday.
# Tick tock
Varadkar to brief party leaders on possibility of a no-deal Brexit scenario
Leo Varadkar will meet with opposition leaders next Tuesday.
# Border Wall
Government shutdown becomes longest in US history
The shutdown has entered its 22nd day – eclipsing a 21-day shutdown under Bill Clinton.
# Environment
Government and schools will no longer buy single-use plastic cups, cutlery and straws
The Green Party has said the ban only addresses “the lowest of the low-hanging fruit”.