Dublin Bay South count
Ivana Bacik looks set to win the Dublin Bay South byelection having topped the polls after the first count.
The constituency's seat was vacated by Fine Gael's Eoghan Murphy, who announced his decision to step down in April, prompting the vote. If Ms Bacik wins, Fine Gael will be left with no seat in the constituency.
According to latest results, the Labour candidate took over 8,100 of the almost 27,000 valid votes, with independent candidates Colm O'Keeffe and John Keigher eliminated on the first count.
Follow our live blog for all the latest news on the count here.
Delta concerns for hospitals
Concern is growing among frontline workers as to the pressure the Delta variant could place on the health service.
Emergency medicine consultant, Dr Fergal Hickey said the variant will put more strain on already overwhelmed emergency departments, calling on the HSE to create “alternative pathways” for patients presenting with conditions that were not strictly emergencies.
According to the latest figures from the HSE, there was 50 people with Covid-19 in hospital this morning, 15 of whom were receiving ICU treatment.
HSE officials have also expressed concerns that non-Covid care may be forced to a halt if another wave of the virus overwhelms services.
Hospitality sector 'not happy'
Representatives from the hospitality sector have said they are not happy with the Government's plans to restrict indoor dining to fully vaccinated people, or those who have recently recovered from Covid, but were forced to accept the terms in order to see businesses reopen.
Chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) Donal O'Keeffe said the sector was given little option, having to choose between the limited reopening or keeping businesses closed until the end of September.
Work is now underway to prepare legislation to allow for indoor dining to be restricted to those who are vaccinated/recovered, which is expected to be brought to the Oireachtas next week in time for the scheduled reopening date on July 19th.
On Tuesday, the Cabinet are also expected to decide which of six possible reopening strategies will be implemented on that date.
Bray Boxing Club shooting
The trial of Gerard Cervi (34), charged with the murder of Bobby Messett and attempted murder of Pete Taylor and Ian Britton at Bray Boxing Club on June 5th, 2018, has heard Mr Messett was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head.
The jury of three men and nine women in the Central Criminal Court heard evidence on Friday from retired State Pathologist Dr Marie Cassidy, who said Mr Messett was shot from a distance of one meter or more, resulting in fractures to the skull and damage to the right side of the face.
Mr Cervi has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Suspended sentence for 'catfishing'
A young Dublin man who engaged in “catfishing” to lure teenage boys into sharing explicit images of themselves online has been given a suspended sentence after completing a probation bond.
The court heard that the accused man, now known as Ben McCarthy (25), formerly Ben Mooney, changed his name by deed poll to McCarthy since evidence was heard in the case two years ago.
Garda Daniel Tracey told that sentencing hearing in October 2018 that the accused had used the name “Nicole Heffernon” to email and contact teenage boys through Facebook.
