Ukrainian refugees
Ireland is accepting approximately 600 refugees from Ukraine a day, and has welcomed 7,200 people from the war-torn country since Russia invaded on February 24th according to the latest figures.
Earlier, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said negotiations with Russia are continuing, with the Kremlin's demands for ending the war are becoming “more realistic”.
Despite the improvements in diplomacy, Russian forces have continued to blast Ukraine’s capital region and other major cities as they attempt to crush a Ukrainian defence which has frustrated their progress.
House prices
The average price of buying a residential property increased by 14.8 per cent nationally between January 2021 and January 2022 according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
The increase was slightly higher outside of Dublin (16 per cent), while the increase in the capital was noted as 13.3 per cent.
The median price of a home purchased in the 12 months to January was found to have been €280,000 nationally.
Lisa Smith trial
The prosecution case against former soldier Lisa Smith, who denies membership of terrorist group Isis, will finish next week, the Special Criminal Court has heard.
The court has been listening to thousands of messages between Ms Smith and other Muslims, sent in 2013 and 2014 using Facebook Messenger or uploaded to a Facebook group called 'We hear, we obey'. In the messages, Ms Smith discussed issues relating to Islam, Islamic law, Isis and the conflict in Syria and Iraq.
Sean Gillane SC, for the prosecution, said he expects to complete the prosecution evidence on Monday following the St Patrick's Day break.
Covid increases
The number of Covid patients in Irish hospitals has reached its highest level in over 13 months.
There were 1,081 people being treated for the virus on Wednesday morning - an increase of 34 from yesterday - making it the highest figure since February 9th, 2021. Of the total number, 44 patients with Covid were being treated in intensive care.
Elsewhere, the Mater Hospital in Dublin is asking members of the public to avoid attending its Emergency Department (ED) as services are under "extreme pressure".
Cheltenham Day Two
There have been wins for Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.
Tiger Roll was bested by Delta Work in the Cross Country Chase, but Mullins' Energumene out-shone rival Shishkin in a dramatic running of the Champion Chase.
