Dáil vote on indoor dining
The Dáil is expected to vote on legislation to allow for the return of indoor dining for people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and those who have recently recovered from the virus.
The vote comes after much criticism and confusion on Tuesday regarding the role of GPs in the issuing of 'recovery certs' to people who have previously tested positive for Covid, with one Donegal GP saying there needed to be “one unified source” for such documentation.
After the Dáil vote today, it is expected the Bill will be brought to the Seanad on Friday, which, if passed, will then go to the President to be signed into law. The Government hopes this will happen next week, but could stretch to July 26th at the latest.
National Maternity Hospital update
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has given an update regarding the ownership of the new National Maternity Hospital.
On Tuesday, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) discussed the matter of the rising costs associated with the hospital's relocation from Holles Street, with officials from the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board and the Department of Health refusing to disclose the latest total cost of the project, citing commercial sensitivity.
Today, Mr Donnelly told the Oireachtas health committee that the State was "close to a final agreement" for the project. When asked if the State could buy the proposed site for the new hospital outright to avoid issues surrounding ownership and governance, the Minister said "maybe", adding such action would be very costly.
Renters survey
Half of Ireland’s tenants spend more than 30 per cent of their take-home pay on rent, according to a new survey from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB).
One in five of those surveyed said they were renting because they could not get a mortgage, with a further 15 per cent saying they were renting while saving a deposit for their own home.
The report is one of the largest studies ever undertaken of the rental sector in Ireland and suggests there is “no real evidence of the stereotypical conflicts” with both landlords and tenants largely happy with their respective relationships.
Delta dominance
The Delta variant of Covid-19 is now said to account for 80 per cent of new cases in the State, according to health officials.
On Tuesday, 589 new cases of the virus were reported in the Republic. The latest figures from the HSE show there were 73 people in hospital with Covid-19 this morning, up from 63 yesterday, 17 of whom are being treated in ICU.
Heatwave on the way
Temperatures are expected to reach up to 28 degrees over the next couple of days, prompting warnings for people to be safe in the sun.
Met Éireann spokesperson Gerry Murphy has warned the solar UV index will be very high for the next few days, urging the public to wear spf, stay in the shade, and to be cautious in or near water.
There will be temperatures of 19 to 23 degrees for Wednesday and Thursday, with some cloud. Temperatures will rise to 25 degrees on Friday and then 27 degrees to 28 degrees on Saturday and Sunday.
