Cyberattack data
Gardaí have said it is “probable” that personal records or data reported to have been circulated in the wake of a cyberattack on the health service are genuine.
On Friday evening, An Garda Síochána urged those who suspect they are victims of the recent cyberattack on the HSE to make a report at their local Garda station.
Meanwhile, the decryption key offered to the HSE following last week's attack has been verified as genuine following examination by cybersecurity experts and the National Cybersecurity Centre (NCSC).
However, despite working, it is unlikely to significantly speed up the restoration of the health service's IT systems as it has been described as "buggy" and "flawed".
The gang behind the health service attack is still threatening to share and sell information on the darknet, including personal data relating to patients, if a ransom is not paid.
Debenhams workers
The battle by former Debenhams workers for a better redundancy deal has come to an end.
The former workers yesterday voted to accept a €3 million upscaling fund after 400 days of protests.
They are calling on the Government to put measures in place to protect workers who lose their jobs.
Holiday at home
A road map for the return of international travel could be ready next week, Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin has said.
It comes as Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the State is hoping to sign up to the EU’s Digital Green Certificate “as soon as possible”.
Ms Martin was speaking at the launch of Fáilte Ireland’s Keep Discovering campaign, a €4 million marketing drive to rebuild the domestic tourism industry.
Tourism in rural Ireland is set to thrive this summer, but cities will suffer, Fáilte Ireland has said as Ireland gears up for another summer of staycations.
Courts
A 66-year-old grandmother has been jailed for the weekend for her repeated defiance in refusing to wear a mask — not only in shops but in court.
Meanwhile, a 29-year-old man accused of the murder of mother-of-two Jennie Poole who died after she was stabbed in her home in Dublin last month has been further remanded in custody for four weeks.
Finally, the High Court in Belfast heard that TV presenter Dr Christian Jessen “constructed a reality which did not exist” during a series of podcasts he produced during lockdown.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, is suing the celebrity medic for defamation over a tweet he posted making an unfounded claim that she was having an extra-marital affair.
Covid latest
A further 524 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team.
The country's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said the team of health experts were “concerned” about a coronavirus variant first identified in India.
In a media briefing on Friday afternoon, Nphet confirmed that the number of cases of the variant identified in Ireland had now increased to 72 and warned it could impact the further easing of restrictions.
It comes as a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert believes Ireland will have to re-impose regional restrictions due to the variant.
Vaccine rollout
People aged 47 or older can register for a Covid-19 vaccine from today, while the portal will open further over the weekend for people aged 46 and 45.
Pfizer is to begin producing a key ingredient for its Covid-19 vaccine at an Irish facility for the first time, with the Grange Castle plant in west Dublin “contributing to the worldwide supply” of the jab.
The European Union has cemented its support for Pfizer/BioNTech and its novel vaccine technology by agreeing to a massive contract extension for a potential 1.8 billion doses until 2023.
The jab developed by the companies is expected to be up to 75 per cent effective against a coronavirus variant first detected in India.
