Cancer care disruption
The Oireachtas Health Committee has heard representations regarding the ongoing impact both the pandemic and the recent cyberattack on the HSE IT's systems are having on cancer care.
Irish Cancer Society chief executive Avril Power said they believe people are avoiding going to their doctor with cancer concerns due to Covid-19, while diagnosis and treatments are also delayed due to ongoing disruptions with the HSE's systems.
Property tax update
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has laid out plans for changes to property tax, which will apply to payments from 2022.
The update will see a restructuring of the tax bands, which will result in higher charges for 36 per cent of homeowners, no change for 53 per cent, and a reduction for 11 per cent.
Hospitality reopening
Accommodation services around the country have welcomed back guests as part of the latest stage in the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
Guests will be able to dine indoors, while leisure facilities will also be permitted to reopen for residents.
This comes ahead of the further easing of restrictions for the hospitality sector on Monday, June 7th, when cafes, pubs ad restaurants will be allowed to resume outdoor dining.
Drink-driving
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Gardaí are urging road users not to drink and drive after a survey found one in 10 drivers admitted to drink-driving in the past 12 months.
The research also found that over one quarter of those drivers said they had drank two or more alcoholic drinks before getting behind the wheel.
The warning comes ahead of the June bank holiday weekend, with 14 people killed and 64 people seriously injured over this weekend each year since 2016.
