Covid deaths
Four in five deaths from Covid-19 had at least three medical conditions mentioned on the death record, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO).
Death certificates listed 4.2 conditions on average per person who died from Covid-19, it said.
In the deaths that occurred between March 2020 and February 2022, Covid-19 was identified as the Underlying Cause of Death (UCOD) in 5,384 cases.
Explaining this terminology, the CSO said that a death certificate can list multiple medical conditions of a deceased person, based on which, the UCOD is identified by applying World Health Organisation guidelines.
Mayo collision
A woman has died following a two-vehicle road traffic collision in Co Mayo.
Shortly before 6pm on Monday gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the collision on the N17 at Cloonturk, Kilkelly.
Three women and two juveniles were taken to Mayo University Hospital for treatment, where one of the women, aged in her 90s, later died.
Kerry death
Gardaí suspect foul play in the death of a woman, 70s, who was found at her home in Co Kerry.
Gardaí in Co Kerry have launched an investigation into the discovery of the woman's body at her home outside Killarney.
They are said to be treating the death of the pensioner as unexplained, and are waiting for postmortem results to determine the course of their investigation.
She has been named locally as Miriam Burns, a 75-year-old grandmother and mother of four.
The scene remains sealed off for a full technical and forensic examination.
Thunderstorm damage
The emergency management team of Wexford County Council will meet this morning to assess the damage caused by a cloudburst in New Ross on Monday which saw 40mm of rainfall in one hour.
The council’s director of services, Eamon Hoare, told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that social and humanitarian assistance will be provided to businesses and homeowners impacted by the flooding.
Work continued overnight pumping water from business premises on Main Street where basements were flooded. Even homes which were 30-40m above the level of the town’s quays experienced flooding, said Mr Hoare.
Local business owner Brian Bailey, who operates a craft gallery and picture framing workshop told of how “the skies opened” and the flood water “just came down”.
Water quality
A senior inspector at the Water Advisory Body has called for significant investment by Irish Water to address the issue of water quality.
Michelle Minihan told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that at the end of Quarter 1 to March 2022, there were just over 13,500 people on boil water notices, the vast majority of which were long term and had been in place for more than 30 days, meaning there would have to be "significant investment" to address the issues.
Ms Minihan pointed out that today alone, there were 22 boil water notices in place, serving about 5,500 people, and 18 of those notices are long term. “It is a huge frustration and burden for communities that are affected by it.”
Ryanair flights
Ryanair said it will add more than 500 flights serving London Stansted during the October half-term school holiday after Heathrow extended its cap on passenger numbers.
The Dublin-based airline said the extra flights at the Essex airport will have capacity for 100,000 passengers.
Heathrow announced on Monday that the limit of 100,000 daily departing passengers it introduced in July due to staff shortages will continue until the end of October.
That will disrupt the holiday plans of many families hoping to get away during half-term.
China and Taiwan
China has imposed visa bans and other sanctions on Taiwanese political figures as it raises pressure on the self-governing island and the US in response to successive congressional visits.
The sanctions come a day after China announced more military exercises in the seas and skies surrounding Taiwan in response to what it called “collusion and provocation between the US and Taiwan”.
They were announced the same day a US congressional delegation met Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, and after a similar visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the highest-level member of the US government to visit Taiwan in 25 years.
The Chinese government objects to Taiwan having any official contact with foreign governments because it considers Taiwan its own territory, and its recent actions have emphasised its threat to take the island by military force.
