Fuel price challenge
The Government has been challenged to introduce an immediate reduction in excise duty on fuel by midnight tonight, to tackle spiralling price rises caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said people cannot wait for a financial package from the Government as they are struggling to fill their cars and heat their homes.
It comes as gardaí are warning homeowners to secure their home heating oil after reports of theft around the country. A spokesperson said: "Oil prices are rising so sharply that oil tanks are now being targeted."
Consumers are also feeling the pinch at the petrol and diesel pumps, with increasing numbers of service stations selling petrol and diesel at more than €2 a litre.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to escalate, Irish consumers will continue to be impacted by price hikes and possible shortages, with the main areas of concern explained here.
Russia angered by embassy incident
Russia called in the Irish ambassador on Tuesday to demand an apology and lodge a formal complaint, the foreign ministry said, after a man drove a lorry through the gates of Russia's embassy to Dublin to protest against Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian ministry accused protesters near its embassy of "essentially adopting tactics widely used by terrorists", demanded Ireland compensate Moscow for damage and said it wanted those responsible for the incident punished.
Earlier, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had expressed concern that the incident would be misrepresented in Russian media "as Irish people being involved in violent acts against Russians." The embassy itself has condemned the incident as a "violation of its territory".
A church supplier charged with criminal damage and dangerous driving over the incident was released on bail earlier today.
Today in the courts
A father of eight who cleaned up and removed blood-stained evidence from his Drogheda home where teenager Keane Mulready-Woods was murdered has been jailed for four years.
Separately, supermarket chain Lidl Ireland won a High Court action that arose over what it claims was a flawed 2018 Aldi-commissioned price survey which put Lidl in second place.
Elsewhere, the multi-million euro theft trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn heard how he was described by a bank manager as “embarrassed and annoyed” about a delay in clearing a €1.9 million loan in 2007.
Finally, the High Court heard that a dispute about the repossession of Bewley's Café on Grafton Street, Dublin centres on whether six Harry Clarke stained-glass windows are part and parcel of the building or moveable artworks.
Ukraine aid
Irish truckers have begun a journey to Ukraine carrying 500 tonnes of aid for the war-torn country.
The first section of a convoy of 25 Irish lorries, carrying hundreds of tonnes of aid for the people of Ukraine, left Dublin Port early on Tuesday afternoon.
Separately on Tuesday, the Taoiseach suggested a citizens’ assembly could be established to discuss Ireland’s policy of military neutrality.
Micheál Martin made the remarks in the Dail as he faced claims the Ukrainian invasion is bringing Ireland closer to Nato and “European militarisation”.
Covid latest
Ireland has logged a bump in Covid-19 cases, with 11,380 reported by the Department of Health on Tuesday – up from 7,143 the day before.
The increase of more than 4,000 additional cases when compared to Monday was seen as 4,423 were confirmed by PCR test, while 6,957 people registered a positive antigen test through the HSE portal.
Hospitalisations associated with the disease increased sharply over the weekend, rising from 670 on Friday to 808 by Monday.
As of this morning, there were 803 patients in hospital, with 51 in intensive care, up four since yesterday.
