School confusion
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has defended changes to Covid-19 measures for primary schools and childcare facilities.
Following criticism from schools and teachers unions who expressed concern and confusion regarding the updated measures for contact tracing and testing requirements for younger children, Dr Holohan said that "despite significantly increased testing" among this cohort in recent weeks "there has only been a relatively modest increase in the detection of cases".
The new rules, which will mean asymptomatic children aged 12 and under will not have to get tested or restrict their movements if they are an in-school close contact, were described as "illogical" by those who believe a more cautious approach should have been taken.
Tuam incident
A councillor in Co Galway said people in Tuam are "sick and tried" of violent incidents after seven people were injured when a brawl broke out in a cemetery in the town on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident occurred at about 4pm, with Gardaí called to the scene. Officers had to physically intervene and a 16-year-old boy was arrested as he tried to flee in possession of a knife.
Cllr Donagh Killalea said such incidents are causing a loss of earnings for businesses who have been forced to close at night to protect staff.
Mervyn Taylor remembered
Tributes have been paid to former Labour government minister Mervyn Taylor, who has died at the age of 89.
Mr Taylor was appointment as minister for labour in the Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition in 1993, steering the 1995 divorce referendum to a narrow victory.
President Michael D Higgins led the tributes, describing Mr Taylor as a "founding figure in the movement for equal access for all citizens before the law".
Student protest
College students have staged a protest outside the Dáil amid growing frustration over the accommodation crisis across the country.
Representatives from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) say thousands of students have been left without a place to live at the start of the new academic year, with some being forced to stay in hotels, B&Bs and hostels, while others are commuting long journeys to and from college.
A number of those taking part in the protest will sleep outside the Dáil on Thursday night to highlight their campaign.
UN Security Council
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told a meeting of the UN Security Council that climate change “is exacerbating conflict globally”.
Mr Martin presided over a debate on climate and security at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday, the first time an Irish Taoiseach has chaired such a meeting.
He called on leaders to accept the link between the climate crisis and conflicts taking place across the globe.
Small plane crashes in Co Wexford
A light aircraft has crash landed on a beach in Co Wexford.
Four people have been hospitalised following the crash at Carnsore Point.
The Irish Coast Guard Helicopter responded to the scene.
Man on trial for manslaughter of his mother's partner
A man has gone on trial for the manslaughter of his mother's partner who died five days after an alleged assault with a baseball bat.
Ronan Byrne (31) of Lohunda Downs, Clonsilla, Blanchardstown, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to the unlawful killing of James Marren at that address on October 31st, 2013.
He also denies production of a baseball bat during a dispute and assault of James Marren causing him harm at Lohunda Downs five days earlier.
Opening the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Philipp Rahn BL, prosecuting, told the jury that Mr Marren was hospitalised with a fractured leg after an altercation in the family home.
