Largest increase in defence budget to build ‘agile’ Defence Forces – Taoiseach
The largest increase in defence spending in the history of the Irish state will build “an agile and modern Defence Forces”, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
The increase takes the Defence Forces budget from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion by 2028 – benchmarked against inflation at January 2022 prices.
A Government action plan, published on Wednesday, also notes the “urgent” need for “HR and cultural transformation” in the Defence Forces.
It identifies the recruitment of new senior-level civilian HR positions as early steps in meeting the goal.
Met Éireann issues weather advisory warning temperatures may exceed 30 degrees
Met Éireann has issued a high temperature advisory for the entire country ahead of a stint of particularly hot weather.
The advisory, which was issued on Wednesday at 3pm, warned: "Ireland will experience a hot spell Sunday and into early next week.
"Daytime temperatures will widely reach the high 20s, possible exceeding 30 degrees in some locations."
The warning will remain in effect until midnight on Wednesday, July 20th.
Taoiseach offers 'deepest sympathies' to families affected by organ scandal
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has offered his “deepest sympathies” as he said he wanted to share reviews into infant organ disposal with the families affected.
It comes after the revelation, published by the Irish Examiner, that hospitals continued to incinerate children’s organs until recently – against the HSE’s own guidelines.
It has also been revealed that multiple public hospitals held organs for more than a year, also against guidelines.
Speaking during leaders’ questions on Wednesday, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said “we can only ever imagine” the hurt caused to families.
Man dies while swimming at Co Clare beach
A man in his 40s has died in hospital after getting into difficulty with a young child while swimming in north Clare on Tuesday evening.
Two people were reported to have been in danger after they were pulled out to sea at Fanore at around 9.15pm. The alarm was raised and a search and rescue operation was quickly mounted.
The Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard, National Ambulance Service and gardaí responded to the scene. The Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, was also tasked to the incident.
Man remanded in custody charged with murder of Lisa Thompson
A 37-year-old man has been remanded in custody after gardaí charged him with the murder of mother of two, Lisa Thompson, who was found dead in her home in Dublin two months ago.
After a concerned neighbour raised the alarm, the 52-year-old former youth worker was discovered. She had suffered stab injuries at her house in Sandyhill Gardens, Ballymun.
On Wednesday afternoon, gardaí charged Brian McHugh of Cairn Court, Poppentree, Ballymun, with Ms Thompson's murder on May 10th. He then appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court.
