Thunderstorms and weather warnings
The east of the country experienced heavy downpours, thunder and lightning on Wednesday afternoon, creating the risk for localised flooding, Met Éireann has warned.
A number of orange and yellow weather warnings have been in place since Tuesday night, but there have not been reports of severe flooding or a large number of power outages as a result of the weather.
An offshore wind turbine near Arklow, Co Wicklow, was believed to be struck by lightning during the storm, with images emerging of smoke billowing out from the top of it.
A spokesman for the Irish Coast Guard confirmed they received reports of the incident at lunchtime on Wednesday.
My dad just took this photo from our house in Co. Wicklow - apparently lightning struck a wind turbine off the coast and now it's on fire. 😲 pic.twitter.com/XbpsBL2RRs
— Amy Kinsella (@Amy_M_Kinsella) October 19, 2022
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Central Bank eases mortgage lending rules
The Central Bank is to ease mortgage-lending limits to allow first-time property buyers to borrow up to four times their income.
The bank's governor has defended the move, which he said will have a “modest” increase on house prices.
Gabriel Makhlouf said the benefits of relaxing the rules will “outweigh its costs”.
The move follows a review of rules designed to prevent a lending bubble.
Explained: How Ireland's new mortgage rules will impact home buyers
O'Connell Street taskforce
The Taoiseach said he will consider bringing in a taskforce to tackle the drug issues, antisocial behaviour and violent incidents that are widespread in Dublin’s O’Connell Street.
Micheál Martin said, however, that the issues in the capital’s main thoroughfare may need something more structured and systemic and that a discussion was needed on whether a taskforce would be the “panacea”.
His comments come as an RTÉ Prime Time investigation, which aired on Tuesday night, shows the extent of the problems plaguing the busy street. Footage shared online shows open drug dealing as well as assaults and violent attacks.
Two girls injured in Dublin collision
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after two girls were seriously injured in a road traffic collision in Dublin city centre on Monday.
The collision, which involved one vehicle, took place on Amiens Street, Dublin 1 at around 2.30pm.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene and the two pedestrians were taken to Children's Health Ireland at Temple Street for treatment.
