Sinn Féin think-in
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on the Government to use the forthcoming Budget to pump resources into Ireland’s health service.
Ms McDonald also linked Ireland’s housing crisis and rising rents to the challenges facing the health service, saying that a successful recruitment drive for doctors, nurses and consultants requires a solution to the country’s housing problems.
Ms McDonald, speaking ahead of her party’s think-in in Dublin city centre, said Sinn Féin would increase employer PRSI contributions by four percentage points over a number of Budgets as a way of paying for its commitment to restore the pension age to 65.
Fine Gael 'not at its best'
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said he takes responsibility for a turbulent few weeks for his party at its think-in in Co Meath, admitting the party has “not been at its best” following a number of controversies including the Katherine Zappone crisis.
Sinn Féin will bring a motion of no confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney to the Dáil this week, with leader Mary Lou McDonald saying the issue “is around the entire culture of Irish politics now for a century, exemplified by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.”
At the Labour party's think-in also taking place on Tuesday, leader Alan Kelly said his party will vote no confidence in Mr Coveney but stressed there are bigger issues politicians should be discussing.
Dublin stabbing
Two teenagers are being treated in hospital after a stabbing in Dublin last night.
The 16-year-old boys were assaulted during an incident involving a group of youths on Church Road in East Wall at around 8:30pm.
Both boys suffered laceration wounds and were brought to the Mater Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Housing crisis
A new report on the growing divide in access to housing has highlighted how the most vulnerable sections of society are often either in overcrowded, inadequate housing or emergency accommodation.
It comes as a number of students in Limerick have been forced to live in hotels because of a lack of student accommodation in the city and its suburbs.
One international student who has been staying in a hotel in the city centre said they wanted “to highlight the shocking state of homelessness” among the student population.
Close to half of college students struggle to afford living expenses, according to a new survey carried out by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) and spunout.ie.
Staycation destinations
Kerry has beat out Galway and Cork to become Ireland’s most popular domestic holiday destination this summer, according to spending data from AIB.
The bank’s latest Spend Trend report found Galway and Cork were the second and third most popular staycation destinations respectively, with Cork falling from the top spot in 2020.
Hotel spend data for the summer months of June, July and August revealed those from Cork, Dublin and Limerick chose Kerry as their holiday destination of choice, while those from Kerry and Waterford chose Cork.
