Taoiseach meets Zelenskiy
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has held talks with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv.
The leaders met in Mr Zelenskiy’s heavily fortified offices in the city to discuss the war and Irish and EU efforts to support Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression.
After viewing the war-scarred suburbs of Borodyanka, Bucha and Irpin on the outskirts of Kyiv, The Taoiseach tweeted: “It is difficult to comprehend the devastation and inhumanity of Russia’s attacks on Irpin, Borodyanka and Bucha.
“Clear how important it is for women and children to get to Ireland to escape trauma and brutality. We stand with Ukraine.”
Surrogacy should be permitted in Irish law - report
International surrogacy arrangements should be permitted under Irish law, according to recommendations from a special Oireachtas committee.
The Committee on International Surrogacy, which was given three months after being established by Government, will release its recommendations on Wednesday.
Surrogacy in Ireland are currently unregulated.
This means that Irish children who are born through surrogacy to either opposite sex couples, same sex couples or couples/individuals who have medical and/or fertility challenges have no legal relationship with their parents once they arrive home to Ireland.
To be granted parental rights, the child's genetic father must complete a costly, long court process which can often leave the child legally vulnerable for years.
The child's mother or non-biological parent currently has no pathway to parenthood and is a legal stranger to their child.
The committee will recommend that a parental order system should be used to transfer parentage from the surrogate to the intended parents in international surrogacies.
Rosanna Davison calls surrogacy report 'historic'
Former Miss World Rosanna Davison has called new recommendations for legislation to recognise international surrogacy in Irish law "historic".
Ms Davison joined other parents of children born through surrogacy at a gathering outside Leinster House to mark the recommendations from the Committee on International Surrogacy.
Ms Davison and her husband Wes Quirke welcomed daughter Sophia via gestational surrogate in 2019.
Ms Davison gave birth to twin boys Hugo and Oscar in October 2020.
Boris Johnson battles to retain grip on power
Boris Johnson defied calls to resign despite a fresh wave of ministerial resignations, a scathing attack by former UK Cabinet minister Sajid Javid and signs that support on the Tory backbenches is ebbing away.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Johnson said the “colossal mandate” he had been handed by voters in 2019 means he should keep going despite the “difficult circumstances” he faces.
His appearance in the Commons came as six more UK government ministers and two ministerial aides quit on Wednesday, following the exit of senior figures including Rishi Sunak and Mr Javid the night before.
Tory Tim Loughton asked Mr Johnson in the Commons if there are “any circumstances” in which he should resign.
Government accused of leaving behind cash-strapped middle income families
The Sinn Féin leader has accused the Government of leaving behind middle income families, as she called for the back to school allowance to be extended to another 500,000 children.
Mary Lou McDonald said that a household with income of €621 a week will not be eligible for the school allowance.
She told the Dáil that families on modest incomes are “fighting to stay afloat” amid the cost-of-living crisis.
The Government on Tuesday announced that the back to school allowance is to increase by €100 per child, as part of a €67 million package announced to help with the cost-of-living crisis.
Long Covid education campaign call after claims some patients exaggerate illness
An infectious disease expert has called for an educational campaign for doctors, employers and businesses to support people with long Covid, after some patients were accused of exaggerating their illness.
Infectious disease consultant at the Mater Hospital, Professor Jack Lambert, said there is a belief among the public and the medical community that long Covid patients are making up their illness.
Prof Lambert said that brain scans of people with long Covid show they have brain inflammation among other symptoms.
The disease expert has also called on the Government to provide more resources and treatment for people suffering from the illness and the variety of symptoms.
