Woman (30s) dies in Limerick crash
A woman has died, and two children and two men were injured, following a road crash in Co Limerick.
It happened on the N21 south of Rathkeale at around 4.15 yesterday afternoon.
The driver of one of the cars - a woman in her 30s - was taken by ambulance to hospital, but was later pronounced dead.
Her passengers - a man, also aged in his 30s - and two young children were also taken to hospital, but their injuries aren't thought to be life-threatening.
The driver of the other car - a man in his 20s - was taken to hospital with non-life-threatning injuries.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses, or anyone with video footage of the crash, to contact them.
Yellow warning for entire country
Met Éireann have issued a status yellow wind and rain warning for the entire country on Wednesday.
They said it will be very windy on Wednesday with widespread gales: southerly veering westerly. Some severe and damaging gusts may occur.
The national forecaster said there is a potential for localised wave overtopping along Atlantic coasts. A spell of heavy rain will occur, leading to flooding in places.
The yellow warning is valid from 4am on Wednesday until 9pm Wednesday evening.
Around 638,000 families to receive double child benefit payment of €280
Some 638,000 families will receive a double child benefit payment of €280 this week.
The measure means that €280 will be paid in respect of 1.2 million children across the State, instead of the usual €140 payment.
The move was announced as part of the budget to help households pay for the soaring cost of living.
The payment will start arriving in accounts from Monday.
Two men arrested as gardaí seize €100k worth of drugs in Cork
Gardaí seized drugs worth over €100,000 and arrested two men following a search in Cobh, Co Cork, on Monday evening.
Gardaí conducted the search, which was part of Operation Tara, just before 9pm. Cocaine estimated to be worth €90,580 and cannabis valued at €10,240 was seized by gardai along with €2,100 in cash.
Two men, both aged in their 30s, were arrested at the scene and later taken to Cobh Garda Station where they are currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act (Drug Trafficking), 1996.
The drugs seized will now be sent to undergo further analysis.
Investigations are ongoing.
Covid vaccine ID numbers should be used for all treatments, says doctor
Oncologist professor Seamus O’Reilly has said the unique identifying number used for every person who was vaccinated during the pandemic should continue to be used for all hospital treatments.
All health services should be harmonised, he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
Prof O’Reilly was commenting on concerns that there will be a huge increase in the number of cancer diagnoses post Covid-19. Referrals from GPs were turning into diagnoses with more cancer diagnoses in the first six months of 2022 than in all of 2019.
This was due to a “multiplicity of factors” he added. Prof. O’Reilly urged anyone with symptoms or concerns to seek care. Earlier detection will mean that less treatment will be required ultimately.
Fianna Fáil eyeing Justice and Foreign Affairs positions
Fianna Fáil is eyeing up the Justice and Foreign Affairs portfolios after December’s reshuffle amid growing tensions with Fine Gael.
As the Irish Examiner reports, Táoiseach Micheál Martin is keen to take either over from current Justice Minister Helen McEntee or from Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney rather than doing a straight swap with Tánaiste Leo Varadkar.
The news comes as it has been confirmed that the December 15th changeover date is to be delayed by several days to allow Mr Martin to attend his final EU summit in Brussels as Taoiseach.
It is increasingly unlikely that any senior Cabinet minister on the Fine Gael side will be demoted while there is still a belief Mr Martin will demote Health Minister Stephen Donnelly in the reshuffle.
