Return to normality
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has pointed towards a return to normality for the country by late summer.
Mr Varadkar said he would hope to see the “vast majority” of Covid-19 restrictions removed by August and a “normal Christmas”.
However, the Tánaiste warned that nothing can be promised when it comes to a new virus, and he said he believes restrictions on international travel and gatherings indoors will continue into the autumn.
Mr Varadkar was quizzed around restrictions at the launch of a minimum pricing for alcohol policy at the Department of Health in Dublin on Wednesday.
Vaccine first dose
Just over 2.1 million Covid-19 vaccines have been delivered to Ireland up to and including last Sunday, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health.
As of Monday, more than 1.6 million doses had been administered.
The Department of Health says 30 per cent of the population aged 16 and older have had at least one dose of the jab.
A statement from the department read: “Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination programme strategy is to distribute all available vaccine as quickly as is operationally possible, prioritising those who are most vulnerable to Covid-19.
Boy charged with murder
A 15-year-old boy has been charged with the murder of a mother-of-two who died following a stabbing in Dublin’s IFSC.
Urantsetseg Tserendorj, 48, originally from Mongolia but living in Dublin with her family for a number of years, was rushed to the Mater Hospital following an attack on January 20th last.
The incident happened at 9.30pm near the CHQ building at Custom House Quay as the office cleaner was making her way home from work.
She remained in a critical condition for two weeks before she passed away.
HSE apologises to family of girl with cerebral palsy
The HSE and Sligo University Hospital have apologised in court to the family of a five-year-old girl with cerebral palsy who had sued over the circumstances of her birth.
The apology was read to the court as Megan McGoldrick from Sligo secured an interim settlement of €2.5 million for the next three years. Megan who has dyskinetic cerebral palsy and is unable to communicate verbally. Mr Justice Kevin Cross was told is a happy little girl.
In the apology from the Sligo hospital manager it said both the HSE and the hospital wish to sincerely apologise to the McGoldricks “for the negligent care and management” during Mrs Andrea McGoldrick’s labour and the delivery on November 28th, 2015.
