Hyde & Seek crèches facing closure
Tusla has announced its decision to order the closure of four Hyde & Seek creches in Dublin.
The child and family agency says it has decided to remove the four facilities - located at Tolka Road, Shaw Street, Millbourne Avenue and Glasnevin - from the early years' services register.
It follows a Prime Time investigation earlier this year which raised concerns about the standards of childcare at the company.
According to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Tusla is also in the process of "prosecuting the Hyde & Seek companies and their registered providers".
Couple found guilty of female genital mutilation
A couple has been found guilty of the female genital mutilation of their one-year-old daughter in September 2016.
The couple, who can't be named to protect the girl’s identity, weren't accused of performing the act, but were found to have allowed it to happen.
The trial heard evidence of the couple arriving at hospital with their then one-year-old daughter on September 16th 2016.
She was bleeding and in need of assistance.
Injunctions against beef protesters to be dropped
The Minister for Agriculture is urging all parties in the beef dispute to get back around the negotiating table.
It comes after it was confirmed that court injunctions against two farmers over protests in September were dropped.
C&D Foods in County Longford launched the court action against Fine Gael Councillor Pauric Brady and local carpenter Colm Leonard after protesters blockaded its Edgeworthstown facility.
The petfood company temporarily laid off 187 of its employees during the blockade.
European Parliament declares climate emergency
The European Parliament has voted to declare a climate emergency.
The resolution - which was passed by 429 votes, with 225 votes against - calls on the European Commission and member states to take action.
It also directly references the broader international context - including Donald Trump's decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate deal.
Irish Green Party MEP Grace O'Sullivan welcomed the result.
Dáil printer may cost over €1.8m
The report into why more than €1m was spent on a new printer for the Oireachtas says key structural issues were not understood.
Re-modelling work of almost €230,000 was needed to install the new printer, understood to be a Komori GL-429 model, which is still not operational.
The clerk of the Dáil Peter Finnegan prepared an eight page report for the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
It comes after the Oireachtas purchased a new €808,000 printing press, then had to spend almost €230,000 installing it.
