HSE warns of 'significant disruption' following INMO strike

The Health Service Executive (HSE) is warning of significant disruption to health services on Thursday.

Striking by 37,000 nurses and midwives is due to end at 8.00am, but patients are being warned of knock-on delays following Wednesday's action.

Some 25,000 medical appointments were cancelled, and the HSE has said it will contact those affected to re-schedule within the next two to three weeks.

Trinity College investigating claim boat club "novices" were told to strip and whipped

Trinity College Dublin is investigating claims that its boat club has been whipping new members with bamboo sticks as a form of ‘hazing.’

The University Times reports that new members or “novices” have also faced commands to strip to their underwear and down large quantities of alcohol.

The paper reports that the initiation ceremony has been going on for years.

Varadkar tells May: Irish and EU position on Brexit backstop unchanged

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has reiterated to British Prime Minister Theresa May that the Irish and EU position on the Brexit backstop remain unchanged.

The two leaders spoke by phone on Wednesday afternoon.

EU leaders and negotiators are also bearing down on the backstop - insisting it cannot be opened to any changes.

Almost 10,000 people in emergency accommodation last month

New figures show 9,753 people were living in emergency accommodation in Ireland last month.

The statistics, from the Department of Housing, show 1,617 of these were families - while there were 3,559 homeless children.

The department has said these figures are a decrease of 215 people nationally.

Call for Met Éireann to offer all-island forecast for weather events

Sinn Féin is calling on Met Éireann to "better represent weather events" across the whole country.

Senator Niall Ó Donnghaile is the party's spokesperson on North-South integration.

He has written to the director of the Irish forecaster seeking a meeting.