The Sinn Féin President has launched a scathing attack on Independents and Fianna Fáil for facilitating the possibility of putting Enda Kenny back into Government.

In his keynote speech to the party's Ard Fheis in Dublin tonight, Gerry Adams repeated his call for water charges to be scrapped.

Addressing over 2000 delegates tonight Gerry Adams says the Proclamation hasn't yet been fulfilled - a genuine Republic couldn't tolerate the housing and homeless crisis or the scandal in our emergency departments.

The Sinn Féin President says his party was willing to be part of the change that people clearly voted for in the election, and offered to talk to the two big parties.

Community Pharmacists are welcoming the fact that women on medical cards will be able to get emergency contraception for free from their pharmacist.

This development represents a departure from the old system, which required women with medical cards to obtain a prescription from their GP. The alternative to that was to pay for the bill themselves. 

Pharmacists will now be reimbursed for providing the morning after pill to those on the cards.

Outgoing President of the Irish Pharmacy Union, Kathy Maher, says time is critical when it comes to emergency contraception:

"Stats show that one in five women that access emergency contraception actually do so even though they have a medical card they're forced to pay because of the time of access and because of the benefit of going to the Community Pharmacy and accessing safe and effective treatment early. So, we're delighted that this will come about and this is a result of campaigning with Minister Varadkar at last year's conference." 

Pearl Mackie has been named as the new Doctor Who companion alongside Peter Capaldi's Time Lord in the Tardis.

The announcement was made on BBC One today during the half-time break of the FA Cup semi-final between Everton and Manchester United.

Mackie comes in to replace Jenna Coleman as the Doctor's assistant after Coleman's character Clara Oswald, departed the show last year.

A private ceremony was held at the home of deceased singer Prince today, according to multiple sources. 

Family and friends were escorted at his estate by state troopers, as they gathered to bid Prince a final farewell. Groceries, flowers and flasks of coffee were all delivered in the early afternoon.

Following his death, fans of Prince have covered the gates of the star's home in shades of purple with hundreds of balloons, flowers and signs lining the fences.

There was one winner of tonight's lotto jackpot worth nearly €8 million.

The winning ticket is believed to have been purchased in the south east of the country.

The numbers drawn were 1, 9, 15, 23, 33 and 38 and the bonus number was 29.