The UK Prime Minister has announced plans to seek another Brexit extension – and work with the leader of the opposition to break the impasse.

Theresa May has angered Brexiteers by inviting Jeremy Corbyn to talks on a way forward.

The move has been criticised by hard-line Tory MPs and the DUP; however, Mr Corbyn has said he is happy to meet and will push the idea of a customs union.

The President of the European Council Donald Tusk has called for patience as the UK talks continue.

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At home, the Cabinet met last night to discuss the latest developments and Ireland’s readiness for a potential no deal scenario.

After the meeting, the Tánaiste Simon Coveney warned that it is impossible to offset all the damage Brexit will cause.

The Cabinet agreed that preparations and communications with business and citizens should not lose pace.

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The former head of CervicalCheck has said she warned the Government that free smear test re-checks would 'fundamentally undermine the screening programme.'

The re-tests offered by Minister Simon Harris have led to a massive backlog, with delays of up to 33 weeks.

In a submission to the Oireachtas Health Committee, the former clinical director of Cervical Gráinne Flannelly said she warned that the capacity was not there to process the tests - and that there would be long delays as a result.

Those concerns were passed on within the hour to the Department of Health which - according to Prof Flannelly - responded that it was to proceed with the policy change in any case.

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Sport Ireland will today say that the FAI “did not sufficiently explain” the circumstances behind a €100,000 bridging loan it received from its former CEO.

The organisation will appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport this afternoon.

It will say it has twice written to the FAI seeking further information on the loan given to it by John Delaney in April 2017.

To date, the FAI has only responded to one of those requests for further information.

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The National Emergency Coordination Group is to outline how it deals with extreme weather events like Storm Emma today.

It will update the Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government on the challenges it faces.

The group will outline its response to storms, very cold weather events and flooding.

Committee Chair Maria Bailey said she is looking forward to hearing more on its key role in minimising the risk to people and property.