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Morning top 5: Officials to appear before COVID-19 committee; Trump threatens WHO; EU recovery fund proposed

The country’s top health officials will appear before the new Oireachtas COVID-19 committee lat...
Michael Staines
Michael Staines

06.59 19 May 2020


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Morning top 5: Officials to ap...

Morning top 5: Officials to appear before COVID-19 committee; Trump threatens WHO; EU recovery fund proposed

Michael Staines
Michael Staines

06.59 19 May 2020


Share this article


The country’s top health officials will appear before the new Oireachtas COVID-19 committee later, to answer questions on their handling of the crisis so far.

The chief medical officer and HSE chief executive will join the secretary general of the Department of Health at the meeting.

Former HSE chief Tony O’Brien has raised social distancing concerns over the country's top health officials appearing at a lengthy Dáil committee today.

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But Dr Tony Holohan says he wouldn't attend if he didn't feel the meeting was safe:

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The president of the European Council is welcoming a new €500bn COVID-19 recovery fund.

France and Germany are proposing to give the money to EU countries worst affected by the pandemic.

It follows talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel yesterday.

European Council President Charles Michel said it's a 'step in the right direction.'

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Donald Trump is threatening to pull the US out of the World Health Organisation.

In a letter, the US president said he would reconsider US membership and withdraw funding if the organisation did not commit to a range of improvements.

He said a review carried out by his administration has “confirmed many of the serious concerns” he has voiced about the organisation’s response to the crisis, including an “alarming lack of independence” from China.

President Trump has been strongly criticised for his own handling of the outbreak, as the US comes to terms with the highest number of cases in the world.

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The death of man in his 40s in Dublin yesterday is being treated as 'suspicious.'

His body was discovered after gardaí and the fire brigade were called to a house fire in Bluebell Avenue at around 11:20am.

It is believed there was no obvious fire-related damage to the body and a post-mortem is due to take place tomorrow.

Gardaí have been carrying out house-to-house inquiries as part of their investigation.

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A committee's being set up to look at ways of saving Bewley's Cafe in Dublin from closing permanently.

Owners of the Grafton Street coffee shop recently said high rents and the current pandemic have left them unable to continue trading.

But the National Conservation and Heritage Group is now looking at ways the venue can be reopened.

It has the backing of Lord Mayor, Tom Brabazon, who says the cafe can't be allowed to shut.


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