France mourns

A national day of mourning takes place in France on Thursday, after the country's worst terror attack in decades.

12 people were shot dead after three gunmen burst into the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

It's reported police have identified the suspects as two French brothers in their early 30s - and an 18 year old whose nationality is unclear.

President Francois Hollande addressed the nation last night and urged people to stand together in condemning these attacks.

Mother and Baby homes inquiry

The Cabinet is today expected to sign off on the establishment of an inquiry into Mother and Baby Homes.

The Commission of Investigation is expected to examine the homes from the foundation of the State until the late 1980's.

The coalition announced the establishment of a commission of inquiry last May following revelations about the deaths of almost 800 children at the Tuam mother and baby home.

Ms Justice Yvonne Murphy is to chair the inquiry and it's taken until now to finalise the terms of reference.

NUI Galway equality audit

SIPTU members on the academic staff of NUI Galway will vote later on whether or not an equality audit should be carried out at the university.

The audit would see an external body carry out a comprehensive review throughtout the institute to ensure that gender equality is being practicsed.

It comes after the Equality Tribunal found that a staff member was discriminated against on gender grounds when she was overlooked for a position as a senior lecturer.