Frances Fitzgerald: Those solely on social welfare unlikely to have to pay Irish Water debts

People whose earnings come solely from social welfare payments will “in many cases ... be found not to have the means to pay” their Irish Water bills, Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald has said.

The Seanad last night passed the controversial Civil Debt Procedures Bill, allowing some creditors, most notably Irish Water, to take payments directly from people’s pay or social welfare payments.

'A complete and utter mess' - Kimmage talks Froome data release

Chris Froome (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

With a commanding three minute lead with five stages to go, it looks like Chris Froome is on the verge of winning a second Tour de France title in three years.

But all the while, the British rider has had to fend away questions about the nature of his performances - prompting Team Sky to release some data from his performance on Stage 10 of this year's Tour.

But does that go far enough? Sunday Independent writer and long-time anti-doping campaigner Paul Kimmage addressed today's developments on Off The Ball's and described it as a "shambles" and "utter mess".  

"We had a tragedy here this morning" - Irish climber speaks from K2 after avalanche

K2 is considered the mountaineers mountain - a lower peak than Everest, but the world’s most dangerous, with one third of all who attempt to conquer its summit dying on the climb, it represents the most daunting, and revered achievement for mountaineers.

Jason Black, a Donegal climber, is currently on the mountain, attempting to complete what would be the biggest achievement of his mountaineering career – having previously reached the peak of Mount Everest.

Yesterday Breakfast’s Chris Donoghue spoke with Jason, during a brief window in the weather that allowed Jason’s satellite phone accept a signal while on the mountain, and he got through to him shortly after tragedy had visited Jason’s team. Chris called shortly after tragedy visited Jason’s team.

Co Down man founds vigilante paramilitary group in Australia

Gary Hall Image: Video still, SBS2 Australia

A man from Northern Ireland has founded a paramilitary vigilante gang in Australia.

Gary Hall, who claims to have been connected with the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) while living in Northern Ireland, has founded the Alice Springs Volunteer Force (AVF) to combat crime in the desert town.

TG4's new Ladies football advert has certainly split opinion

The TG4's latest ad campaign for ladies football features the image of a woman grasping a football close to her mid section, along with the tagline "The most important nine months of a woman's life".

Unsurprisingly, the online community have reacted.