Last day of heatwave
The final full day of Ireland's heatwave has brought temperatures close to 30 degrees once again, while intense thunderstorms are now moving across the west of the island.
Met Éireann has issued a status orange thunderstorm and rain warning for Galway, Clare and north Tipperary until 7pm this evening.
A status yellow thunderstorm warning is in place for the rest of the Republic, with Wicklow, Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Mayo and Roscommon particularly at risk.
A status yellow warning for temperatures between 27 and 30 degrees, remains in place for the whole country until 9am tomorrow after it was extended.
Indoor dining guidelines
Pubs and restaurants have been told they will have to take contact details for every patron when indoor hospitality reopens next week.
The Government has also decided that every entrance to an establishment must need to be staffed and policed, instead of one main entrance.
Fáilte Ireland and Government officials met this morning to finalise the guidelines, which were expected to be published yesterday.
Des O'Malley funeral
The funeral of Des O'Malley, the founder of the Progressive Democrats and former Fianna Fáil minister, has taken place.
Mourners were told of a man with tenacity and courage, and a true believer in authentic republicanism.
Mr O’Malley died at the age of 82, 36 years after he founded the Progressive Democrats. He had been unwell for some time.
Housing plan delay
Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien has said the Government's Housing for All plan is “nearly there” but five per cent “still needs to be worked through.”
The plan, which will determine the State’s housing policy until 2030, was due to be published next Tuesday, but is now not likely to be launched until late August or early September.
“To be fair, no one is delaying the plan,” he told RTÉ. “It's an important plan, for the sake of a few weeks, it’s important that we get it done right.”
Unvaccinated holidays
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) is appealing to those who are not yet fully vaccinated to postpone their travel plans.
Prof Philip Nolan, chair of Nphet’s modelling advisory group, said holidaying abroad while unvaccinated was a real risk.
Meanwhile, almost 70 per cent of people aged in their 20s have registered for a Covid-19 vaccine in Ireland, according to the HSE’s head of the vaccination programme.
Damien McCallion said the country had one of the highest take-up rates in Europe in a number of age groups, with 67 per cent of 20 to 29-year-olds already vaccinated or registered for their vaccine.
Dr Colm Henry, the HSE's chief clinical officer, has raised the prospect of mass vaccination of children in Ireland by suggesting nine out of 10 people will need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity against Covid-19.
