Storm Eunice batters island
Storm Eunice made landfall in Ireland overnight, with severe winds, heavy rain and snow reported in parts of the country.
A red warning for Cork, Kerry, Clare and Waterford has now lifted, and the entire country has been moved to a status yellow warning.
Over 55,000 homes are without power due to the storm, with the majority of outages reported in Kerry.
A number of roads in the southwest, particularly in Cork, Kerry and Waterford, are blocked due to fallen trees.
Covid latest
There is a risk that the move to remove mandatory mask wearing by law will be misinterpreted, a member of Nphet has said. Dr Mary Favier said mask wearing was a very effective means of reducing Covid numbers.
Mask wearing looks set to become voluntary in schools, retail settings and on public transport following a recommendation from Nphet. At present, those not wearing a face mask in settings where it is the law face a fine, up to one months' imprisonment, or both.
The country's testing and tracing system is also likely to scale down on the recommendation of Nphet, with member Professor Mary Horgan saying a targeted approach is the way forward. A recommendation that people with symptoms isolate until they are gone remains.
Amid reports that Nphet is to disband, with a meeting yesterday to be the last in the group's current form, Prof Horgan said the mood at the meeting was “very upbeat” and that in Nphet's two years “we felt we had achieved a lot.”
Men released after fatal Dublin incident
Two men arrested in connection with the death of a man in Dublin last month have been released without charge.
Ian McDonnell was found seriously injured on the Robinhood Road in Clondalkin on January 23rd after intervening in a car theft. He died at Tallaght hospital five days later.
The two men aged in their 20s who were arrested earlier this week have been released and a file will be prepared for the DPP.
Gardaí say investigations are ongoing.
