Details of mother-and-baby home inquiry to be published tomorrow
The Government will publish the terms of reference for the mother-and-baby homes investigation tomorrow.
A Government spokesperson said the remit of the investigation would be extremely broad.
He said it would have a deeply historical scope and would be far-reaching. He also said it would involve a number of interim reports during its lifetime.
The Cabinet was briefed today on the commission of investigation into the inquiry.
Judge Yvonne Murphy has already agreed to chair the commission.
Group to look at universal pension saving scheme
The Cabinet has also decided to set up a working group on future plans for a universal pension saving scheme.
Under the proposed scheme, workers would automatically enrol in a private pension scheme when they begin working and their pension would transfer with them if moved work.
Tánaiste Joan Burton has previously said that it would only be introduced when the economy recovers sufficiently and workers wages improve.
Ms Burton earlier said pension cover had fallen below 50% and a supplementary pension system may be required in addition to the State pension.
She pointed out that pension cover in the private sector was poor in Ireland compared to other countries.
Asked to comment on the possible return of Frank Flannery as a Fine Gael election strategist, she would only say that Christmas is the season of goodwill.
Meanwhile, Fine Gael backbencher Anthony Lawlor said he is not overly happy at the idea of Mr Flannery returning to assist the party.
Man injured in Donegal workplace accident
A man in his mid 60s has been injured in a workplace accident at a factory in Donegal.
It is understood a forklift was involved and the man sustained chest injuries.
It happened at a timber factory in the Naran/Portnoo area.
The man was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital by helicopter.
The Health and Safety Authority is to investigate, as the accident happened in a workplace.
Cash-in-transit robbery in Louth
Gardaí have appealed for information after a cash-in-transit robbery in Drogheda in Co Louth this afternoon.
The robbery happened in the M1 Retail Park, beside the M1 motorway, at 2.45pm.
Gardaí say a small amount of cash was taken by a gang of around four men.
Gardaí are seeking information on a blue Volvo car that the culprits made their escape in.
Emergency services attend scene of Dublin bin truck fire
Three units of the Dublin Fire Service are attending a blaze after a bin truck went on fire on Nutgrove Avenue.
The incident happened at around 3pm this afternoon.
It is understood it self-ignited with material in the back of the truck, which the fire service said was a common occurrence.
The fire was brought under control. Traffic was reported to be heavy in the area at the time.
Labour will not participate in Wicklow debate
A Labour spokesperson said the party is definitely not participating in this week's TV3 election debate in Wicklow.
However, they said the party might consider participation in events such as this at some stage in the future, but only much closer to an election.
UN report finds war crimes in Central African Republic
A UN report has found war crimes and crimes against humanity, including ethnic cleansing of Muslims, were committed in the Central African Republic.
However the 127-page report by a UN commission of inquiry stopped short of claiming that genocide took place in the African nation.
The report says that all sides committed human rights violations over the past two years including rape, murder, recruitment of child soldiers, torture and burning of homes.
'Ejectable' black-box proposal to be considered
A long-delayed proposal to outfit commercial airliners with ejectable "black box" recorders may have a better chance of being adopted following the AirAsia crash, according to sources at the UN global aviation body.
The idea, which would equip commercial flights with black boxes that detach from the plane and float in water rather than sink, has bounced around International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) committees for years.
It is back on the agenda at its High-Level Safety Conference in February, the first of its kind in five years.
ICAO wants to develop a global system to improve plane tracking and ensure accident sites are found quickly as part of its response to the disappearance of a Malaysian airliner last year.
North Korea threatens US with 'hail of bullets'
North Korea has threatened the United States "with a hail of bullets and shells on its own territory" if it does not withdraw sanctions, the North's state news agency reported.
US President Barack Obama issued an executive order last week authorising expanded sanctions against North Korea after a hacking attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment, which Washington blamed on Pyongyang.
North Korea, which has denied it was responsible for the hacking, routinely uses aggressive rhetoric, often warning of war against its sworn enemies the US and South Korea.
New York sees slump in arrest volumes
A sharp drop in arrests and fines in New York may prove costly for the city but it could already be hurting some traffic lawyers and bail bonds firms, which are seeing their phones ring less often as fewer people are in trouble and need help.
The slump in arrest volume - last week's total was around half that recorded a year ago - is seen by supporters of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio as evidence of a work slowdown by police officers angered by recent comments he made that they viewed as anti-police.
Police unions deny there is a slowdown.
Happy birthday to the King
Elvis Presley would have been 80 years old today, an occasion that is being marked with a multi-day celebration in Memphis, Tennessee at his Graceland mansion.
The party will include birthday cake, movie screenings and an auction of artifacts like his first driver's license and first acetate recording.
Even though he died in 1977, Presley remains one of the best-selling artists of all time and still deserves the title of the "King of Rock and Roll," according to fellow musicians and fans.
