Pope Francis invited to Ireland
Irish bishops have invited Pope Francis to Ireland to attend the World Meeting of Families in August 2018, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said.
Mr Kenny said that the Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin had informed him of the invitation last Wednesday.
Speaking following a two-day summit in Brussels, the Taoiseach said: "If the Pope decides to accept the invitation, I assured [Dr Martin] that the Government would respond appropriately, would approve of that, would welcome Pope Francis, and would make all the arrangements to treat him in a proper and respectful manner as befits his position as the head of the Catholic Church."
Mr Kenny said: "This is a very different situation than applied in 1979, and he's a very different kind of man. If he decides to accept the Government will respond appropriately."
Asked if he intended to be Taoiseach when that happened, Mr Kenny replied: "You shouldn't ask me a question like that. Of course."
Govt's Gaeltacht area education policy to be announced
The Department of Education has confirmed that the policy for educational provision in Gaeltacht areas will be launched next week.
Policy proposals for educational provision in Gaeltacht areas were published in May 2015, followed by a lengthy consultation process.
Many language, education and Gaeltacht organisations have expressed their disappointment about the delay in publishing the policy, but it is now expected to be implemented in September 2017.
The policy was discussed at a meeting of the Cabinet committee on arts, Irish and the Gaeltacht last week.
It is understood Taoiseach Enda Kenny will launch the policy next week in Conamara.
Gardaí seize €75,000 worth of drugs following search
Gardaí have seized drugs worth €75,000 and €12,750 in cash during a search in Dublin today.
Gardaí from the North Central Drug Unit searched a property on St Augustine Street, Dublin 8.
During the course of the search, gardaí discovered cannabis herb, cannabis resin, LSD and ecstasy with an approximate street value of €75,000. Gardaí also seized €12,750 in cash.
A 33-year-old man was arrested and is being questioned at Store Street Garda Station.
Coalition warplanes hit Yemen rebels
Warplanes from the Saudi-led coalition have hit rebel positions outside the Yemeni capital Sanaa, after the alliance accused insurgents of breaching a shaky ceasefire.
The air strikes late last night targeted positions of the Iran-backed Huthi insurgents on the outskirts of rebel-held Sanaa, according to witnesses.
They said the area hosts bases for air defences controlled by renegade troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is allied with the Shiite rebels.
The truce, for an initial period of three days, took effect just before midnight on Wednesday to allow aid deliveries in Yemen, where the war has killed thousands and left millions homeless and hungry.
'Fake Sheikh' sting journalist jailed for 15 months
British journalist Mazher Mahmood, better known as the "Fake Sheikh" who caught out a string of celebrities in tabloid stings, has been jailed for 15 months for perverting the course of justice.
Mahmood, became a celebrity in his own right for his front-page scoops in which he posed as a wealthy figure from the Gulf and encouraged stars to make embarrassing revelations.
Mahmood, 53, and his driver Alan Smith, 66, were convicted last week of conspiring to pervert the course of justice following a trial in London.
A jury found the two men had plotted to suppress evidence in the collapsed 2014 drugs trial of British pop singer and TV star Tulisa Contostavlos, which resulted from a Mahmood operation.
Homeless charity aims to double housing facilities by 2020
The Peter McVerry Trust is aiming to more than double its housing stock from 165 to 450 units by 2020.
As part of plans included in its strategic plan 2016-2020, published this morning, it will also roll out its Housing First programme for young people leaving care and those exiting institutions.
Under the plans, the charity aims to implemented new support models to connect tenants with their communities.
The Trust will also invest resources in secondary schools in disadvantaged areas based on information about where homeless children have come from.
