Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you really, really need to know with your morning coffee.
1. #POLL: Support for Fianna Fail hits its lowest level ever in the latest Ipsos/MRBI poll for the Irish Times, with its popularity rating now at 17 per cent; there’s also been a drop in support for Labour, which is down eight points to 25 per cent. Sinn Fein has seen a huge surge in support to 15 per cent, while Fine Gael has bounced back, with 30 per cent of those surveyed saying they would vote for it if there was a general election tomorrow.
2. #ABORTION: The European Court of Human Rights is due to issue a ruling at about ten o’clock this morning on the case of A, B, and C versus Ireland – three women who say Ireland breaches their rights and put their health at risk by forcing them to travel abroad for abortion. The case could have ramifications for all of Europe.
3. #BRRRRRR: With Met Eireann warning that another big freeze is on the way, Dublin city council is to curtail water supplies at night again. Road chiefs have said grit will have to be rationed – and public transport may be the only option for those travelling home for Christmas.
4. #SWINE FLU: It’s back. The Rotunda has confirmed that “a small number” of swine flu cases have been identified in the hospital, putting it into partial lockdown. The Irish Times adds that a pregnant woman transferred from a different maternity hospital is in a serious condition with swine flu at the Mater But how worried should we be, asks the BBC?
5. #DEBT RELIEF: The Law Reform Commission has recommended that no one should face jail for failing to repay personal debt, and is backing the introduction of a debt relief order for those whose circumstances are so bad they have virtually no prospect of paying back. This would be a once-in-a-lifetime order, which would effectively discharge the debt.
6. #MURPHY REPORT: A chapter from the Murphy Report on the former priest Tony Walsh which had been witheld is expected to be published on Monday following a high court decision.
7. #PHOEBE: The family of Phoebe Prince has settled its case against her school. However, it’s being reported that federal prosecutors are now investigating the school’s handling of the case.
8.#ASSANGE: Swedish authorities will be at the British High Court this morning, as they attempt to block bail for Julian Assange. His supporters have raised $360,000 to run a full page ad in Thursday’s NYTimes in defence of the Wikileaks founder.
9. #RUBBERBANDITS: The Irish Daily Mail claims to have uncovered the real identities of Ireland’s internationally-acclaimed pretenders for the Christmas Number 1 – and shock! The Rubberbandits are not even from Limerick, a revelation which may change Willie O’Dea’s mind about them. “Far from it damaging the image of Limerick… I think that if it goes to number one it’ll reflect well on Limerick. It’s another success for Limerick,” he told Joe Duffy yesterday. In case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s what all the fuss is about.
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