EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the stories you need to know as you start your day.

1. #RANSOMWARE: The Irish Government has said it hasn’t been affected by a global hacking attack which has affected State services in a large number of countries (RTÉ).

2. #CRASH: A 17-year-old has died in a single vehicle crash in Meath.

3. #SEIZURE: A man has been arrested after gardaí seized €240,000 worth of cannabis herb in Dublin.

4. #BLAIR: Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was in Ireland yesterday answering questions on Brexit, Europe and the prospect of a united Ireland.

5. #GARDAÍ: Gardaí engaged in wiretapping the phones of innocent people in the past, according to an investigation in the Irish Independent.

6. #COMEY: Former FBI director James Comey declined an invitation to testify in front of Congress yesterday, as US president Donald Trump came under mounting pressure to clarify comments he had made around recording conversations he had with Comey (CNN).

7. #RIP: A young girl died yesterday after falling ill at a swimming pool in Dublin.

8. #DARA QUIGLEY: A vigil was held last night for Dara Quigley, who died by suicide last month. A Garda video of Quigley walking naked was posted online prior to her death.

9. #DRUG USE: We spoke to a homeless drug user in Dublin as well as a project worker and addiction specialist to get a snapshot of the issues being faced in the streets of the capital in 2017.