EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.
1. #DATA PROTECTION: The security flaw that has potentially put thousands of secondary school pupils’ personal details at risk is now being investigated by the Data Protection Commissioner. TheJournal.ie revealed on Saturday that a flaw in the data management system used by a number of secondary schools meant that sensitive data could be accessed.
2. #CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL: The decision on the location of the new National Children’s Hospital will be made next week, the Irish Times reports today. The already delayed decision will be discussed at next week’s Cabinet meeting as the Irish Independent reports that Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore is now carrying out his own research on potential locations amid a ‘breakdown of trust’ with Health Minister James Reilly.
3. #ABORTION: In other health related news the report of the expert group on abortion is expected ‘shortly’ according to an answer the Health Minister gave to a parliamentary question last week amid criticism of the government for the delay in the report’s conclusion. The matter is not expected to be dealt with until after the upcoming children’s referendum.
4. #US 2012: US President Barack Obama and his Republican challenger Mitt Romney faced off in the last debate of the presidential election in Florida last night. Foreign policy was the topic up for discussion with snap polls showing Obama came out on top but pundits saying the debate was no game-changer as the polls tighten with the election now exactly two weeks away. Catch-up with our liveblog from overnight.
5. #CONSULTANTS: The Irish Hospital Consultants Association has dismissed as ”a distraction and a waste of time” a Labour Court hearing on work practice reforms that will take place this Thursday. It comes despite a warning from the HSE that hospital consultants are at risk of pay cuts if they fail to attend the hearing.
6. #AVIVA: Some 80,000 customers of Aviva’s property fund will be refunded as much as €100,000 following losses made in recent years, the Irish Independent reports. Payments totalling €25 million are expected to be issued to customers in December over losses at the Aviva Irish Property Fund, Charlie Weston writes.
7. #ESM: The European Court of Justice is to hear arguments about the legality of the eurozone’s permanent bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, later today. The case, which is being argued by independent TD Thomas Pringle, suggests that the fund may not be compatible with current EU treaties.
8. #SAVILE: The BBC faces further crisis today in the wake of the Panorama programme which broadcast new allegations about the Newsnight programme’s decision to drop a story about former star Jimmy Savile’s alleged paedophilia last year. The corporation’s director general George Entwistle will be grilled by MPs investigating the matter today while in related news two charities set up in Savile’s name are to close.
9. #AUSTRALIA: After being famously slammed as a misogynist by the Australian prime minister Julia Gillard, conservative politician Tony Abbott has opened a new sexism row after claiming that the current government has a lack of experience in raising children, a veiled barb at Gillard who does not have any children.
NEW! The Dredge: Ailicia Silverstone is now selling sex toys – The day’s best celebrity dirt over on The Daily Edge>
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