GOOD MORNING. 

Here’s all the news you need to know to start the day.

Storm Amy

1. Storm Amy has left thousands of homes and businesses without power, with Dublin Airport urging passengers to check the status of their flights after more were cancelled this morning due to the impact of the storm. 

Asylum seekers

2. People seeking international protection in Ireland have told The Journal that they found aspects of the government’s offer of a payment to drop their claims infuriating, naive and little better than a “bribe” to leave the country.

Local policing

3. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has signed off on a new plan for management of local policing committees after complaints over delays to its implementation.

Áras race

4. Heather Humphreys has said she “absolutely supported” the introduction of legislation to impose stricter penalties on drink drivers, after former transport minister Shane Ross said she was “absolutely opposed” to it.

Guess who

5. A new saviour has promised €30 million to make Waterford Airport viable for commercial flights for the first time in almost a decade – but elected politicians are not allowed to know the name of the mystery investor before they vote to give the land to them.

North Wall

6. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses following an armed robbery in Dublin’s north inner city.

Budget 2026

7. In his analysis, Paul O’Donoghue writes that the government is set to reduce the hospitality VAT rate in next week’s budget, a move that he says will cost the state several hundred million euros per year in foregone tax revenue. 

Gaza

8. Donald Trump has told Israel to “immediately” stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release all of the remaining Israeli hostages as part of the US President’s plan to end the conflict in Gaza.

Good news

9. A Dublin-based emergency medicine specialist has attended nearly 50 serious medical emergencies in the last three months, volunteering his time alongside CRITICAL, a lifesaving charity.