LAST UPDATE | 24 Mar

GOOD MORNING.

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

Fuel price cuts

1. The government is expected to cut excise duty on diesel by 20 cent and by 15 cent on petrol until the end of May after cabinet meets today.

Iran strikes

2. Iran launched a new wave of missiles against Israel this morning, hours after US President Donald Trump hailed “very good” talks to end the war despite Tehran denying any dialogue had taken place.

EU-Australia trade deal

3. The European Union and Australia have struck a long-awaited free-trade deal, while also agreeing to boost defence cooperation and access to rare earth minerals.

CPAP machines

4. Thousands of sleep and respiratory care devices have been recalled in Ireland due to a defect related to foam inside them, The Journal Investigates can reveal.

World Cup qualifier

5. Irish fans have been descending on Dublin Airport to begin their pilgrimage to Prague ahead of Ireland’s crucial World Cup qualifier semi-final match against Czechia on Thursday.

Irish SMEs in defence

6. A law that currently requires the Government to give approval before the IDA and Enterprise Ireland can assist Irish SMEs who may be involved in the defence sector is to be scrapped by the Minister for Enterprise.

Planning

7. The Government’s legislation to restrict judicial reviews is set to impact people seeking to bring legal challenges in areas that have “nothing to do with planning and infrastructure”, such as social welfare and education, according to the Free Legal Advice Centre.

RIP

8. Irish actor Ben Keaton, who played Father Austin Purcell in Father Ted, has died at the age of 69.

Dublin by-election

9. Fine Gael has chosen Dublin’s Lord Mayor Ray McAdam to contest the upcoming Dublin Central by-election, where the party will be attempting to retain the seat vacated by former Fine Gael minister Paschal Donohoe late last year.