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

1. #WATER CHARGES: Irish Water has denied that any rules were broken when its metering contract was awarded to GMC/Sierra last year.

2. #DATA DUMP: Meanwhile, emails seen by The Irish Times reveal staunch opposition by the Department of Social Protection to handing over PPS Numbers to the utility. Irish Water also did not engage with department officials until after posting application packs.

3. #CUTS: Low-income households fared worst in Budget 2015, according to new research. However, when all austerity Budgets are taken into account, it’s the high-earners who are worst off.

4. #ELEVENTH HOUR: The United States has avoided another shutdown after a $1.1 trillion spending bill was passed just hours before the deadline.

5. #UNPARLIAMENTARY: Minister Alan Kelly allegedly told Independent TD Mattie McGrath to ‘fuck off’ during a Dáil debate last night. Kelly has said he doesn’t recall using the expletive, but has apologised.

6. #RENDITIONS: A former private pilot has claimed that flights landing at Shannon from America were rarely checked, The Irish Times reports. The man carried a number of officials to and from Afghanistan.

7. #SEWAGE: A damning new report from the EPA has found 23% of Ireland’s main waste water treatment plants fall below required standards, RTÉ News reports, and could cost as much as €2bn to fix.

8. #ABUSE: Some staff at Áras Attracta have fled their homes, or even travelled abroad, following a torrent of online abuse, the Irish Daily Mail reports.

9. #COURTS: A grandmother who sent a g-string and bullet to a cold case detective has been found guilty of lying to GSOC over contact with a garda, the Sunday World reports. However, she was spared a prison sentence and fined €500.