NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a roundup of today’s news.

IRELAND

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe with Fianna Fail Minister of State Sean Fleming brief the media on the report of the Retail Banking Review at Government Buildings Dublin. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

• Increases in toll charges on eight motorways are set to be deferred for six months.
• A man in his 20s was arrested in relation to an incident where a young boy was attacked by a dog in Wexford on Sunday.
• The HSE warned that flu is actively circulating in the community and has urged the public to take caution to prevent it spreading further.
• A date was set for the trial of a senior barrister accused of murdering a man in a shooting at a farm in Dublin.
• A group representing military officers said that the Defence Forces is in an “existential crisis” and warned that the recruitment target of 11,000 cannot be met.
• The HSE began notifying people whose information was illegally accessed during the criminal cyber-attack on the health service last year.
• The Minister for Agriculture said “unacceptable cultural barriers” that prevent women from taking over family farms need to be removed.
• The Special Criminal Court will rule on whether the contents of recorded conversations between Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch and former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall are admissible in evidence on Friday. 

INTERNATIONAL

The Ukrainian flag flutters at half mast near the Ukrainian Motherland monument in Kyiv, Ukraine. AP / PA Images AP / PA Images / PA Images

#UKRAINE An uneasy calm hung over Kyiv today as residents of the Ukrainian capital did what they could to prepare for anticipated Russian missile attacks aiming to take out more energy infrastructure as winter sets in.

#WEST BANK Israeli troops shot dead three Palestinians in the occupied West Bank today, the Palestinian health ministry said, with the Israeli army confirming troops fired on “rioters” who attacked soldiers.

#GREAT BARRIER REEF Australia’s environment minister said her government will lobby against Unesco adding the Great Barrier Reef to a list of endangered World Heritage sites, arguing that criticisms of government inaction on climate change are outdated.

PARTING SHOT

It was announced today that Dublin’s live animal crib has a new home.

Stanley Griffiths (11 months), Mary Jane O’Connell (2 years) and Bob the Border Collie in Stephen’s Green, at the launch of the Live Animal Crib. Sasko Lazarov Sasko Lazarov

The crib had been located outside the Mansion House since 1995, but Dublin Lord Mayor and Green Party Councillor Caroline Conroy last month proposed that the live animal element of the crib be scrapped, partly due to animal welfare concerns. 

The move was described as “grinch-like” by some.

Today, it’s been announced that the event will return in the new location of the Summer House in St Stephen’s Green.

The live animal crib will return on 8 December and will feature a donkey, two sheep, and a goat.

A statement from the Office of Public Works said that “animal welfare is paramount” and that the shelter in the Summer House will be installed in line with the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council’s Guidelines.

The statement added that all animals will be tended to onsite every day by their owner and will return to their farm in Wicklow each afternoon.

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More