NEED TO CATCH up? The Journal brings you a round-up of the day’s news.

IRELAND 

A dog running along Dollymount Strand in Dublin this morning © RollingNews.ie © RollingNews.ie

• House prices climbed last year at almost double the growth rate seen in 2023, leaving prices 16.8% higher than at the peak of the Celtic Tiger property boom in 2007.
• A range of proposals to reform the Dáil have been put forward by Opposition TDs following last month’s row over speaking rights.
• A woman apologised to the Department of Social Protection and to a GP for her actions in taking advantage of Covid conditions to deceive them.
• The Irish government would consider sending peacekeepers to Ukraine if a ceasefire is agreed.
• A “serious letter” written by twelve paediatric surgeons expressed “significant concerns” around staffing levels within the new National Children’s Hospital.
• The Northern Ireland Executive announced that works are finally due to start on a new children’s hospital in Belfast — five years after the hospital was initially supposed to open and for triple the cost.
• A naval ship suffered damage to its hull when it collided with a quayside in Cork Harbour.
• A US government defence agency has been hired by the Irish government and the Irish Defence Forces as consultants to advise on reorganisation of the Irish Air Corps, army and navy.
• The High Court is set to hear a petition for a full recount of the Seanad’s agricultural panel after a candidate lost out by 0.116 of a vote. 

THE WORLD

A sign outside the CERN visitor centre in Geneva, Switzerland. Andrew Walsh / The Journal Andrew Walsh / The Journal / The Journal

#UKRAINE US President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of being a “dictator” and baselessly claimed that Ukraine “started” the war.

#VATICAN Pope Francis has remained in contact with Gaza’s only Catholic parish despite his hospitalisation.

#SWITZERLAND Ireland’s long-awaited application to join the European Organisation of Nuclear Research (CERN) has been “accepted in principle”, meaning that Ireland is on the path to membership.

PARTING SHOT

The latest episode of The Journal’s weekly podcast The Explainer is out now. This week’s episode looks at what’s going on with the US, Russia and Ukraine.