A homeless man spotted by a priest climbing 30ft up scaffolding to the rear of a cathedral had left his phone charging in the building and was trying to retrieve it, a court has heard.

The government is facing further questions over how Health Minister Simon Harris' story has “shifted” around advice he received over offering women free repeat smear tests.

The current chief executive of Fingal County Council takes over following the departure of Tony O'Brien last year.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has acknowledged the “enormous anxiety” among women over the mounting cervical cancer test result delays, amid criticism over the government's free offer of repeat tests.

Health Minister Simon Harris has hit back at criticisms levelled at him by the former HSE chief, saying Tony O’Brien took the “right decision” to step down.

Your morning's headlines:

Your morning headlines.

HSE Director General Tony O'Brien will leave his role in July, four weeks earlier than expected.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

Trolley watch by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has found that 526 patients are on trolleys in hospitals across the country today.

The Director General of the HSE has said he is cautiously optimistic that more children are getting the HPV vaccine this year.

Management experts are warning it may be impossible to follow through on threats to fire under-performing civil servants.

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has called for the head of the HSE to be sacked over what he calls a "vicious and unwarranted" attack on parents.

The head of the HSE has been accused of treating the Public Accounts Committee with contempt.

Fewer than 400 people died by suicide last year - the lowest level in more than 20 years - but there was a 6.2% increase among women.

Health Minister Simon Harris has said the cyber security of Irish hospitals is being "closely monitored" in the wake of confirmed attacks on hospitals in Britain, writes Daniel McConnell of the Irish Examiner.

There were no trains or Bus Éireann buses operating out of Limerick, causing chaos for commuters.

Here's your evening update.

Two Fianna Fáil deputies are today putting a motion to the party, opposing plans to build the new National Children's Hospital at St James in Dublin.

A campaigner for a different site for the National Children's Hospital is voicing concern about the reported contract price for the project.

The head of the HSE, Tony O'Brien, says €9bn in capital spending is needed to end hospital overcrowding.

We will find out later how the HSE will use €14bn to run the health service next year.

Latest: Naas General Hospital has confirmed that its Emergency Department (ED) reopened at 9pm this evening, with the Department now receiving both walk-in attendances and ambulance admissions.

The responsibility for the deaths of five babies in Portlaoise hospital may never be known, according to the head of the HSE.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) tonight conceded that no official apology was given to the intellectually disabled victim of rape and abuse in a foster home, despite earlier claiming it was.

The head of the HSE will next week appear before the Public Accounts Committee to answer questions about alleged abuse of children with disabilities at a foster home in the South East.

The Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has said he is personally "ashamed" at the treatment of grieving mothers at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

A major report on patient safety standards at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise will be published this morning.

The head of the HSE has admitted that the rest of the health service will have to suffer because of a decision to pay for expensive drugs for two patients with a rare blood disorder.

The HSE has reached an agreement to provide the drug Soliris to sufferers of two rare diseases at an annual cost of €430,000 per patient.

The head of the HSE Tony O'Brien has confirmed that a confidential informant has been appointed to handle allegations of abuse at care homes.

The Head of the Health Service Executive says there will always be people on trolleys at Irish hospitals, but he says they won't be there for such long periods of time.

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has today announced the appointment of Jim Breslin as the new Secretary General of the Department of Health.

The HSE's Director General Tony O'Brien has ordered a report into the circumstances in which a woman was refused an abortion after claiming she was suicidal.

A blueprint for the new National Children's Hospital has been approved.

One of the two health bosses called on to resign by the chair of the Public Accounts Committee has rejected claims he's done anything wrong.

The Health Service boss has admitted paying out more than €258,000 in agency fees because they couldn't find anyone to take on a job paying €116,000.

The Director General of the HSE has confirmed they have told some staff in hospitals and agencies who get top-up salaries to prove they are entitled to them.

HSE officials will face questions today on the number of discretionary medical cards that are being returned after the Government halted a major review.

Minister James Reilly will update the Dail's Health Committee this morning on issues including Universal Health Insurance proposals and the Ambulance Service.

The Public Accounts Committee has been told it cannot release the salaries of senior managers at the Rehab Group.

The Minister for Health, James Reilly, has started work on cutting hospital waiting lists.

The Director General of the HSE Tony O'Brien has said the agency will mull over legal action against the former CRC chief executive Paul Kiely.

The HSE says it may be necessary to call the Gardaí to discuss financial arrangements at the Central Remedial Clinic.

The HSE claims it is looking into the scale of the pension arrangements of the former Chief Executive of the Central Remedial Clinic Paul Kiely.

Around 100 children with hearing difficulties will be given cochlear implants in each ear from next year.

The HSE has said it plans to make €619m in cuts next year, down from an original projection of €666m.