A Garda strike would bring fear to the streets and damage public confidence in the force, groups have warned writes Caroline O'Doherty.

Storm Gertrude is still affecting parts of the North and North West with a yellow wind warning in place for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.

West Cork was one of the worst damaged regions in the country during storms over the weekend, and the county council is to seek emergency government funding to deal with washed- away roads and bridges.

Tropical Storm Erika has pounded the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica, unleashing flooding and mudslides that killed at least four people and knocked out power and water supplies.

A $1.54m (€869,000) masterpiece by an 17th century Italian artist was back on display in the Taiwan capital after a 12-year-old boy tripped, fell and punched a hole in the canvass, the exhibit organiser said.

Youghal Town Council is to get €280,000 to restore the storm-damaged boardwalk.

Despite strong warnings that Kerry’s road network will deteriorate further, funding for the county council’s 2014 roadworks programme has been slashed by 34%.

Another €4m-plus is needed by Cork County Council to fix storm damage on top of the €3.98m it has already received from the Government.

The repair bill for storm damage in Kerry will be considerably more than the €21m already applied for in a Kerry County Council submission to the OPW.

A 19th century sea wall is at risk of collapsing onto one of the west’s most popular beaches while the adjacent road continues to sink after being damaged in the recent storms.

Limerick is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Dublin, yet we heard on a Sunday afternoon, and again on Monday, mid-morning, and at 3pm, on the news bulletin, that a minister was travelling to the city, to personally inspect the flood damage.