However, Stephen O’Hare cautioned that “no one measure will, by itself, halt the upward trend in new infections seen in Ireland over the past few years.”

New guidance for Catholic schools issued by the Vatican rejecting the idea that people can self-declare their gender “ignores the real and legitimate experiences” of young trans people, according to Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI).

The Government has been told that its refusal to commission an independent investigation into the treatment of women in Magdalene Laundries is an issue that is “not going to go away”.

Ireland’s laws on race crime need an overhaul in light of growing levels of abuse and a lack of confidence in the existing system, a conference heard yesterday.

DAVID COLDRICK is the surprise appointment to referee the All-Ireland senior football decider between Cork and Down in Croke Park on September 19.