A line from that classic 1995 television advert came to mind this week: “It’s good to talk.” But instead of actor Bob Hoskins extolling the virtues of phone lines, the phrase found vivid application in a growing technology perfectly suited to these self isolating times we find ourselves in, writes John Daly.

Travel restrictions and mandatory isolation measures are consistent with World Health Guidelines and that we should implement such measures as a matter of urgency.

Italy is reporting 250 new deaths related to the Covid-19 coronavirus.

The European Union has urged member countries to put health screening in place at their borders to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and also pledged a €37bn aid fund.

The public has been urged not to panic as a record 27 new cases of coronavirus were confirmed and drastic new measures were introduced to slow the spread of the virus.

Tesla will probably sell about 10% fewer cars this year than previously expected as the coronavirus outbreak weighs on demand for vehicles, said investment bank Morgan Stanley.

As coronavirus continues to dominate world news and Ireland waits to see how extensively it spreads here, plans for travel over the next few months looks uncertain.

Record seizures of cocaine have been made in the European countries that account for the bulk of shipments to the continent, both in 2018 and again in 2019.

Troy Parrott and James McCarthy look like missing out on Ireland’s Euro play-off against Slovakia after manager Mick McCarthy insisted they both have a queue ahead of them to jump.

Kenny will be in charge when the competition gets underway in September.

Investment in childhood education must remain a central priority in any programme for government negotiations, writes Grainne McKenna

Róisín Maher is from Clonmel, Co Tipperary, and is the artistic director and co-founder (with her sister Clíona) of the Finding a Voice concert series in Clonmel on March 6-8.

Craig Breen’s return to the World Rally Championship with Hyundai Motorsport has given the Waterford ace the opportunity to showcase his ability on this weekend’s Rally Sweden, where, just two years ago he secured his best ever result (second) in the WRC.

Domino's Pizza has reported a 2.6% rise in sales from its restaurant operations in the Republic for the fourth quarter of 2019.

Mariella Frostrup tells Richard Purden about her book on female travellers, her days in the music business and childhood memories of her time in Ireland

Six months after Unilever’s Alan Jope suggested he may get rid of brands without “purpose”, investors are wondering when he will deliver.

I see that a website describes the call of Canarian cory’s shearwaters as ‘waca waca’. It’s a mad, hysterical call, uttered when the parent birds arrive to feed their nestlings.

We have little control over global events that threaten our energy security — so this State must take initiatives here at home, including cutting back on the energy we use, writes Paul Deane.

With labour shortages at the lower-skilled end of the jobs market becoming apparent, the meat industry has to rely heavily on workers from outside the European Economic Area (the EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), for whom hundreds of permits are issued annually by the Government.

It could be called money for old rope. Enterprising people are being urged to look at ways of turning abandoned fishing nets into useful products.