Your Tuesday morning catch-up

Good morning. Here’s everything you need to know before you start your day.

TOP STORIES

Hard-pressed consumers already struggling with a myriad of bills are to be hit with hikes of up to 12%  in the cost of their insurance as premiums continue to spiral even higher .

Phil Hogan’s handling of Irish Water has been strongly criticised by a Labour minister who attacked the former Fine Gael minister for “threatening people” over the charges.

Elsewhere, There is an “alarming” lack of knowledge about obesity in this country , according to research from the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP).

In Cork, two of the country’s leading developers have warned that a merger of Cork city and county councils could cost jobs and investment and be “hugely damaging” for the future of the city. Owen O’Callaghan of O’Callaghan Properties, and John Cleary of JCD, issued the stark warning as the Cork Local Government Review (CLGR) group, reviewing the case for a council merger or the first extension of the city boundary in 50 years, prepares to report to Government next month.

This American man went to North Korea and shared the experience on Instagram http://t.co/nBKrbvRuJi pic.twitter.com/GYLT3PacSN

— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) August 24, 2015