Your Wednesday lunchtime catch-up

Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

TOP STORIES

Tánaiste Joan Burton has revealed that she had a "long conversation" with the Taoiseach about not calling an early General Election.

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has today called for a 20% tax on soft drinks to be introduced in the upcoming Budget.

Oireachtas lawyers have asked for more time to prepare their defence in a “very novel” case brought by billionaire businessman Denis O’Brien.

"Nobody told me he was going to die. I watched an awful thing unfold and there was nothing I could do." Geraldine Barry watched the love of her life die in Mercy University Hospital Cork after he developed septic shock following surgery.

WORLD

Kate and Gerry McCann’s decision to close their Find Madeleine Campaign Twitter account because of online abuse has been criticised by the mother of snatched toddler Ben Needham.

The mother of a gunman who killed nine people and himself at an Oregon community college allowed her troubled son to have guns.