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Mon, 28 Dec, 2015 - 00:00

IRELAND

A war of words has ignited between the Taoiseach and Tánaiste over the sensitive right-to-die issue. The split of opinion is the latest in a number of cracks which have opened up between the Government parties in the run-up to the election.

Large stretches of the country’s roads have significant defects, the first national survey of local and regional routes shows. The survey comes as the RSA has renewed its appeal for care and vigilance on the roads after nine road deaths over the Christmas period.

The partner of a man who vanished a week ago said she’s losing hope of finding him alive. Ciara Byrne, who is desperately trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of her partner, Diarmuid Twomey, in Cork last Sunday week, said she has told their two young daughters that “Daddy is lost”.

The Irish Naval Service rescued 8,631 people during its humanitarian missions in the Mediterranean this year. The staggering figure was revealed in the Naval Service’s annual report issued yesterday, which also noted that 39 bodies were recovered by the three ships deployed to the area in response to the exodus from Syria.

WORLD

Germany’s finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble, and a senior Bavarian politician have criticised Greece’s role in Europe’s biggest migration crisis since the Second World War.

British prime minister David Cameron has promised to send more troops to “do whatever is needed” to help people in large swathes of northern England stricken by floods.

A man wades through flood waters at Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire

PIC: Peter Byrne/PA

SPORT

No booing, not even an ironic cheer, just a quiet, frustrated resignation from Thomond Park regulars that things are getting worse rather than better for Munster.

Having played in a era he describes as “mostly serious but always enjoyable”, what goalkeeping great Seamus Durack sees going on now in the GAA he determines as contradicting what the association meant to him and those before. “I am delighted I played hurling in a free-for-all time,” he says. “Where winning wasn’t absolutely everything. They were happier times for the GAA.”

BUSINESS

John Daly looks back at the best of business reading from 2015.

The popularity of internet shopping has led to a boom in online exporting. Consumers live in a world of instant gratification: They want a large range of products and they want to get them quickly.

ANALYSIS

After another year of high drama and lower farce, Shaun Connolly looks back at the heroes and villains of the past 12 months in Irish politics

LIFESTYLE

Patience, perseverance, the dangers of patricide... The life lessons from a galaxy far, far away can come in handy here on Earth, writes Benji Wilson

VIDEO

There has been some very impressive Christmas lights displays across the country this month all in preparation for the big day tomorrow but there is a special story behind one Tipperary man’s Christmas lights.

VIRAL

Here’s a top 10 list of the most unwanted items this Christmas from the music, film and gaming world – and some of them may surprise you.

Youtuber Mark Nutt decided he'd let his Grandma experience virtual reality for the first time and the result is brilliant. Mark's Grandma was watching a VR roller coaster simulation.

TECHNOW

GAMING: Those counting down the days to Uncharted 4's release will have to wait a little longer. Uncharted 4 has been delayed until April 29th.

MOVIES: Members of the Dublin Film Critics Circle (DFCC) have voted Pixar's Inside Out the best film of 2015.

TECH: Competitive skiers work and train incredibly hard knowing that just one mistake could spell the end of their race. Now they have to account for drones falling from the sky too!

SHOWBIZ

Wedding bells chimed more than a few times in 2015, with celebrity couples tying the knot left, right and centre. Can you remember which celebs got hitched this year?