Lunchtime briefing: Key questions in Grace abuse scandal must finally be answered. Catch up on the headlines
'GRACE' ABUSE SCANDAL
The Government is unlikely to accept a partial publication of two HSE reports into the Grace foster abuse scandal and may attempt to force their immediate and full release if they are not made public this week.
Last month’s long-awaited independent report into the HSE’s handling of the Grace foster abuse scandal has given Government a clear blueprint for what its state inquiry into the case must examine, writes
Commission of inquiry will be set up despite an orchestrated campaign to destroy the reputations of whistleblowers who exposed scandal, writes
IRELAND
A row has erupted in Kerry after members of the Healy-Rae political dynasty were accused of “shamelessly” taking credit for the work of other councillors.
Rents still have the potential to rise by more than 25%, according to a housing expert.
Hotel search website trivago.ie have announced the best hotels in Ireland, according to more than 175 million customer reviews.
The Government is unlikely to accept a partial publication of two HSE reports into the Grace foster abuse scandal and may attempt to force their immediate and full release if they are not made public this week.
WORLD
A Swedish prosecuting official has arrived at the Ecuadorian embassy in London to be present while Julian Assange is interviewed about a sex allegation.
Oscar Pistorius has been moved at his request to a prison that is better able to accommodate disabled offenders, the South African government has said.
Donald Trump insists Americans have nothing to fear when he gets into the White House.
At least six civilians have been killed in a suicide attack south of Baghdad, Iraq's Interior Ministry said.
SPORT
Ireland might have gone clear at the summit of Group D but Martin O’Neill is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
The contrast in advance of this test against Canada to the series opener against New Zealand last week could not have been more stark. After beating the All Blacks for the first time in 29 attempts spread over 111 years, how could the Irish camp stay focused and gear up for the next challenge?
If the name of the game in Ireland’s World Cup qualifying group is to pick your rivals off one by one, then Harry Arter feels Austria might be the first victim to perish.
Joe Schmidt believes Ireland’s sensational victory over the All Blacks has “poked the bear” ahead of their rematch with the world champions in Dublin on Saturday.
Hubris has been a rare commodity on Notorious nights over the past three years as Conor McGregor has risen from reluctant plumber to unrepentant showman in the self-anointed fasted growing sport in the world.
OPINION
US domestic and economic policy are likely to change utterly now Donald Trump is in power, but his foreign policy remains a mystery, writes .
BUSINESS
Finance Minister Michael Noonan is expected to offer reassurances about the country's enduring appeal when he meets potential investors in the United States this week.
Growth in the Irish construction industry has hit a seven-month high, new figures indicate.
LIFESTYLE
Melania Trump will be only the second immigrant First Lady and the first to have posed nude in a magazine, writes
SHOWBIZ
After rave reviews at this year’s Electric Picnic, Jenny Greene and the RTÉ concert orchestra played the 3Arena last night and it, yet again, went down a storm.
VIRAL
Whether it’s been your favourite celebrity passing away or your least favourite gaining public office, 2016 has been undeniably tough. But now things are looking up, after McDonald’s released a Nutella burger.
If you’re looking up at the moon this evening thinking it looks especially large, you’re not wrong: this is your first glimpse of the incredible supermoon that will reach full maturity tonight.
VIDEO - OUR CHOICE
This year, the big retail companies have been quicker off the mark than ever before and more and more Christmas adverts are being released daily. We'll post the latest ones as they come out right here. Don't forget to vote for your favourite in our poll.
TECHNOW
: It's almost Christmas time, and PlayStation is looking to remind you just how many awesome experiences are on the way. So they've put together a big advertisement called The King. It's about a monarch who is bored with sitting on his throne, remembering past adventures. Check it out.
: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is in cinemas this week, and it's about to kick off the frenzy of the Harry Potter world yet again.
: Original programming has worked for the likes of Amazon and Netflix and now Spotify is getting into the game. They have a few productions already live, including a documentary about Metallica, and a new one has debuted today. Drawn and Recorded is an animated show with 10 episodes. Each takes a quick look at a major moment in music history.
MOST READ RIGHT NOW
Chronic anxiety triggered by stress may be driven by an overcharged immune system, research suggests. Scientists studying stressed mice found a link between the spleen, the immune system’s “engine room”, and the brain.
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