State’s vaccine advisers have been asked for view on second booster for older people

Government facing battle with own TDs to keep restrictions for another fortnight

For retailers, the UK’s exit has complicated life but also broadened their horizons

UK immigration curbs on pickers has benefited Irish growers in a seasonal industry

Tara O’Halloran calls for urgent Government action to seek release of her husband

Minister willing to go before Oireachtas committee to answer any questions

Coveney foresees ‘landing zone’ over next two months if talks stay on track

Northern Ireland protocol cited as only fourth most significant challenge for businesses

Lifting of hospitality restrictions ‘all in play’ despite record Covid numbers, Holohan says

Younger people who must wait for booster shot due to infection will not get free PCR test

Nphet says it needs another week to know full effect of variant on hospital system

Government has relaxed testing and isolation rules for Covid cases and close contacts

Advisers say high-grade masks are better but people should only wear them if they want to

Public health team stops short of advising respirator or medical masks instead of cloth variety

Mary Lou McDonald says ‘stability’ should be focus rather than DUP ‘electoral positioning’

Dublin woman was one of seven students who survived the 2015 tragedy in the US

Infectious Diseases Society says changes will confuse and public may not comply

Soaring infection rates and a testing system close to breaking point have led to new rules

Those aged 4-39 who have symptoms advised to use rapid tests first in effort to ease demand

Facilities were set up at Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick and Royal Hospital Kilmainham

Immunologist says focus should be on hospitalisations rather than case numbers

Department braced for quadrupling of vet health certs on food exports from next year

With half of tests positive, senior official says focus should shift to ‘individual actions’

Parents can register children aged five to 11 who have a health condition

Highly infectious Omicron variant now accounting for 87% of cases in the Republic

Boosters for over-30s to be available from Wednesday as vaccination centres reopen

Ministers may consider tighter restrictions as Holohan warns of ‘rapid increase’ in cases

Fast-rising Omicron wave of infection pushes HSE coronavirus testing system to its limit

Early overseas evidence shows variant is not causing same level of severe disease

New health guidance issued for care homes in light of Omicron concerns over Christmas

Latest scheme on back of new rules ‘similar or better’ than supports at height of lockdown

Next phase of vaccination programme in January complicated by multiple rollouts

Incidence in those aged 19-34 up by between 50% and 70% in the course of last seven days

Private care homes criticise deal in funding for HSE homes under Fair Deal scheme

Fears expressed about impact of infection on hospitals as new strain takes over

Omicron variant pressure on hospitals may force imposition of more severe social curbs

Health expert says it would be ‘insane’ to reopen schools as there is no reason for it

Guests at Irish consulate’s media party told to get tested after attendee tests positive

Further 5,124 cases of Covid-19 confirmed, including Minister Eamon Ryan who is self-isolating at home

Outbreak in Portlaoise leads to several District Court cases being adjourned

Sea turtle found in ‘cold shock’ after being swept on wrong current by Storm Barra

Vaccination of children aged five to 11 to start with high-risk children next week

Tighter rules on social mixing over fears about more contagious Omicron variant

Major sporting events threatened due to concern over looming Omicron wave

HSE chief says health service is at ‘extremely high risk’ heading into a ‘wave of Omicron’

Carlow was worst-affected county in 14 days to December 13th, figures show

39 cases of Omicron now confirmed but 27% of new infections show marker for variant

Report on sex abuse at Donegal centre published before it was seen by all families

More than 1.3 million boosters are given in State so far in race against highly contagious Omicron variant

Attack believed to be contained to single hospital, as Reid describes risk as ‘moderate’

Varadkar welcomes extension while EU-UK talks on Northern Ireland protocol continue

Hiqa calls for urgent oversight of homecare as needs of State’s ageing population grow

TCD researchers find 51 per cent increased likelihood of developing symptoms

Moderna confined to those aged 30 years and over while under-30s will be given Pfizer

‘Only a matter of time’ before variant is more dominant in State as six cases now identified

HSE ‘working around the clock’ to put vaccine plan in place for 5-11 year age group

Six cases of Omicron variant detected in Ireland and 4,022 new Covid-19 cases reported

Coronavirus death toll in Republic during 21-month pandemic stands at 5,788

People queued at UCD for prolonged periods but demand outstripped capability at centre

Technical issues have complicated latest section of HSE’s vaccination programme

Omicron may now be in Ireland in significant numbers, according to senior figure

Department says ‘vast majority’ of 80,000 arrivals since Sunday had correct records

Children to be given two doses lower than those administered to adults

Further 81 Covid-19 deaths notified in past week as HSE reviews vaccine appointment system

Schools in 12 counties told to close as Government warns worst not yet over

High number of no-shows for booster appointments discussed at Cabinet meeting

Clare under red wind warning overnight while orange alert extended to Dublin

Co Cork woman Margaret Buttimer remanded over breach of bail conditions

Staff satisfaction with quality of care rises but four in 10 feel service is deteriorating

Donohoe says he will look at raising €5,000 weekly cap in Covid support for large businesses

New advice to schools on mask wearing for children to be issued on Monday

Cork’s test centre has highest pass rate with Dublin test centres among lowest

Reluctance among people aged 18 to 34 is slightly higher than the general population

‘Public health will advise, Government will decide,’ Micheál Martin says

Irish healthcare capital spend between 1970 and 1966 two-thirds that of other EU countries

Ministers and officials to consider reduced capacity for pubs and restaurants

HSE says falling case numbers among older people due to boosters a ‘cause for hope’

Author Adam Tooze says evolving virus is ‘teaching us the lesson’ of failing to prepare

Families happy to comply but want new rule to be temporary to reduce Covid-19 cases

TD who raised possibility of resigning gives ‘cautious welcome’ to scheme

Square-foot caps on rebuilding costs will still leave many property owners out of pocket

ICCL senior fellow says European Commission needs to act over pace of investigations

As many as 90 per cent of new cases in SA’s Gauteng province could be B.1.1.529

Nphet advises that children aged nine and over should wear face masks in school

Department of Health said 4,764 confirmed cases of Covid-19 on Thursday

Latest extension comes as HSE’s testing and tracing system is under severe pressure

Minister says there is ‘a lot at stake’ given potential ‘carryover’ to EU-UK trade deal

McGinley had been due to speak on Late Late Show about children, who were killed by their mother Deirdre Morley

Report shows 24 new outbreaks reported in schools in a week, an increase of eight

Doing more chores better protects against falls in older age, medical journal report finds

Vaccinations for primary school children may not begin until New Year, says Taoiseach

Messaging app provides additional information to EU users after order with €225m fine

Businesses and recruiters struggle to find staff in a market that now favours the worker

European Commission vice president met with UK’s David Frost on Friday

Ex-taoiseach says solving issues on political identity more difficult than trade issues

Local area data shows one in every 41 people in the town are infected

Loyalists see protocol as ‘a trick by the South’ to take over the North, says Ahern

Project to include construction of private road and bridge spanning the river Liffey

Holohan issues festive alert after more than 50,000 infections recorded in last fortnight

The Government has extended the booster programme to 2.2 million this week