A Cork TD says it's "outrageous" that women are being forced to attend some maternity appointments alone.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire spoke in the Dáil about his own experience of waiting outside Cork University Maternity Hospital while his partner Eimear attended an emergency appointment at the Early Pregnancy Unit in December.
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The ESRI say the government need to double its annual investment on home-building to prevent a lack of supply for years to come.
About €2bn is spent by the state every year, delivering around 9,000 new homes.
But the think-tank says that should be increased to €4bn.
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The Taoiseach says the state needs to provide better facilities, and redesign streets, for people to socialise outdoors.
Hundreds gathered in Cork city last weekend and the Port of Cork is to fence off the quays to avoid a repeat of this
for the June bank holiday weekend.
Micheál Martin says the government will work with local authorities to facilitate safe socialing outside.
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The National Immunisation Advisory Committee has advised reducing the gap between doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine.
It has recommended 8 week intervals instead of the current 12 weeks.
The advice could see thousands of people who've had a first dose fully vaccinated sooner.
