Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government is looking at a continuation of a high level of restrictions to the Easter period, with clarity on the situation expected in the week commencing 20 February.

There were 990 confirmed Covid-19 patients being treated in hospital at 8pm last night, the first time the number has been below 1,000 since early January.

Up to 4,000 children with additional educational needs will return to in-person education today as special schools throughout the country reopen their doors.

Democrats will continue to present evidence today in the impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump.

Status Yellow warnings for snow, ice and strong winds are in operation with sleet and snow expected to sweep across the country over the next 24 hours.

An Irish-based human rights advocacy group has said that 2020 created significant new risks for human rights defenders working across the world as the Covid-19 pandemic took hold.

The Taoiseach has said there is a need to dial down the rhetoric and tensions over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic has accused the UK of failing to implement a range of obligations under the Northern Ireland Protocol, and says that sweeping changes to the protocol will not be possible.

Between 20 to 29 children are expected to resume their education this morning at St Michael's House Special School in Dublin's Baldoyle.

Saudi authorities have released prominent women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul after nearly three years in detention, her family said, as the kingdom comes under renewed US pressure over its human rights record.

A new funding scheme is to be launched to help local authorities open up and create public spaces and facilities dedicated to the arts, culture and festivals.

Indian rescuers have begun drilling from above a debris-filled tunnel in a desperate bid to reach dozens of people missing since a flash flood likely caused by a breaking glacier four days ago.

Making sure a mask fits snugly on the face and use of two masks is likely to significantly reduce a person's exposure to the coronavirus, laboratory experiments described by US health officials showed.

The Department of Health has been notified of 54 further deaths of people with Covid-19 and an additional 1,006 cases.

The HSE has said it has implemented a recommendation from NPHET on the resumption of twice testing for all close contacts of a confirmed case.

The GAA has revealed that Government representatives have clarified that inter-county Gaelic Games activity is not covered under the current Level 5 exemptions for elite sports, meaning no training or games are likely until Easter.

A man who said his life was ruined by the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his teacher at school in Dublin 40 years ago, has described him as an "evil" man who "preyed" on him and other children for decades.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said she "deeply regrets" mistakes that were made in the commission's move to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol on 29 January.

It's not often that the Healy-Rae brothers come under attack from fellow opposition TDs, but today the tables were turned by Labour's Duncan Smith.