Record nominations
by Mehak Dugal

Tánaiste Micheál Martin is to travel to Lebanon today where he will visit Irish troops and place a wreath in memory of soldier Seán Rooney and other Defence Forces troops who have died while on duty

 

Meanwhile, the Government faced questions from the UN Child Rights Committee in Geneva on Tuesday over “alarming” delays in assessments for children with disabilities and mental health issues. Ireland, as a party to the Child Rights Convention, is required to undergo regular reviews by the UN committee of 18 independent international experts.

 

Thousands of people facing drastic cuts to their pensions “do not have a voice” if they are retired more than six months, politicians will be told today. The hearing follows news of former ESB and Waterford Crystal workers backing a new bill that would abolish time restrictions to bring grievances against former employers to the Workplace Relations Commission. 

 

The Gardaí have demanded that a special taskforce be set up to protect members who are “routinely” getting injured while on duty.

 

Overseas, Chris Hipkins has been sworn in as New Zealand’s 41st prime minister, following the unexpected resignation last week of Jacinda Ardern. He will have less than nine months before contesting a tough general election, with opinion polls indicating his Labour Party is trailing its conservative opposition.

 

And a rare green coloured comet will become visible to the naked eye above Ireland this week, becoming brightest on 1st and 2nd February.

 

Finally with nine nods, Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin broke the record for most nominations for an Irish film. Paul Mescal, on a roll since his breakthrough with Normal People, competes in best actor for his performance in Charlotte Wells’s Aftersun. Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan also all get acting nods for Banshees.

 

Have a good day folks!

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