An internal row has erupted in government over the health service's budget crisis according to the Irish Examiner, with Tánaiste Micheál Martin defending the health minister from a flurry of criticism by Fine Gael members. Stephen Donnelly has come under fire for his department's management of its finances, with HSE boss Bernard Gloster saying that his allocation for next year will be below what is required.

Professor Michael Barry, Director of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE), said that with no ringfenced funding for new drugs next year there will be delays in patient access to new medicines.

The Government is today expected to agree the payment dates for energy credits and extra welfare payments which were included in the cost of living package in last week's Budget.

The Irish Times edition includes an opinion piece on the Four-Day week titled: Will the four-day working week ever take off? An employer and a business group give their verdicts. You can read the full article HERE.

US president Joe Biden is to travel to Israel on Wednesday as the US said it was working on a plan to facilitate aid reaching Gaza and to establish safe areas for civilians while European Union leaders have issued a joint statement calling for respect for international law and are to hold an emergency meeting in a bid to take control of a bungled response to the conflict between Israel and Hamas. 

Belgium has raised its terror alert to the highest level after two Swedes were shot dead in Brussels last night.

There has been a 35% increase in demand for services by victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, according to Ruhama. Last year, 497 individuals were supported by the charity, according to its latest annual report.