Affordable housing to buy or rent is the biggest challenge facing Dublin from a business perspective, a new survey of businesses in and close to the capital has found. 85% cited the issues of accommodation, when asked to list the top three issues facing the county, followed by poor transport infrastructure which was cited by 53% and skills and labour shortages which was highlighted by 44% of firms.

Most schools in Northern Ireland are expected to be closed today as thousands of teachers join civil servants in strike action over pay. All the main teaching unions are taking part, including the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), which has not taken strike action before in its 125-year history.

The total withdrawal of partner access in maternity hospitals is “not appropriate”, the HSE has said, and that a “balance” must be found in wards. Over the last number of weeks, campaigners have criticised how partners continue to be restricted from attending antenatal appointments in some hospitals.

Members of the farming organisation Macra na Feirme are set to arrive at Government Buildings shortly after midday today following an almost 100km march. The group, which represents 10,000 young people living in rural Ireland, began its march from Athy, Co Kildare where it was founded in 1944.

People before Profit TD Paul Murphy has said that a protest outside his family home was “completely wrong and inappropriate” and that those who take part in such protests are doing the “dirty work” of the “landlord class”. The Dublin South-West TD was speaking after a group of protestors turned up outside his house, while Murphy and his partner were preparing to give their newborn baby a bath.

Meanwhile, Irish citizens in Sudan are being urged to clarify information they see on social media and to only follow official advice from the Irish Embassy. The fighting has killed hundreds of people and left some neighbourhoods of greater Khartoum in ruins. So far more than 70 Irish citizens have been safely evacuated from Sudan.

In other news, US President Joe Biden formally confirmed his plans to run for re-election in 2024.

And a text messaging system to warn Irish citizens of large-scale emergencies is expected to be introduced at the end of next year at the latest. The new ‘Public Warning System’ will enable mobile phone operators in Ireland to send warnings to the public via text message on behalf of the government before or during large-scale public emergencies when there’s danger to life.

Zen

Destiny's Child were at No.1 on the UK singles chart on this day in 2001 with 'Survivor'.

After the group went through several lineup changes, critics compared the rotating roster to the elimination reality TV show Survivor. In response, Beyoncé wrote this song and recorded it with permanent group members Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Enjoy!