The Taoiseach has said he shares people's frustrations and disappointment with the new restrictions announced yesterday evening, which are aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19.

Police in Detroit said they have taken into custody the parents of a Michigan teenager accused of killing four students at his high school.

The Government is announcing restrictions on hospitality and household gatherings following recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team and a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Covid-19.

If ever a reason was needed to be concerned about the type of people that children can meet on the internet, Kieran Creaven is it.

Officially first reported as B.1.1.529, it has the most mutations of any variant and has spread to most countries across the globe since first being detected in southern Africa in mid November.

The Government has agreed to introduce new restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 ahead of the Christmas season.

The Omicron variant spread in Australia has tested plans to reopen the economy as a cluster in Sydney grew to 13 cases and an infection was suspected in the state of Queensland.

The achievements of the black and mixed race community in Ireland will be recognised at an awards ceremony this weekend.

It's difficult to believe that we are in such a similar situation again this year as Christmas approaches, but somehow we have made it to this point, despite cracks in solidarity and waning energy.

The Irish Government now puts the likelihood of the UK triggering Article 16 of the Northern Ireland at 50:50, but not before Christmas.

Pope Francis has arrived in Athens for the first visit to the Greek capital by a pontiff in two decades.

A street in New York has been named after Irish LGBT rights campaigner Tarlach Mac Niallais.

The Pandemic Unemployment Payment is to be reinstated for all those who lose jobs as a result of restrictions announced this evening.

It's beginning to look at lot like Christmas 2020, writes Business Editor Will Goodbody

The Department of Education has said that primary schools should "continue their engagement" next week with any parents who do not send their children to school with a mask on Monday morning.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has announced new measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 ahead of the Christmas period.

In a speech announcing new Covid restrictions, Taoiseach Micheál Martin thanked children for their efforts during the pandemic.

The Government has delayed the introduction of PCR and antigen testing for air and sea passengers arriving into Ireland until Sunday.

The six-year-old boy whose parents died in an Italian cable car crash flew from Israel to Italy today after a drawn-out battle for custody, a family spokesman said.