By Sarah Gill
07th Jul 2023
07th Jul 2023
Your speedy summary of today's must-read stories.
Vaginal mesh
The Department of Health is set to advise the HSE on reinstating the use of vaginal mesh implants, pending the results of a review due to published this year. A group of women who have experienced “debilitating” consequences as a result of having procedures using vaginal mesh are calling for it to be permanently banned, and for a full redress scheme for those who have experienced pain, loss of earnings, and bills of tens of thousands in private healthcare. Mesh Survivors Ireland, a group of just over 600 women, stood outside the Dáil to highlight the need for redress, and to call for key supports for survivors – such as access to medical cards.
New pathway to third level
Leaving Certificate students who do not receive enough points for their courses will be given a new pathway to third level qualifications as part of new plans to be announced today. Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris will announce new plans which, from September, will allow students to enrol in one of 23 courses without the need to reach specific point levels. The courses are focused on healthcare, enterprise, ICT and creative sectors. Minister Harris said it is the “single biggest transformation to education in decades”.
Teen driver arrested following hit and run
A teenager has been arrested after a pedestrian in his 60s was injured in a hit-and-run in Ballymun, Co Dublin yesterday. Shortly after 3pm, gardaí and emergency services were alerted following a collision involving a car and a pedestrian on the R108 Ballymun Road. The car involved failed to remain at the scene. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and road users with camera footage (including dashcam) from the area at the time of the collision to come forward.
Tyrone stabbing
A man has been arrested after a stabbing at an under-16s Gaelic football in Co Tyrone in which two people were injured. PSNI remained at the scene late last night after responding to a report of a stabbing incident at the sports ground in the Convent Road area of Cookstown.
Threads app
Twitter has threatened legal action against Meta over its new, text-based app called Threads. Alex Spiro, an attorney representing Twitter, accused Meta of unlawfully using Twitter’s trade secrets and other intellectual property by hiring former Twitter employees to create a “copycat” app. Since launching on Wednesday, Threads has collected tens of millions of sign-ups.