June 07: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

‘Milestone day’ for thousands as Leaving and Junior Cert exams kick off
Wednesday morning marks a major milestone for thousands of students across the country as the 2023 State exams get under way. More than 135,000 students will today begin their Junior Cert, Leaving Cert, and Leaving Cert Applied exams on Wednesday, a record number of candidates linked to demographic increases and a 3% increase on the numbers sitting exams in 2022.
The Irish Examiner 

Political pressure for tax cuts now ‘poses risk to public finances’
Political pressure to cut taxes in response to large budgetary surpluses is now one of the key risks to the public finances, the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (Ifac) has warned. In its latest assessment, the budgetary watchdog also estimated that inflation-proofing the tax system by indexing income bands and credits would cost €1.3 billion in 2024. The Government has allocated just €500 million for tax measures in the budget.
The Irish Times 

Cancer diagnosis rates impacted by Covid in 2021 – data
Disruption to healthcare caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, continued to negatively impact cancer diagnoses in 2021, according to data published by the National Cancer Registry. Preliminary data indicates that the number of cancer cases diagnosed in 2021 was 6% lower than projected. The latest information, which is funded by the Irish Cancer Society, shows the number of cancer cases was down 1,665 cases in 2021.
RTÉ

Gardaí on alert after mob boss Brian Rattigan is sighted at Dublin Airport
Gardaí in the capital are on high alert after mob boss Brian Rattigan arrived back in Dublin this week. The convicted killer and drug dealer has spent most of his time in Spain since being released from Portlaoise Prison in 2021 where he was imprisoned for nearly two decades. He has also previously resided near Alicante and is suspected of continuing to run a major criminal operation in Ireland while living abroad. Sources have now told the Irish Independent that Rattigan flew into Dublin from Spain on Monday where he was met by Dublin detectives.
Independent.ie

People renovating vacant and derelict homes on offshore islands to be entitled to higher grants
House buyers that wish to refurbish and live in vacant and derelict properties on islands around Ireland’s coast will get a 20% top up on the Government’s Croí Cónaithe funding grant. The new measure is contained in the ‘Our Living Islands’ strategy – the first national island policy in 27 years. Under the Croí Cónaithe scheme, you can get a grant of up to €50,000 to renovate a vacant property and up to €70,000 if the property is derelict.
The Journal

Ukraine dam: Thousands flee as UN warns of grave consequences from Kakhovka dam breach
The destruction of a major dam in Ukraine will have “grave and far-reaching consequences for thousands of people”, the United Nations has warned. UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said the scale of the catastrophe at the Kakhovka dam in southern Ukraine would only become clear in the coming days. Thousands have fled flooded homes in the area, an active war zone. There are fears water levels could rise further. Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of blowing up the dam on Tuesday.
BBC News

Today’s forecast
Warmest and sunniest in the west. Dry today with the best of the sunshine away from eastern counties. Highest temperatures will range 18 to 24 degrees Celsius generally, cooler though along Irish Sea coasts with moderate easterly breezes. Dry with a mix of clear spells and some high cloud. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees Celsius with some patchy mist developing locally in mostly light easterly or variable breezes.
Met Éireann