March 05: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

‘An appalling litany of behaviour’: Judge says Marc Godart firm’s treatment of tenant ‘completely unacceptable’
A company run by controversial Luxembourg landlord Marc Godart and his family may have been involved in a fraudulent transfer of money out of Ireland, a judge in the High Court said on Monday. The judge described the company’s treatment of one of its tenants as “an appalling litany of behaviour and one that is completely unacceptable” and said Mr Godart appeared to think he can “throw out” his tenants if they complain about overcrowding.
The Irish Times

Government looks to planning rules to expand housing options for asylum seekers
The Government is to examine planning rules which could allow asylum seekers to stay at large centres currently being used to house Ukrainians. Louth TDs who attended a meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday said he committed to examine if international protection applicants can be housed in empty beds in Ukrainian refugee accommodation.
The Irish Examiner

Terence O’Rourke set to be appointed as new RTÉ chairperson
Terence O’Rourke, the current chair of the ESB, is set to be appointed as the new chairperson of the RTÉ board. The Journal understands that the recommendation of O’Rourke was accepted by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan this evening. Media Minister Catherine Martin will seek Cabinet approval to appoint O’Rourke as the board’s new chair in the morning. Two other board members are also set to be appointed.
The Journal 

Calls for Martin to face Dáil questions over ex-RTÉ chair’s resignation
Minister for Media Catherine Martin is facing calls to answer questions in the Dáil over her handling of the departure of the former chairperson of the RTÉ Board 12 days ago. Siún Ní Raghallaigh said yesterday that she could no longer remain silent about what she termed her “enforced dismissal” which she said “seemed designed to traduce” her reputation.
RTÉ

Wicklow builder has €2.2m in debt written off in return for €80,000 lump-sum payment
A builder who became insolvent ­following the construction sector crash in the late 2000s has had more than €2.2m in debt written off in return for a lump-sum payment of €80,000. Under a personal insolvency arrangement (PIA) approved by the High Court, David Lawlor (60) will be able to retain his family home, which was in negative equity. The court heard Mr Lawlor, a separated farmer and maintenance worker from Dragoon Hill, Hollywood, Co Wicklow, had overall debts of €2.7m. Under the court-sanctioned debt deal, most of his creditors will receive just 0.46pc of what they are owed. Mr Lawlor’s debts primarily arose from personal guarantees he gave on behalf of a construction company he was previously involved in.
Independent.ie

Children starving to death in northern Gaza – WHO
Children are dying of starvation in northern Gaza, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief says. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the agency’s visits over the weekend to the Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan hospitals were the first since early October. In a post on social media, he spoke of “grim findings”.
BBC News

US vice president urges Israeli minister to ensure ‘credible’ humanitarian plan before advancing in Gaza
Israel should craft a “credible” humanitarian plan before advancing further in southern Gaza, the US vice president has told one of its senior ministers. Kamala Harris also urged Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz – whose visit to Washington was not sanctioned by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – to increase aid into the devastated enclave.
Sky News

Greenlandic women sue Danish state for contraceptive ‘violation’
Nearly 150 Greenlandic women have sued the Danish state, alleging that they were fitted with the contraceptive coil without their consent or knowledge. A group of 143 women took legal action on Monday, demanding a collective payment of close to 43m Danish kroner (£4.9m) for what they describe as a violation of their human rights. Some of the women were as young as 12 when they say they were fitted with an intrauterine device (IUD) by Danish doctors in an attempt to reduce Greenland’s population. It is believed that 4,500 women and girls were affected between 1966 and 1970.
The Guardian

Today’s forecast
Blustery this morning with outbreaks of rain pushing northeastwards. Drier conditions in Munster, with sunny spells developing, will follow in the clearance as the last of the rain clears from north Ulster by early afternoon. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with strong and gusty southwest winds decreasing moderate during the afternoon. Largely dry with clear skies at first tonight but cloud will thicken from the Atlantic with rain developing in the southwest later in the night. Rather cold in the north and east with lowest temperatures of 0 to 3 degrees and a touch of frost possible, less cold further south and west with lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees. Moderate southeast breezes will freshen overnight.
Met Éireann