A report found that last year there were 76 reported incidents, compared with 42 in 2023 and 12 in 2022.

An unannounced inspection of the CMH by the Mental Health Commission over four days in May 2024 identified 17 areas of non-compliance at the centre – up from 11 during the previous inspection in 2023.

It highlights growing pressures on the veterinary workforce, including recruitment and retention challenges in rural areas, limited out-of-hours emergency cover, and work-life balance issues.

Analysis produced by the Department of Finance confirmed that Government would not reach the purported 40,000 housing target.

Despite a surge in construction starts of new homes last year, Mitchell McDermott said planning permission was granted for just 35,000 homes last year — one of the lowest figures over the last six years and down from 41,000 in 2023.

Some 53 victims of human trafficking, including five children, were officially identified in Ireland in 2023, while a “stark increase” in female victims was also recorded.

Mr Gloster said that he  was very conscious that every time the case was spoken of that there was a family involved who were coping with what had been “the worst possible outcome.”

About 230,000 children suffered from material deprivation in 2023, an increase of 30,000 children compared with 2022.

The Government has announced that a Commission of Investigation is to be established to examine the abuse allegations.

Sinn Féin's housing spokesperson Pearse Doherty and Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien clashed in the Dáil on Thursday

The recommendation is one of more than 100 contained in two reports which were ordered by the Government which were published on Tuesday, alongside an examination on the organisation’s use of the so-called barter account

The Norwegian Centre for Human Rights examined state actions during the conflict.

Two independent reports into RTE’s governance and culture were commissioned by the Minister for Media.

The final report, published on Wednesday, makes 38 recommendations

The organisation launched its Report Card 2024 on Tuesday, which grades the coalition government on the progress made in commitments to children contained in the Programme for Government.

The latest State of the Nation's Children report found 40.3 per cent of primary school children were absent for more than 20 days during the 2021/2022 school year

Almost one third of tenants said their rent is higher than it was when they began their tenancy

When asked by Ms Lawlor if the incident with the accused had an impact on him, he replied that after “the event there was a wall around me”.

Research as part of the Healthy Ireland initiative found 80 per cent of people rated their health as being good or very good this year, down from 82 per cent in 2022