IrelandMorning Briefing

Your top stories on Wednesday: High levels of dangerous air pollutants found in Dublin; one in five expect to pay mortgage in retirement

Here are the stories you need to start your day including: a subsidiary of main National Children’s Hospital contractor is set to secure state building project

Taggie Winter, from Howth, Co Dublin, and her dachshund Pina meet Archbishop Michael Jackson to get into the festive spirit at the annual Peata Therapy Dogs carol service at Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin on Tuesday. Photograph Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Taggie Winter, from Howth, Co Dublin, and her dachshund Pina meet Archbishop Michael Jackson to get into the festive spirit at the annual Peata Therapy Dogs carol service at Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin on Tuesday. Photograph Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Subsidiary of main National Children’s Hospital contractor to secure major state building project

The Government is poised to award a major construction contract to a company jointly controlled by BAM, the main contractor for the National Children’s Hospital, despite not meeting value-for-money tests.

Ministers will on Wednesday consider a proposal to proceed with the tender for Invesis, formerly known as BAM PPP, a vehicle for building public-private partnerships (PPPs) controlled by the Dutch construction giant along with a pension fund.

News in Ireland

  • High levels of air pollutants that can cause respiratory, heart and brain issues found in Dublin hotspots: High levels of air pollutants that can cause a range of respiratory, heart and brain issues have been detected across inner-city Dublin, according to new research.
  • One in five Irish people expect to pay mortgage in retirement, survey finds: One in five Irish people expect to still be paying off their mortgage in retirement.
  • Teacher should be removed from register for inappropriate messages to students - disciplinary panel: A secondary schoolteacher who sent inappropriate messages to three second-year students should be removed from the register of teachers, a disciplinary panel has decided.
A cold weather warning is in force with icy conditions in many parts of the country this morning.
A cold weather warning is in force with icy conditions in many parts of the country this morning.
  • Met Éireann cold weather warning in force until mid-morning: A cold weather warning is in force with icy conditions expected in Munster and Connacht, as well as Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, until 11am on Wednesday.
  • Weather forecast: Frost this morning may be slow to clear some areas. Otherwise it will be a dry day with a mix of cloud and some sunny spells. Cold with highest temperatures of 2 to 7 degree. Tonight will be mostly dry with a good deal of cloud. Frost and some fog will form in light northeast or variable breezes. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees.
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The Big Read

  • Tips for avoiding a January credit-card hangover: Your wallet is in for a workout this month. Spending peaks in the next few weeks, and some of us will lean on credit to foot the bill. So how do you avoid a big credit card hangover in January, or at least manage it?

Opinion

Business

Irish people are increasingly ditching physical gifts in favour of cash.  Photograph: iStock
Irish people are increasingly ditching physical gifts in favour of cash. Photograph: iStock

Sports

World

Life & Style

  • My smear test dilemma: How do I confess that this is my first one, at the age of 41?: The fluttery prickles of embarrassment swirled in my stomach as I waited in the doctor’s surgery for my appointment with the practice nurse.

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