5 stories you need to know today

1. Garda chief faces renewed pressure over whistleblower row

The political pressure on Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald over the fallout from the O'Higgins report intensified last night following further revelations about the commission's hearings. RTÉ reported details of an exchange between Ms O'Sullivan's senior counsel Colm Smyth and Mr Justice O'Higgins. It reported that early in the hearings Mr Smyth had said his "instructions from the commissioner" were "to challenge the integrity . . . of Sgt McCabe".  However, on the morning Ms O'Sullivan was to give her evidence, Mr Justice O'Higgins sought further clarification and Mr Smyth informed him his "instructions at all times were to challenge the motivation and credibility of Sgt McCabe". He said it was an error on his part when he had earlier stated he was instructed to challenge Sgt McCabe's "integrity". Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald warned against abandoning legal privilege in the O'Higgins commission. Garda Commissioner O'Sullivan is now expected to be brought before the Oireachtas justice committee to answer questions on the fallout from the O'Higgins report. 

2. Government facing first legislative defeat of new Dáil

The Fine Gael-led minority Government will be forced to proceed with legislation designed to reduce mortgage rates even though Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has warned it contains serious flaws. A Fianna Fáil Bill giving the Central Bank the power to regulate mortgage interest rates will be the first demonstration of how much power now resides on the Opposition side of the Dáil. Labour and SF are to back the Fianna Fáil Bill giving Central Bank power to cut mortgage rates. Mr Noonan alleged last night that the Fianna Fáil Bill previously caused a reduction in bank share prices.

Miriam Lord:  New politics lapses into familiar old ways

3. School principal concerned at boy’s transgender process

A school principal at a primary school has told the Child and Family Agency (CFA) she is very concerned over a transgender process that one of her students is going through. This is according to a senior social worker with the CFA, who told a family law court that both the boy's class teacher and school principal have expressed concerns over the transgender process being undergone. The boy's father has completed a transgender process and now goes under a female name. In evidence at the court, the CFA senior social worker said: "The boy's teacher is very concerned about the transgender process he is going through at the moment.

4. Taoiseach says he is anxious for Irish arts not to be ‘elegant add-on’

Enda Kenny, on his first overseas trip since being re-elected Taoiseach, said that he was anxious to establish Irish arts and culture "not as an elegant add-on" but to have them represent Ireland as a "still-young Republic." The Taoiseach made his remarks at the gala opening of the "Ireland 100" festival of arts and culture at the John F Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts in Washington on Tuesday night amid anger back home within Ireland's arts community at what is seen as a relegation of the arts into a new cabinet portfolio with "regional development" and "rural affairs." Speaking at the start of the three-week festival involving about 500 Irish artists performing in the centerpiece of the US centenary commemorations of the 1916 Rising, Mr Kenny said that "Irish America - and indeed all those who aspire to be of its gene pool - can enjoy three weeks of the very best of our arts and culture."

5. Where a career in Stem can take you

Who'd want a career in science or engineering? Quite a few, it would seem. A decade or so ago, the low CAO points for science courses suggested that science wasn't that popular. Now, it's one of the most in-demand courses: last year, points for science at UCD rose from 505 to 515. Points for the majority of engineering courses rose as well. Meanwhile, more students are realising that computer science is one of the most in-demand, exciting and well-paid careers out there. Last year, a survey conducted through Facebook and Twitter for the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition asked students which subjects they thought the best career opportunities lay: 86 per cent said science, technology, engineering and maths (Stem). Three key industry figures explain how their passion for science and technology shaped their careers. Ireland's universities are at the forefront of Stem research.  From brain surgery to seaweed, there is no limit to where Stem research can take you.

Misc

Jürgen Klopp on the brink of a major achievement: Europa League victory would represent a successful season for Liverpool's manager

University of Limerick drops legal action over expenses claims:  UL had threatened defamation action against Limerick Leader newspaper over report

Dublin bombings survivor who woke up in the morgue:  Derek Byrne (56) was 10ft away from the first of four UVF car bombs in 1974

Spain in uncharted waters as repeat election looms in June: Acting PM Mariano Rajoy casts self as only serious option, untainted by frenzied talks

Ireland's Poles: Coming from Baltic to settle in Galway:  Moving to Atlantic seaboard has brought opportunities – and plenty of rain

Man for court over shooting of woman in Cork house: Ciara Sheehan (21) was shot in the neck after a gun was fired through a window on Sunday