1. No talks until UK triggers EU exit clause
Ireland's European Commissioner Phil Hogan has firmly ruled out any negotiations about the future relationship between the UK and the EU until the British government triggers the exit mechanism. Taking a noticeably tougher line than the Irish Government, Mr Hogan said the convulsions in the British political system were hampering the emergence of any clarity about what might happen when negotiations get under way. He was adamant there could be no negotiations in advance of a British decision to invoke article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty which will set the leave process in train.
For more in depth coverage of Brexit, click here
2. Console audit reveals remarkable details of spending by ‘nun’
More than half of total credit card spending by the suicide charity Console's former chief executive Paul Kelly between 2012 and 2014 was in the name of a nun, a former employee, who had not worked for the charity since 2009. Mr Kelly spent €252,254.62 on credit cards over the three years, €128,168.53 of which was in the name of the nun. The credit card in her name was in fact upgraded from a business to premier card in 2013. According to draft HSE audit findings, a copy of which has been seen by The Irish Times, the named nun made cash withdrawals of €28,785 over the three-year period, 70 in 2013 and 66 in 2014, as well as spending €13,209 on travel, €4,053 on restaurants, €2,956 on hotels, €2,604 on shops, €1,244 on clothes.
3. Call for end to religious discrimination in schools
Hundreds people marched to Leinster House on Sunday calling for an end to religious discrimination in State-funded schools. The march was organised by Education Equality; an organisation established to campaign for equality in the provision of education for all children, regardless of religion. Paddy Monahan, a parent from Raheny in Dublin said the baptism barrier must be removed. Minister for Education Richard Bruton is drawing up plans to encourage the Catholic Church to transfer the patronage of hundreds of primary schools to other models, including State-run schools. At present more than 90 per cent of the State's 3,200 primary schools are under Catholic patronage. However, efforts to provide greater choice for parents have proven slow and divisive.
4. Twenty-seven ways to see the world on a budget
We asked globetrotters, as well as booking agents at Usit and Trailfinders, for their advice on how to make your budget stretch while travelling. A holiday is where you go for a week or two and do the minimum amount of work. You have a bigger budget to blow in a short amount of time. Travelling, on the other hand, is about experiencing new cultures and exploring new terrains and environments, pushing yourself and having an experience you'll remember forever. And, unless you're very lucky, your budget is probably that bit more stretched.
5. Ken Early: How Wales have shown up England
It was past 2am on Saturday morning and Le Palermo Pizzeria in Lille was empty except for one hardy group of bedraggled yet still high-spirited Wales fans. "Who had a dream?" one of them shouted. "COLEMAN!" yelled the rest of them. "Who had a dream?" "COLEMAN!" Then they launched into their Chris Coleman song, to the tune of Sloop John B: "Chris Coleman had a dream / To build the national team / We have no strikers so we play with five at the back (five at the back) / With Bale in attack / With Bale in attaaaack / Watch out Europe, we're on our way back." Earlier that night Coleman had given a press conference in the Stade Pierre-Mauroy that had seemed a bit like a dream. Wales had destroyed one of the tournament favourites in the best game of Euro 2016. Coleman had just masterminded the greatest achievement in Welsh football history and he didn't even seem surprised.
For more in depth coverage of Euro 2016, click here
Misc
Health: Drogheda hospital called pest control to dispose of plastic hawk
Iraq: Islamic State bombers kill at least 125 in Baghdad
Éirí Amach 2016 Cé a chreidfeadh go gcuirfeadh aontas Eorpach as do dhaoine a raibh impireacht dhomhanda acu?
Property: Asking prices for houses outside Dublin rise sharply
GAA: Mickey Harte glad to see his men learn from their mistakes
