Ireland

Five things you need to know today

Tuam babies; water charges; new Trump order; Apple Pay launches; Kim Jong-nam

Martyn Turner’s latest cartoon, February 7th.

Tue Mar 7 2017 - 08:02

[ 1. Government may expand mother and baby homes inquiry ]

The site of a mass grave for children who died in the Tuam mother and baby home, Galway, before excavations began. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire

The Government is considering expanding the scope of the inquiry into mother and baby homes to include a far greater number of institutions than initially planned.

Government sources said the prospect of expanding the Commission of Investigation is being examined in light of public concern since confirmation last week that the remains of a "significant" number of babies and infants up to three years of age were found on the site of the former mother and baby home in Tuam, Co Galway.

[ 2. Fine Gael agrees to examine legislation on water wastage ]

A deal on the future of water charges may be close as Fine Gael has agreed to examine existing legislation to penalise householders who waste water.

The 20-member Oireachtas committee on water charges will meet today as members remain at odds over the introduction of a charge for excessive use of water.

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[ 3. Trump signs order introducing revised travel ban ]

US attorney general Jeff Sessions speaks on visa travel at the US Customs and Border Protection Press Room in Washington, DC. Photograph: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

US president Donald Trump signed a revised executive order temporarily banning immigration from six Muslim-majority countries on Monday as the White House vowed to pursue its hardline stance on immigration.

Five weeks after Mr Trump's original travel ban sparked domestic protests and international outrage, the US president signed a modified order, removing Iraq from the ban and exempting citizens who already have the legal right to live in the US.

[ 4. Apple Pay contactless service launches in Ireland ]

The Apple Pay service is protected with your device’s pass code or Touch ID fingerprint reader. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Apple Pay has launched in Ireland, more than two years after it first hit the market.

The contactless payment service can be used with more recent Apple products to pay for items in-store, online or through apps.

[ 5. Kim Jong-nam: Malaysia, North Korea in tit-for-tat exit bans ]

Malaysian police cordon the main entrance to the North Korean Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7th March 2017. Photograph: EPA/Ahmad Yusni

North Korea said it was banning Malaysians from leaving the country as its diplomatic battle escalated over the poisoning death of Kim Jong-nam, the North Korean leader’s estranged half brother.

Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak said the travel ban was tantamount to hostage-taking and said his country would immediately respond in kind by banning North Koreans from leaving Malaysia.

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