The group Bob Vylan are represented by Belfast firm Phoenix Law which filed two sets of defamation proceedings at the High Court. Photograph: Yui Mok/PAThe punk-rap group Bob Vylan have issued defamation proceedings against RTÉ over its reporting of the duo’s performance at the Glastonbury music festival this summer. Bob Vylan courted controversy this summer when, during a performance at Glastonbury, they led chants of “death, death to the IDF”, a reference to the Israel Defense Forces and the war in Gaza. Belfast legal firm Phoenix Law, which is representing both men, on Monday filed two sets of defamation proceedings at the High Court. A spokeswoman for RTÉ said: “RTÉ does not comment on legal matters.”

Parents of seven children out of a group of 30 want them to be part of non-religious ceremony. Photograph: ThinkstockA group of parents said they were “shocked” and “feel discriminated against” after a Catholic school initially declined their request to use the premises for a non-religious ceremony. Parents of children attending St Laurence O’Toole’s in Roundwood, Co Wicklow, had hoped to use the hall there for a secular ceremony in May to coincide with the school’s First Holy Communion ceremony, though the request was declined last month. Last month, she was told by the chair of the school’s board of management that the board “could not agree to your request”. Neither the school nor its board of management responded, but the Archdiocese of Dublin said it had advised the school last week to allow the ceremony to be held in the school hall.

The cost of developing apartments in Ireland continues to rise yet further, according to the latest research from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI). This is perhaps no surprise given the level of general inflation, but the point is that the increases are taking place from already high levels. Total development costs of around €530,000 for a lower-range apartment mean that when the developer’s margin is added, the price is unaffordable except for those on high incomes. Many developments are sold for buy-to-rent – which provides a guaranteed purchaser and thus helps financing – but the price paid guarantees high rental levels. All the State investment is, in other words , having an impact, though levels of new supply remain well below what is needed.

Stranger Things has been among the biggest Netflix hits, but now the streaming giant is planning to buy Warner Bros. The antitrust actions that fractured the old studio system in the mid-20th century remain foundational to any understanding of how Hollywood works today. The major studios not only produced and distributed films, they owned large theatre chains, exerting control over every step of a film’s commercial life. Independent producers, no longer blocked from national exhibition, carved out space for films that diverged from the major studios’ formulas. Unlike Netflix, Paramount is seeking to buy the entire company, including cable TV assets like CNN and the Discovery Channel.

Figures from the Department of Children, Disability and Equality show the State paid €285.4 million on international protection and related costs in July-September. They include Brimwood Unlimited, which received €3.11 million in three months, and JMA Ventures, which received €2.69 million. Kintrona, whose directors include Tony O’Neill of Cork and John Crean of Portlaoise, received €6.33 million from the department. Heronwell Unlimited, whose shareholders include Damien Bateman of Portmarnock, Dublin, received €4.67 million in three months. Townbe Unlimited, whose directors include Paul Collins of Bandon, Co Cork, received €3.56 million.

Dublin Taxi drivers protesting against Uber in the city centre last month during rush hour. The global transportation giant has started offering Irish customers fixed rates when they book a taxi trip through its app. The first Friday before Christmas may well be a difficult time to find a taxi driver. Traffic is light for a late Friday afternoon – and the metered fare actually turns out cheaper than the advertised fixed fare: €18 instead of €20.20. “We’ve been asked to sit down, have a negotiation and see if we can sort things out,” says Taxi Drivers Ireland spokesman Derek O’Keefe.

Meza-Silva moved to Ireland from Colombia in 2017. Though she moved to Ireland from Colombia, she was born in Venezuela, a country with which she has a complicated relationship. Her parents moved to Venezuela in the 1980s from Colombia. When she moved to Ireland, Meza-Silva worked in manufacturing, and it came as quite a surprise to her that it was such a male-dominated industry. However, they are planning a trip to Venezuela next year as Meza-Silva hasn’t been there since shortly after her father died.

Defence Forces officers have pushed back, arguing the ship’s mission, along with the mission of LÉ Aoibhinn which was closer to shore, was to ensure the safe transit of the Ukrainian aircraft and that this was successfully completed. Furthermore, the rules of engagement in place for the mission stated the ship could not open fire on aircraft in international waters unless they posed a threat to the ship. “It would have been nice to shoot down at least one for evidential value,” said one security source. One security source said it was unfair to compare the situation to the sighting of five drones over a French nuclear submarine base last week which saw French troops open fire. [ Rogue drones during Zelenskiy visit part of ‘co-ordinated threat’ to Europe, says MinisterOpens in new window ]One naval source not involved in the incident said they would have been happy to order the drones be shot down based on their behaviour and proximity.

How do parents and teachers really feel about Christmas gifts for teachers? “I organise the parents’ gift for the fabulous Montessori teachers.” There are six teachers, she says. Susan, a parent of three, feels things have “gotten out of hand” when it comes to Christmas gifts for teachers. That in itself is the reward.”She questions how Christmas gifts for teachers became the norm, but adds, “a class present is so much better than individual presents. “There is absolutely no need for parents to gift teachers at Christmas, especially post-primary.

There is evidence Saturday’s attack on the family home in Edenderry, Co Offaly, was carefully planned. Mary Holt (60) and Tadhg Farrell (4) were killed in the house fire in Edenderry, Co Offaly. A garda places flowers outside the house that was targeted in a firebombing attack at the weekend. Photograph: Dara Mac DónaillThe murder investigation team in Tullamore Garda station is trying to determine if Saturday’s attack was related to previous incidents. There is evidence Saturday’s attack was carefully planned.

Photograph: Omar Al Qattaa/AFP via Getty ImagesIsrael’s parliamentary foreign affairs and defence committee was told on Monday that US president Donald Trump intends to move to phase two of the Gaza ceasefire this month. Israel had said it would only agree to such a scenario after the remains of the last hostage held in Gaza have been returned by Hamas for burial. Hamas and Red Cross officials were searching for the remains of police officer Ran Gvili in Gaza City on Monday. Israel retained control of 53 per cent of Gaza under the first phase of Mr Trump’s plan. Qatari prime minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told a diplomatic conference in Doha over the weekend that the Gaza ceasefire is at a critical moment.

What are the symptoms of flu? Flu symptoms include a cough, blocked nose and sore throat, says Dr Scott Walkin, the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) and HSE clinical lead for infection control, said. Dr Walkin said people who have the flu should stay at home to prevent the spread of the virus to those who are particularly vulnerable. Furthermore, there have been nine flu deaths this winter season so far. The flu season this year has arrived earlier in Ireland and across Europe.

Illustration: Paul ScottChartered Accountants Ireland (CAI) has raised data protection concerns relating to the new online employer registration portal for the incoming auto-enrolment pensions system. In accountancy practices, firm principals typically hold full certificates, while staff members use sub-certificates with restricted access to specific tax numbers, the CAI highlighted in the email. This means that sub-certificates, despite being restricted on ROS, appear to have unrestricted visibility on the auto-enrolment portal,” Ms Clohisey said in the email. Even unintended visibility of who is enrolled constitutes a potential data breach under EU general data protection regulation (GDPR) principles, it said. A spokeswoman for the department said that employers, as data controllers, are responsible for data access.

Bigger firms are taking a greater slice of markets for services in the Republic, posing a threat to consumers, regulators warn. The problem is not explicitly linked to high prices, Brian McHugh, commission chairman, explained. Listen | 38:18The findings could prompt reviews of professions including accountancy, law and vets, next year, Mr McHugh noted. However, Mr McHugh acknowledged that they had acted on others. “Competitive markets are vital for a health economy,” Mr McHugh pointed out.

Excel Healthcare says 26,000 doctors and about 76,500 nurses and midwives are employed in IrelandThe healthcare sector is facing staff shortages in the coming year with long-term vacancies remaining unfilled, a report by Irish recruiter Excel Healthcare said. Excel credited this to requirements to balance the number of non-EU staff, challenges in securing visas and housing shortages. The largest pay hikes, the guide found, were for more junior healthcare staff. She said the gap between public and private sector pay levels was making it “even harder for private employers to compete”. Excel Healthcare found the number of nurses and midwives employed in Ireland increased by 5.5 per cent in the past year to about 76,500.