The Government will attempt to make the “best possible decisions” in the “coming days” amid rising pressure about the cost of living, Tánaiste Simon Harris has said. While both the Tánaiste and Taoiseach Micheál Martin refused to confirm what exact measures, if any, will be taken, both spoke about the importance of “targeting” help to those most in need. Mr Harris was speaking in London following meetings with the UK deputy prime minister David Lammy and chancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves. Speaking to reporters outside 11 Downing Street, Mr Harris said a decision on whether measures will be implemented will be taken in the coming days. In Washington DC, Mr Martin also appeared to indicate there were measures on the horizon, but declined to set out what the Government would do.

More than two weeks into the conflict, he is belatedly looking for support in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Oil tankers and ships have been lining up in the Strait of Hormuz. While US air strikes have destroyed its navy, Iran retains thousands of locally manufactured Shahed drones which could strike ships denied permission to access Hormuz. Starmer, keen to repair relations with Trump, has said the UK is working with allies on a “viable, collective plan” to reopen the strait. “That is why I am very sceptical that extending Aspides to the Strait of Hormuz would provide greater ​security,” he stated.

British prime minister Keir Starmer: 'We will not be drawn into the wider war.' Photograph: Brook Mitchell/PAWhen Downing Street wants to seize the news agenda, its staff call in political reporters for a scripted speech by the prime minister. But on Monday morning, the British prime minister blew all of that away – for now – at a hastily arranged media gathering. Popularity has long been an absent friend for the prime minister. That would risk direct military engagement with Iran were the Islamic regime to target passing British military vessels.

THE late singer Dolores Keane pictured at her home in Caherlistrane in 2003. File photo: Ray RyanMuch-loved singer Dolores Keane diesNational and international acclaimWELL-known and much-loved singer Dolores Keane from Caherlistrane has died. Dolores, a member of the famous musical Keane family and one of the founders of music group De Dannan was aged 72. In 2022, the world-famous singer was given a Lifetime Achievement Award to music at the TG4 Gradam Ceoil awards. It’s understood the popular singer, who is the sister of singers Sean and Matt Keane, died in her sleep at her home overnight.

Eamonn Holmes posed in his wheelchair as he joined glamorous Elizabeth Hurley at a Cancer Research event in London on Monday. The broadcaster, 66, who recently detailed his ongoing health battle, raised a glass while smiling for a photo at The Corinthia Hotel. Eamonn looked smart in a navy blue suit which he paired with a patterned tie and a white shirt. He looked in high spirits after undergoing major spinal surgery and suffering various other health issues over the past few years. Right at the end of the instalment, while interviewing Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones MP, Eamonn looked like he had fallen asleep in the studio.

Tilray Brands has agreed to buy some of BrewDog's US assets, including its Ohio-based brewery and hotel and Las Vegas site, following a UK rescue deal. Tilray, which bought a number of BrewDog's assets and bars in the UK earlier this month, said the acquisition will help it to expand into the US craft beer industry. 'BrewDog has built a strong following in Ohio and established a highly visible presence in Las Vegas, including a flagship brewpub located on a premier stretch of the Las Vegas Strip. It also bought BrewDog's Australian business including a Brisbane-based brewery and a number of owned and franchised bars. Tilray Brands shared last week that BrewDog had no money left to pay its staff when it was rescued from collapse.

LATEST | Motorist held every 40 minutes in St Patrick’s weekend drink and drugs blitzThere have been seven more road deaths so far this year compared to this time last yearAlarm as road deaths soar by 20pc over 2025 as Gardaí confirm 2,550 speeding detections in just 72 hoursRalph Riegel Today at 06:30A motorist was arrested on average every 40 minutes for suspected drink- or drug-driving in the first 96 hours of An Garda Síochána’s road-safety crackdown for this year’s St Patrick’s weekend.

Photograph: Patrick BolgerTwo-thirds of Irish business leaders say they do not understand what new Government rules on artificial intelligence (AI) will mean for their business. But just under half of company boards have discussed AI governance at a formal meeting in the past year. Close to two in three directors say they, and their organisations, are not equipped for the implementation of the Bill. Six in 10 business leaders say their organisations have already implemented AI to some degree with a further one in three evaluating future use. Strong AI governance is no longer optional: it is central to safeguarding competitiveness, public trust, and organisational resilience.”

Gardaí are awaiting the results of an autopsy report as they investigate the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body of a woman on the grounds of University Hospital Limerick (UHL). The body was found in a car located in a parking area near the entrance to the hospital’s emergency department, at around 11am, yesterday, Sunday. A post mortem examination on the body will determine the course of the garda investigation. University Hospital LimerickNews in 90 Seconds - Monday, March 16 2026It’s not known how long the body was in the car before the emergency services were notified. This copy was amended at 5pm on March 16 to clarify that HSE West was contacted for comment but did not reply.

Westmeath senior footballer Ronan Wallace has been named on the GAA.ie 'Team of the Week'Local counties represented on GAA.ie 'Team of the Week'Two senior footballers from local counties have been named on the GAA.ie 'Team of the Week'. Westmeath's Ronan Wallace and Enda Smith of Roscommon have been recognised for their individual displays in their county's respective NFL Division 3 and and Division 1 wins. Smith has also been nominated for GAA.ie 'Player of the Week' in recognition of his weekend performance. The 'Player of the Week' voting process is simple - like their image on the GAA's official Instagram page. Voting will close at 10am on Wednesday, March 18, and the winner will be announced on GAA.ie.

The Big Mac index was created by The Economist magazine 40 years ago as an informal way of measuring the purchasing power parity between different countries and currencies. The idea was that the Big Mac sold at McDonald’s is the same in every country. The price of the Big Mac should reflect the local price of ingredients, wages and other expenses. Therefore, even though the Big Mac burger is the same in every country, its price differs – and goes up, broadly reflecting price inflation. Last month Diageo pushed up the price of a pint of Guinness for sale to pubs by 7c.

The military, which has mobilized over 110,000 reservists, has said it still has thousands of targets to hit inside Iran. Energy markets faced further disruption with oil loading operations suspended following an Iranian drone strike at the UAE port of Fujairah. Germany's Defence Minister Boris Pistorious ruled out his country's participation in any military activity in the Iran war, including efforts to reopen the strait. Trump told the Financial Times on Sunday he may postpone a meeting with President Xi Jinping scheduled for later this month if China does not help to unblock the Strait. The Israeli military said on Monday its troops had begun limited ground operations against positions in southern Lebanon held by Hezbollah.

Mick Cleary, Ex-Telegraph rugby correspondent. Player of the tournament: Louis Bialle-Biarrey (France). The hot-shot try-scorer just keeps on keeping on, dazzling all and sundry with his pace, his nerve and his eye for an opening. Four tries against England saw him eclipse his own record for a single tournament: nine this year, eight last year, taking him to 18 tries in 14 Six Nations matches.

Maybe it’s the narky digital age we live in; all the instinctive hair-trigger outrage that’s the default setting for any kind of annoyance. There have been occasions during the festival’s history when race could reflect broader concerns. Photograph: Michael Steele/Getty ImagesOne straightforward step to prevent a repeat at Cheltenham specifically is to not start any races on a bend. Willie Mullins didn’t think much of the starts either. McManus is entitled to race or not race his horses where he likes and took Spillane’s Tower out of the Gold Cup as well.

So, at the last minute, he was forced to buy one off the peg, encountering poor customer service in many shops. “Because of working in finance, I had lived in suits, so that started me looking into the idea of a suit business,” he says. “During Covid we made a few suits and built up five-star reviews. You stand differently if it fits properly.”He has done more business suits this year than last and says that those who work in the tech industry, famously casual, still have items made to measure. It takes six to eight weeks from start to finish (with fittings) and a full made-to-measure suit takes about two weeks for an express service.