Up to a thousand hospital patients could be treated on trolleys in a single day in the weeks ahead.
That's the warning from the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association, as overcrowding reaches record levels.
TDs are facing a call to return to Leinster House immediately, to deal with the crisis.
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A bus driver has died in a single-vehicle crash in Westmeath.
The 55 year old man was seriously injured when the bus collided with a ditch near Moate at about 5.30 yesterday evening, and he was later pronounced dead at Tullamore Regional Hospital.
About 20 passengers were onboard at the time - some of whom were hospitalised with non life threatening injuries.
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Passengers flying into Ireland or any EU country should have a negative test for Covid 19 before they fly.
The recommendation was made by EU Government officials as Beijing lifts travel restrictions from this weekend.
It comes despite a new wave of infections in China which had adopted a strict zero Covid policy until last month.
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Former Pope Benedict the 16th will be laid to rest today.
The historic ceremony will take place in the surrounds of St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.
It's a rare occurrence for a current pope to preside over the funeral mass of his predecessor - with Benedict the first Pontiff to resign in 600 years.
