News you need today: New rules for garden cabins coming
The Irish government is set to pass new laws allowing larger garden cabins without planning permission, while police investigate a violent death and a major theft from a hospital charity. European leaders are also calling for stricter social media rules to protect children.
Homeowners will soon be able to build modular units up to 45 square metres in their back gardens without seeking planning permission. A junior minister pledged that the new legislation will be passed by the Dáil (Ireland's parliament) before the summer break. These structures are intended to be placed at the bottom of gardens to provide extra living space.
In legal news, a man has been charged with stealing €80,000 from the Rotunda Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Rotunda maternity hospital in Dublin. Separately, Gardaí (Irish police) have launched an investigation into the death of Noreen Daly, whom they believe died violently.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for "time for change" regarding children's access to social media. Her comments follow a survey highlighting high levels of exposure to hate speech and violence among young users.
Former President Mary McAleese has spoken out against the use of the Irish national flag as a tool for intimidation. She compared the practice to the negative experiences of Irish emigrants in the past who faced similar hostility abroad.
In Dublin, plans for a drone delivery hub in Dundrum have been rejected by the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council. The decision followed noise concerns and an objection from a senior Catholic cleric who lives nearby.
For more on these stories and others, visit the app's News section. Read about the upcoming G7 summit agenda, a "heat dome" heading for mainland Europe, and the hidden history behind Dublin's commemorative plaques.