Marina Park will be six times larger than Fitzgerald’s Park and equivalent in size to Dublin Zoo when phase two is completed.

The Michael Collins Commemoration Committee has invited both to speak at a commemoration event at Béal na Blá, the site of Collins’ death, on Sunday, August 21.

He acknowledged that progress needs to be made where maternity services are concerned in Ireland.

Volunteers have transformed a patch of unused ground next to Beech Hill Garden Centre into a space filled with different textures, scents, and sounds.

The opening event was attended by Taoiseach Micheál Martin who said the opening of the facility is "exciting news for Cork and for Ireland". 

Mr Martin said: “I have expressed my warmest congratulations to Emmanuel Macron on his decisive victory in today’s French Presidential election."

Questioned on Ireland’s capacity to accommodate the 25,000 Ukrainian refugees already here Mr Martin pointed to the new Millstreet centre describing it as an example of Ireland’s “innovative” approach to the refugee housing crisis.

Speaking this morning, Mr Martin also poured cold water on the possible reintroduction of a mandatory mask mandate.

Mr Martin's time in office has come to be defined by Covid.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and MEP Deirdre Clune joined members of Network Ireland Cork for a walk along the Marina on Sunday to mark the annual International Women’s Day celebration.

The Fianna Fáil leader also said Dr Holohan recommended the winding down of Nphet.

Mr Martin’s remarks came after members of the SIPTU and Fórsa unions picketed his constituency office on Evergreen Road last week over what they have described as growing concerns about the future of up to 400 jobs in Local Employment Service and Job Club offices across the country.

Mr Martin was speaking in Cork today at an event marking the transfer of the management of homeless services from SVP to the charity Depaul.

Mr Martin said the levels of infection are "unprecedented" and the next 10 days will provide further evidence on the severity of illness arising from Omicron.

Asked about the future government, Mr Martin said his key focus is policy and "getting the work done".He said future ministerial posts will be considered closer to the time.

Under the current scheme, survivors of the mother and baby institutions will be eligible for payments of up to €65,000.

The Fianna Fáil leader said the decision during the second lockdown was taken because the Government wanted to be "ruthless" in suppressing the Alpha wave of Covid-19.

Mr Martin said adapting to Omicron hasn’t involved the same level of lockdown as last year, because of vaccination levels, “even though the case numbers are very high”.

Mr Martin said, as of Thursday, 49.9% of the adult population had been boosted, which is 37.4% of the whole population.

Micheál Martin said the restrictions will be kept under review, but refused to say whether they could be removed if the wave of infections is not as severe as predicted by health officials.

The new guidelines were announced on Tuesday as a further 5,471 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. 

MTU workers from the TUI union held a silent protest today to highlight a number of issues raised by staff with management at the new university

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed the announcement made by Johnson & Johnson (J&J) that the company has entered into a corporate power purchase agreement (CPPA) in Ireland.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that a decision will be made next week on whether the further easing of restrictions will go ahead as scheduled on the weekend of the Cork Jazz Festival.

Active consideration is being given by the government to an application for a state-of-the-art athletics track in West Cork. The issue was raised in the Dáil by Fianna Fáil TD for the region Christopher O’Sullivan this week.

Today was a day of recognition and pride for the Navy in Cork as the service marked 75 years of patrolling and guarding Irish waters as well as being involved in humanitarian missions and other important activities.

THE Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he believes that Cork is on a ‘good platform’ to emerge strongly post-Covid, but admitted that the investment in the docklands will be key to this.

THE Taoiseach has said a timeline will be finalised by the Cabinet next Tuesday which will provide people with a ‘clear sense’ of what will happen over the coming months in relation to Covid.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has noted the progress in terms of a reduction in Covid-19 case numbers this week with 140,000 doses of the vaccine administered.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Education Minister Norma Foley have committed to a review of the school capacity issues in East Cork following a meeting with principals in the area.

TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has praised the ‘resilience’ of the people of Cork as the country moves into a new phased easing of the Covid-19 public health restrictions.

AN TAOISEACH Micheál Martin was among the well-known faces to strike a pose with a purple rose for Cystic Fibrosis Ireland’s (CFI) annual flagship fundraising appeal.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has poured cold water on suggestions that Ireland could receive surplus vaccines from the UK. A report in The Sunday Times claimed that Britain could offer as many 3.

The Government has defended its decision not to commit to any job targets or deadlines in a major plan to attract more workers to rural towns and villages.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it is "repugnant" that a private hospital used spare jabs to vaccinate teachers from an exclusive school.

Leaders across the EU are meeting today and tomorrow to discuss Covid-19, including efforts to increase the production, delivery and deployment of vaccines.

THE Taoiseach has reiterated his belief that putting dates on a potential border poll is not conducive to a United Ireland as the issue runs deeper than that.

TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has reiterated the importance of reconciliation as he pushed back against recent calls in the United States for a referendum on Irish unity.

The Taoiseach has said he would have no issue taking the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine if he was offered it.

Kids across the country are in for a treat on Thursday as the Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to appear on Home School Hub on RTÉ Two.

A LEADING Cork hotelier has warned that the hospitality sector is facing a very “bleak future” if the industry does not reopen until the middle of summer.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called for “space and privacy” to be given to the Holohan family following the passing of Dr Emer Holohan (nee Feely), the wife of Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan.

FIANNA Fáil TD for Cork South-West Christopher O’Sullivan said his preferred option would be for a zero-Covid strategy.  However, he still feels the Government has done “a good job in supporting people and businesses” throughout the pandemic.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he’s “fairly relaxed” about the way St Patrick’s day is marked.

It's now likely Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions will remain in place until at least Easter. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that schools and construction returning are priorities.

CORK’S Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Mallow GAA club and Bantry Primary Care centre are understood to be the next locations being considered as large vaccination centres for the administration of the Covid-19 vaccine to people around the county.

The AstraZeneca vaccine against Covid-19 will not be available in Ireland until mid-February, the Taoiseach has said.

“A moment of hope” are the words of An Taoiseach Micheál Martin as he congratulated Joe Biden on being inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States of America.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has refused calls to intervene in the row over reopening schools for special needs students, and backed under-fire Minister Norma Foley.

NOW is not the time for Fianna Fail to be thinking about a change in leadership.