60% increase in planning permission for homes in the second quarter of the year

The Taoiseach Micheál Martin is the first international leader to visit Number 10 North, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham's new North of England outpost of Downing Street. Our London Correspondent, Sean Whelan has the latest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual celebration of culture provides many opportunities for artists and audiences to experience something familiar but also something a little bit different. Our reporter Sally Ann Barrett has the details.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The two-day informal meeting in Dublin is taking place in Dublin Castle and will "focus on a number of areas." says Tánaiste Simon Harris. For more on this David Murphy, Economics and Public Affairs Editor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Five men and a juvenile were found inside a shipping container at Rosslare, Co Wexford. The ship had travelled from Zeebrugge in Belguim, for more on this story, President of the Irish Road Haulage Association, Ger Hyland. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An investigation by the garda watchdog Fiosrú says gardaí "acted appropriately" during their pursuit of a vehicle prior to the fatal crash on the M9 in Kildare last month. For the latest details our reporter Conor Hunt. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Community groups in Galway are calling for a pause on tree felling in Merlin Woods. For more on this, Caroline Stanley, founder member of the Friends of Merlin Woods Group. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation cannot be justified given the appalling and ongoing loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.  Our Arts and Media Correspondent, Evelyn O'Rourke. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our reporter Kate Egan got reaction from planners and spoke to the president of the Irish planning institute Gavin Lawlor about his response to the figures. Our Economics and Public Affairs editor David Murphy has the details on the report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Coimisiún Pleanála has cleared the way for 106 apartments on the site of the former mother and baby home in Bessborough in Cork. More then 900 children and 31 women died while resident there and the burial places of the vast majority remain unknown. Our southern reporter, Barry Gallagher visited the site. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Political Correspondent Micheál Lehane gives us the details on the main political stories today, the attack on Michael Healy Rae and the RTÉ Investigates report of Garda whistleblowers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.