Headlines tonight: Varadkar bans ministers from bringing mobile phones to cabinet meetings over ‘security risks’; The backlog of cases at An Bord Pleanála is now 2,300

Ministers banned from bringing mobile phones to cabinet meetings because of ‘security risk’

New Taoiseach Leo Varadkar bans ministers from bringing mobile phones to cabinet meetings. Security risks from electronic espionage are cited as justification for the new regulations.

Dowdall denies that he suggested getting the IRA to perform “hits” during a wiretapped conversation

Former Sinn Féin councilor Jonathan Dowdall has denied that he suggested getting the IRA to perform “hits” during “sinister banter” he had in a wiretapped conversation with murder accused Gerard Hutch.

The backlog of cases at An Bord Pleanála is now 2,300

The future of An Bord Pleanála is in a “critical” state with its operations in a “crisis” and an “internal crisis” among staff.

Senior member of scammers caught flushing documents in hotel toilet and jailed

A high-ranking member of an international organized crime gang has been sentenced to five years in prison for his role in an €800,000 money laundering and fraud operation.

Religious community loses tax dispute with the tax office

A religious community has lost a €11,218 tax dispute with the Inland Revenue over imports of religious statues and ironwork placed in a monastery here.

Explainer: Workers could tax their wages at 40 percent to pay for a new Universal Basic Income

McGregor is facing a court offer from a former friend to force him to stop “defamatory” tweets

Artem Lobov, former sparring partner and close friend of Conor McGregor, is seeking an injunction preventing the mixed martial artist from making any further allegedly defamatory comments about him on social media.

Cameron Reilly’s family speaks out as killer Aaron Connolly is sentenced to life in prison

In a victim statement on behalf of the family, Cameron’s uncle Darren Flanagan said the four saddest words in the English language are “what could have been”.