Handy that the rugby was delayed until after full time in the hurling. #diehords

Evergreen tweet.

'We've been in hell for the last 7 months'

Emotional scenes as Irish-Palestinian Zak Hania is reunited with his family at Dublin Airport

His wife and 4 sons managed to flee Gaza in November

Zak has thanked the Irish people for the support

More on Virgin Media News at 5.30

POLL: Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks
(May 2-3, MoE 2.8%)

Sinn Féin 29 (+3 in a month)
Fine Gael 19 (-2)
Fianna Fáil 16
Social Democrats 6
Greens 4
Aontú 3 (-1)
Labour 3
Solidarity-PBP 2
Inds/others 19 (+2)

independent.ie/irish-news/pol…

As Simon Harris makes his first trip north, ministers in Stormont publicly challenge claims about asylum seekers travelling south - and say the reverse is true…

Reporting on Virgin Media News 5:30

Not just a wonderful broadcaster but a sincerely lovely man. The voice, and face, of our national moments for more than a generation. Happy sailing Bryan Dobson!

“I always think people’s families and people’s homes should be out of bounds. It was bedtime for my kids last night when this situation arose, I don’t think it’s appropriate” - Simon Harris speaking in Belfast on a demonstration outside his family home last night Virgin Media News

Kier Starmer seeing this result

'Don't really get taken in by the Telegraph, is what I'd say to you,' says Micheál Martin to Gary Gannon (SD), who chides the government for handing the Tories a PR 'boon' on the day of local elections in England and Wales

…but it’s not…

Tánaiste calls for a “Covid-style response” to how the Government communicates with the public over immigration, and concedes that communication and engagement “must improve on all fronts” Virgin Media News

Helen McEntee told the Dáil earlier that IPAS is resourced to process 14,000 asylum claims in 2024.

That’s a significant scaling up from c. 8,500 applications processed in 2023, but also quite a bit fewer than the 20,000 applications now expected this year

Virgin Media News

28 becomes 27: Carolyn Fahy has withdrawn

Helen McEntee standing by the 80% estimate for asylum claimants coming via NI, citing “clear evidence” of those who interview claimants. Says it can’t be verified because those applicants don’t carry bus tickets, similar to those coming from Nigeria which has no direct flights