1.          Panama Papers: Tax officials to mull international action

The Irish Times has told the Revenue Commissioners it will not be acceding to its request for copies of all documents that appear to have an Irish link to  one of the world's largest providers of offshore services, the Panama-headquartered Mossack Fonseca law firm. Tax officials from around the world, including the Revenue Commissioners, meet in Paris today to discuss international action in response to the Panama Papers controversy. Today's meeting of the Joint International Tax Shelter Information and Collaboration network in Paris is designed so that tax authorities can share information in an effort to help each other catch each other's tax cheats. Meanwhile, major changes to the way multinationals report their activities in the European Union have been proposed by the European Commission.

2.          AGSI says will not consider any pay deal with cuts

Garda sergeants and inspectors have said they could not consider any new pay deal under which any member of the Garda suffered a reduction in allowances.  This follows debate at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors  conference where gardaí have voiced their discontent over pay and conditions.
As if to make the point, the AGSI published a video shot from inside a patrol car showing a suspect threatening gardaí and making threats against their family members. Meanwhile, Garda Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan has refused to make any comment on the revelation that sergeants and inspectors were considering breaking the law and going on strike in their campaign for pay restoration.

3.          Party political manoeuvrings continue

With one day left before yet another vote for Taoiseach of the 32nd Dáil, talks between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are expected to reach a crucial point today when the two parties begin to discuss policy issues. This follows four hours of talks on Tuesday where papers were exchanged between the two parties and  the viability of supporting a minority government was discussed. Of course. This beggars the question  What's in it for the Independents?
Meanwhile, the electorally chastened Labour Party continues to consider the future of the party leadership with increasing pressure being placed on acting Minister for Public ExpenditureBrendan Howlin to declare that he will stand as  both Joan Burton and Alan Kelly may not be able to secure a seconder from the party's seven TDs, which would ensure neither would be eligible to stand. Writing in The Irish Times today, Mr Howlin takes a potshot at Fianna Fáil, claiming the party's 'new politics' is Haughey-esque.

4.          Hillary Clinton believes a Brexit ‘awful for Ireland’

In the US, the Clinton camp courted the Irish-American community in New York with former president Bill Clinton telling them his wife Hillary Clinton believes a Brexit from the European Union would be "awful for Ireland".  Following some potentially damaging comments, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio has defended a racially charged joke that he told during a weekend skit with Democratic presidential favourite Hillary Clinton as she campaigns for votes in the state's primary. Meanwhile electoral wildcards Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders preached about a 'rigged' electoral system. One Sanders supporter speaking at the Sanders rally said: "Jesus was a socialist and also a Jew, and so is Bernie Sanders, so if you really are a Christian, you will vote for Bernie Sanders," she said.

5.          Take your Pick….

Popularity of MMA no defence for legal killing:  The death of  Joao Carvalho plays out to the back drop of an orchestra of screaming, excited fans, many of them children. Some leave their seats to run up to the wire mesh surround. Holding it with both hands they howl into The Octagon.

Mayo conman branded himself for life: All you need to know about former property developer Kevin McGeever who pleaded guilty to making false reports about being kidnapped at gunpoint three years ago, in a bid to dodge his creditors.

More social work resources needed in child protection: Almost 1,000 high priority cases not yet assigned social workers at end of 2015, figures show

O'Devaney Gardens tenants not told of demolition plans:  The last residents of O'Devaney Gardens, a flat complex close to the Phoenix Park, have said they were not told by Dublin City Council of its plans to demolish their homes.

Bobby Gillespie of Primal Scream:   'Regrets? Who cares? The band is one long experiment anyway'