The Big 6 - Thursday 21st January

Every evening at 6 O Clock WLR brings you the 6 biggest stories of the day; Tanaiste says we are 'nowhere near' lifting Level 5, swimmer rescued in Tramore and virtual hugs on International Hugging day.

Ireland is “nowhere near where we need to be at present” to consider easing Level 5 restrictions, the Tánaiste has said. Leo Varadkar told the Dáil that the numbers surrounding Covid-19 were too high to consider lifting restrictions in the short-term, but that did not mean schools could not reopen in February.

A Waterford woman whose elderly parents are battling Covid-19 in their Kilmacow home said she feels the HSE and UHW have put her parents in a “dangerous” situation. Ann Marie McCarthy told Damien Tienan on Deise Today that both her parents have now tested positive for the virus. Listen back to Anne and her parents here.

Gardaí have sent a file to the DPP in relation to the investigation surrounding the Oireachtas Golf Society dinner. 81 people, including politicians, members of the judiciary and lobbyists attended the event in Clifden, Co Galway in August, which broke Covid-19 restrictions.

The Helvick RNLI Lifeboat Rescue 117 helicopter and Bonmahon Coast Guard, were tasked this morning after a swimmer got into difficulty on the east side of Clonea Strand in Dungarvan.

Kiernan famously finished ninth in the 1984 Olympic Marathon, and won the Dublin Marathon twice — in 1982 and 1992. In 1976, he became the seventh Irishman to break the four-minute mile, clocking 3:59.2 in London. Waterford athlete Thomas Barr tweeted his shock earlier.

Adam King is urging people around Ireland to share a virtual hug with loved ones on National Hugging Day. The six-year-old from Cork became a star after appearing on The Late Late Toy Show in 2020, showcasing his Covid-19 inspired greeting.