The Big 6 - Wednesday 12th May

Every evening at 6 O Clock WLR brings you the 6 biggest stories of the day

Maternity units across Ireland, including at University Hospital Waterford, are being contacted today to inform them of the guidance on the lifting of maternity restrictions in hospitals nationwide. The HSE advises allowing partners to accompany a woman during labour and childbirth, however restrictions remain in place in certain hospitals.

Concern has been raised that remote workers could be forced to accept technology that monitors the number of mouse clicks they make in a minute. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has warned artificial intelligence tools could also be used to track the amount of time spent on social media.

In a tale of two rental markets, the Covid pandemic has sent Dublin rents down while the rest of the country has seen prices soar seven per cent on last year. In Cork, Galway and Limerick cities, rents are six per cent higher than a year previously, while in Waterford they are 8.3 per cent higher.

Bathing water quality continued to improve at swimming spots across the country in 2020, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In Waterford, Ardmore, Bunhmahon, Counsellors and the Strand in Dunmore East and Tramore beach were all deemed ‘excellent’ and Clonea Beach was rated ‘good’.

The status yellow alert affects Leinster, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and Munster. The forecaster has warned of heavy and prolonged showers, with hail and scattered thunderstorms bringing the risk of spot flooding.

Ellen DeGeneres will step down from her daytime talk show next year, according to a spokeswoman for the host. The show experienced a steep ratings decline in recent months with more than a million viewers tuning out since allegations of bullying on set against a former producer. Next season will be the 19th and final season of the Ellen show.