Next year will be critical for Ireland’s efforts to resolve its housing crisis and critical infrastructure issues.

Security correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe reflects on the revelations that damaged the reputation of Ireland’s policing and justice system during 2017

“It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.”

An end-of-year review by the Irish Coast Guard reveals that the service assisted more than 3,300 people over the course of 2017, of which a total of 335 were classified as “lives saved”.

Anyone contemplating making some new year resolutions would do well to heed the advice of the Irish Cancer Society which today is urging is people to make simple lifestyle changes in 2018 to significantly lower their risk of cancer.

Every downturn comes to an end and Trump was lucky to be in the White House to benefit from the work of his predecessor in setting the scene.

As the era of quantitative easing and low interest rates ends, new policies will bring a slew of major risks for the world economy.

Your lunchtime news bulletin.

Happy new year. If that lasts past 5pm today, I’ll be amazed.

Following their 12-point McGrath Cup win over Waterford in Meelick on Saturday, Clare manager Colm Collins says it would make sense to double up their January 14 tie with Cork, rather than play each other on successive weeks.

Forget the existential challenge of watching a 2018 game in 2017, and disregard the bone-chilling rain, writes Michael Moynihan

"Subs have been running roughshod all over the place, like a herd of buffalo".

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is anxiously awaiting a fitness report on leading scorer Mohamed Salah as he prepares for a second match inside 48 hours, writes Carl Markham

As tee-ups go for their most important game of the season thus far, this was about as ugly a knock-down as UCC Demons could have feared, writes Tony Leen

Spending power is important, but the right coaching philosophy still has a role to play in the quest for success, according to The Secret Footballer

Whatever the demands in Munster for a return to winning ways after a chastening home defeat to Leinster, it is up in Ulster where the need for atonement is felt much deeper ahead of this evening’s sold-out PRO14 derby clash in Belfast, writes Simon Lewis

Do you remember who said: “That five years as an electrician probably just grounded myself”?

Off the track for 714 days, Killultagh Vic landed the Free Festival Upgrade Ticket Offer Hurdle, the highlight of the New Year’s Eve card in Punchestown, writes John Ryan

David Harrington was the main man at the final meeting of the year at Curraheen Park on Saturday night, writes Eoin Walshe

Leicester boss Claude Puel admits today’s clash with Huddersfield is “crucial” for his Foxes as they look to end their winless run, writes Phil Medlicott

Two dropped points may mean little in the context of Manchester City’s yawning 14-point lead at the head of the table, but the chasing pack can at least draw comfort from the knowledge that Pep Guardiola’s side are fallible after all, writes Ian Winrow

Willoughby Court will bid to extend his unbeaten record over fences to three in the Betbright Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham today, writes Colin Wilson

The usual New Year cheer should be all the more pronounced in Ballsbridge today, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Michael Moynihan says this is the time of year when GAA clubs all over Ireland are looking around for chairmen and coaches, treasurers and selectors, secretaries and PROs.

The Government, more than external issues like Brexit and oil price movement, will ultimately be to blame if Ireland’s much-touted offshore oil and gas exploration sector fails to bear real fruit, writes Geoff Percival

Nearly a decade since the onset of the recession, we see a new confident breed of companies driving the economy, creating jobs and fuelling government coffers, writes John Whelan

Our 12.5% corporate tax rate is no longer the big clincher it once was as rivals shrink their rates and the US attempts to lure back multinationals with tax incentives, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

Barry McCarthy tells Trish Dromey his firm’s software provides SMEs an automated foreign exchange solution

The average value of house prices rose by 8.4% in 2017, more than three percentage points higher than the 2016 increase of 5.2%, writes Catherine Shanahan    

Political parties, charities and sporting organisations are scrambling to become compliant with the most comprehensive data protection legislation ever introduced by the EU, data security experts have warned.

Evidence against the Birmingham Six was “enhanced”, a top-ranking police chief warned an MP years before their eventual release.

The number of claims against the State by members of the Defence Forces who suffered side effects from a malaria medication is to rise following a substantial payout to a Corkman whose career and health were ruined by the drug, writes Caroline O’Doherty    

Plans for a solar farm in east Cork are being challenged by residents who claim it will lead to the industrialisation of a rural setting, writes Seán McCárthaigh    

It’s currently called The Top of Coom but it could arguably become The Castle on the Hill should Ed Sheeran accept an invite to visit the pub that features in his favourite YouTube video, writes Catherine Shanahan    

The Policing Authority is legally prevented from finding out if a senior officer it is considering for promotion is implicated in a whistleblower investigation being conducted by Gsoc, writes Security Correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe   

Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath has called for economic sanctions to be agreed against Israel over “unfair” treatment of Palestinians, writes Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe

Electric car owners will escape toll charges on routes in the coming months while motorists could also get access to free parking for their fossil fuel-free vehicles, writes Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and the Independent Alliance have spoken about aiming for a second term in government together, writes Political Correspondent Juno McEnroe    

Margaret Thatcher’s chief legal adviser believed prosecutions would “go as high as chief superintendent” within the RUC over an alleged shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland, newly released secret files reveal.

The minister for the environment, Ray Burke, received a stinging reply from his British counterpart after calling for the closure of the Sellafield nuclear processing plant in 1987, writes Seán McCárthaigh    

An IRA group which was killed during an ambush by the SAS in the Co Armagh village of Loughgall in 1987 was responsible for up to 50 murders, secret government documents have revealed.

Minister for finance John Bruton wanted to withdraw Irish troops from peacekeeping in Lebanon in 1987 because Ireland was not being financially reimbursed sufficiently by the UN, writes Seán McCárthaigh

This week, Denise O’Donoghue meets Alan Herbert.

More than 40% of people do it but less than 8% of them succeed. What am I talking about? New Year’s resolutions.

"They wanted it to be the beginning of a long ribbon of holden happiness a happy marriage can deliver"

Planning on creating a brand new you next year? Pat Fitzpatrick examines the heavy lifting of giving up

James Norton dodges the 007 rumours as he tells Gemma Dunn about his role in crime drama McMafia, which begins on BBC One tonight

The legendary band only ever played one gig in the Republic of Ireland. Jack Lyons recalls being part of that sparse crowd at the Arcadia in Cork in 1967.

The Dublin suburb of Dalkey is immortalised in the surrealist work of one of Ireland’s greatest writers, Flann O’Brien.

Women are to be allowed drive cars in Saudi Arabia and a cinema may open there shortly. A paper in the Turkish Journal of Zoology, suggests that the ultra-conservative whooper swan may also be “loosening up”.

WITH all the hype about Star Wars and Skellig Michael, there’s a danger some people might be deluded into thinking it is just a spectacular rock that has only recently been discovered in the Atlantic.

First, the perennial question arises of who or what is responsible for the condition of the venerable paterfamilias snoring, mouth agape, in his armchair post Christmas dinner, while his wife and children make like mice so as not to disturb his “well-deserved” rest.

“The day breaks, your mind aches …”

When you’re a kid you write to Santa with your wish list, but who do you write to when you’re an adult? God? Hmmmm. No-one? Too depressing. Facebook? Pfffft.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May has been warned that business chiefs’ patience over Brexit is wearing thin and Westminster must get to grips with the challenge.

Heads of the country’s five main banks have told the Department of Finance they will establish an Irish Banking Standards Board to “start the process of rebuilding trust and confidence in the industry” following the tracker mortgage scandal.

A reduction in prescription charges for some medical card holders comes into effect from today.

Having become one of Cork's most respected nutrition advisers and personal trainers, Pádraig Hoare finds Paul O'Sullivan urges long-term lifestyle changes rather than fad diets for those looking to get healthier in 2018

Childline is asking people to consider donating to the charity as part of their New Year's Resolutions.

The first baby of 2018 has been born in Limerick.

A status yellow wind warning has been issued for the West from 10 o'clock this morning.

Angry Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes the referee did not see the incident which saw a controversial penalty deny his side victory at West Brom.

Sydney Seaplanes, which has flown passengers including singer Ed Sheeran and Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews, said it was "deeply shocked" by the "tragic accident".

US President Donald Trump has predicted 2018 will be a "tremendous year" after bidding farewell to 2017 with a lavish party at his private club in Florida.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has said the United States should be aware that his country's nuclear forces are now a reality, not a threat.

Bone-chilling cold has gripped the middle of the US, putting paid to some new year's celebrations and leading to at least two deaths attributed to exposure to the elements.

Virgil van Dijk says Liverpool is the "perfect match" for him after his world record move from Southampton was officially completed.

Tuesday’s meeting at Ffos Las has been abandoned due to a waterlogged track, while this afternoon’s meeting at Exeter is under threat from waterlogging also.

From spectacular fireworks in Hong Kong and Australia to a huge LED light show at the world's tallest building in Dubai, here is a look at how revellers around the world have welcomed in 2018:

Pep Guardiola expects Manchester City to lose before the conclusion of the Premier League season.

An armed man escaped on a bicycle after robbing a fast food outlet in east Belfast.

Update: A witness has shared a photograph of the moment an engine fire started in an old Land Rover that destroyed around 1,400 vehicles in a car park near Liverpool's Echo Arena yesterday.

Small and medium businesses have warned they will not be able to afford wage increases any time soon.

A man in his 20s is due in court this morning in connection with a stabbing in Co Clare on Saturday.

The Guinness Storehouse has retained its position as the country's number one international visitor attraction.

The number of older people in Ireland will go from half a million to a million and a half over the next five years.

More than 1,400 on-duty gardaí have been assaulted over the past six years.

The statistics show that the biggest rise was in Dublin.

This afternoon’s meeting at Exeter goes ahead as planned after the track passed a second inspection.

Pope Francis has advised people to jettison life's "useless baggage" in 2018, avoiding the "banality of consumerism" and "empty chatter".

158 people died on Irish roads in 2017, according to the latest Road Safety Authority statistics.

A 23-year-old man from Co. Clare has appeared before a special sitting of Ennis District Court, charged in connection with the assault of another man.

A speedboat carrying 51 people has capsized off Indonesia's part of Borneo island, killing at least eight passengers, an official said.

Sinn Féin and the DUP have expressed a desire to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland but neither has signalled a softening of position in the Stormont standoff.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has dismissed claims by Thierry Henry that there are signs of a divide in his squad.

Callum Wilson's second goal in three games earned Bournemouth a 2-2 Premier League draw at Brighton.

Heavy clashes are taking place between Syrian government forces and insurgents east of Damascus amid at least a dozen air strikes, activists said.

A 16-year-old is in custody after his parents, sister and a family friend were found shot dead in a home in New Jersey.

Police in Antrim are appealing for witnesses to an attack on a young man last night.

The HSE is calling on people to leave the GP ’Out-of-Hours Service’ for patients who require urgent care.

Skywatchers will be treated to quit a sight tonight when a Supermoon appears over Ireland.

Gardaí are appealing for information after an 18-year-old man was attacked and left with serious injuries in Co Louth.

Riyad Mahrez’s classy volley inspired Leicester to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Huddersfield.

Centre-back Ragnar Klavan was Liverpool’s unlikely match-winner at Burnley as his close-range header in the fourth minute of added time made light of the absence of three of the ’Fab Four’.

Gardaí in Cavan investigating a fatal stabbing are making a further appeal for information from the public.

The pressure on Stoke boss Mark Hughes increased as Ayoze Perez’s second-half strike secured Newcastle a 1-0 New Year’s Day victory at the bet365 Stadium.

Connacht went through 28 phases in search of a last-gasp try but Leinster held out to clinch an engrossing 21-18 derby victory in the Guinness PRO14.