April 03: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Fine Gael junior ministers vie for promotion as Coveney’s departure frees up second place at Cabinet
Several Fine Gael junior ministers are vying for promotion to Cabinet in advance of incoming taoiseach Simon Harris’s reshuffle next week. The new Fine Gael leader’s job has been made slightly easier by Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney’s decision to step aside from Cabinet. While this means Mr Harris now has more leeway in his reshuffle with two senior Cabinet roles to fill – Mr Coveney’s and his own at the Department of Higher Education – there is intense competition among the junior ministerial ranks for elevation to the top table.
The Irish Times

Revealed: Counties with most expensive and cheapest creches, with €1,200 difference depending on where you live
Parents living in south ­Dublin pay the highest monthly fees in the country for ­creches, while those living in Monaghan pay the lowest, an Irish Independent nationwide survey of 220 private creches has found. The most expensive creche is in south Dublin, with a monthly full-day care fee set at €1,578 per child, while the least expensive creche is in Monaghan, charging €340 per month*. That’s a €1,238 price gap between the most expensive and cheapest creches surveyed in Ireland.
Independent.ie

Speculation mounts over Simon Coveney’s candidacy in European elections
Speculation is mounting that Simon Coveney could run in the upcoming European elections following his decision to step down from Cabinet next week. The Cork South Central TD confirmed on Tuesday that he would depart Cabinet when new Fine Gael leader Simon Harris is elected as Taoiseach next week. Mr Coveney said that he spoke with Mr Harris about his decision on Monday night, but confirmed he would remain in place as a TD.
The Irish Examiner

Seven dead, more than 700 injured in Taiwan earthquake
At least seven people were killed and more than 700 injured by a powerful earthquake in Taiwan that damaged dozens of buildings and prompted tsunami warnings that extended to Japan and the Philippines before being lifted. Officials said the quake was the strongest to shake the island in decades, and warned of more tremors in the days ahead.
RTÉ

Norma Foley in the firing line: Teachers question why they earn less after teaching abroad
The annual conference of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland in Wexford heard that many teachers whose time spent teaching abroad has seen them lose out on thousands of euros, because the Department of Education does not recognise overseas teaching in various different settings. A 500-strong gathering of teachers and ASTI union delegates in Clayton Whites Hotel heard from different speakers that the current situation is “discouraging” teachers from coming home as they may not earn as much as they would have expected to, despite having “broadened their horizons” by teaching abroad in non-EU countries such as in the Middle East and Australia. The incremental credit payment also impacts pay for teachers who had worked in private schools in different parts of Europe and elsewhere, the conference heard.
The Journal

Today’s forecast
Mostly cloudy today with rain in the east, which will gradually clear away later this morning. Elsewhere will see drier and brighter weather for a time this afternoon but more rain will move up over Munster this evening. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees with light breezes. Mostly cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle, along with some mist and fog forming as winds fall light over land. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees.
Met Éireann