April 03: Today’s top stories in 60 seconds

Two gardaí among five people in hospital after serious collision in Dublin
Two garda members are receiving medical treatment following a serious road traffic collision in Dublin on Sunday night. An official Garda car collided with another vehicle, according to a garda spokesman. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the collision which occurred at about 8.35pm on the Crumlin Road in Dublin 12. A total of five people, including two Garda members were taken to St James’s Hospital to receive medical treatment.
Independent.ie

Criminal Assets Bureau to get new powers to prevent targets from delaying seizures of property
The justice minister will tell gardaí later today that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) will have new powers to restrict their targets from using repeat vexatious litigation to delay the seizure of property. Simon Harris will address delegates at the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) conference in Galway today. The Minister is expected to outline the new laws which will halt never ending court challenges – this was a tactic used in previous years by John Gilligan and other targets of CAB operations.
The Journal

Abortion system could collapse, says researcher involved in review of laws
Elements of Ireland’s abortion system are “not sustainable” in their current form and the service could collapse, according to a researcher involved in a review of the State’s laws on terminations of pregnancy. Dr Deirdre Duffy, now at Lancaster University, and a team of researchers from Manchester Metropolitan University were appointed by the Government to carry out a study looking at the experience of abortion service providers such as hospital staff and GPs. Their research has identified issues around guidance on conscientious objection as well shortcomings in the spread of services available around the country and the availability of staff and facilities in hospitals. This work was due to form a major part of the review of the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018, which has now been sent to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
The Irish Times

New York plans for Trump surrender with barricades
New York City police have thrown up metal barriers around Trump Tower and blocked roads near Manhattan Criminal Courthouse as they brace for potential protests ahead of Donald Trump’s expected surrender to prosecutors tomorrow. The former US president is due to be arraigned at the courthouse tomorrow afternoon, after his indictment in a grand jury probe over hush money paid to a porn star. He is the first former US president to face criminal charges.
RTÉ

Not one local council applied for available funds for extra staff to tackle vacant homes
Not a single council in the country has applied for extra dedicated staff to tackle the scourge of vacant homes and buildings despite funding being available for the roles. Of the 31 local authorities, 30 have just one dedicated vacant homes officer even though a single staff member is not regarded as sufficient for the workload, particularly in larger councils. The need for more housing to be made available has been thrown into sharp focus particularly over the weekend with the Government’s lifting of the eviction ban. The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has estimated, based on metered electricity consumption, that one in 25 homes nationwide is vacant.
The Irish Examiner

Today’s forecast 
A dry day for most today with a mix of cloud and hazy sunny spells. Some spots of light rain and drizzle will occur, most frequent along Atlantic counties, extending further inland in the west and northwest during the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in moderate to fresh south to southeast winds, easing by the evening. Becoming cloudy over the western half of the country overnight with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Temperatures there not falling below 4 to 7 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds. Staying mostly dry further east with clear spells allowing temperatures to fall between 1 and 5 degrees in lighter winds.
Met Éireann