5 things you need to know today

1. Yet another phase in process to form a government begins

Fianna Fáil has pulled out of the contest to form a minority government but differences over Irish Water could scupper the chances of a Fine Gael-led minority government getting off the ground. If the two parties cannot reach agreement on water and the rules to enable a minority government to function, another general election in May becomes a real possibility. Wrestling with the various combinations and permutations, there is little confidence among politicians around Leinster House that what will finally emerge is a functioning, stable, settled administration with a long-term future. Meanwhile, it seems Fianna Fáil is unlikely to facilitate any Fine Gael-led minority government that includes the Labour Party as a full member, party sources have said. Those Independent TDs willing to participate in the next government have been trotted in and out of various offices to meet the leaders and their negotiating teams. They've been treated to nice biscuits and soft chairs and honeyed words, but little else, they say. And, in case you were wondering, this is a breakdown of who backed who in the third vote for taoiseach

2. Man ‘shot by mistake’ is named

The man shot dead, apparently in a case of mistaken identity, early Thursday afternoon on Sheriff Street, Dublin, is a 24-year-old from Dublin 7. He was named locally as Martin O'Rourke.

With five people now dead in just six months since the first fatality in the Hutch-Kinahan dispute,the gun feud is claiming lives faster than any other seen in the history of Irish gangland crime. "It could be your son, my son walking down the road and he gets shot for little or nothing."

3. Landowner says megalithic dolmen is ‘grand’ despite earthworks

A Co Wicklow landowner has denied recent earthworks on his land damaged a megalithic dolmen which is a listed national monument.

Larry Brennan, who owns land at Castletimon, near Brittas Bay, between the coast road and the N11, says the dolmen in his field is "grand" and "there's no problem at all".

However, Stephen Brennan (no relation), of the Brittas Bay Tourism Association, said a digger had removed a lot of stone and soil from around the dolmen.

“What was removed would have contained Bronze Age artefacts,” he said.

He said that damage to the dolmen, estimated to have been built about 4,000 years ago, occurred early last month when material was dug from the site.

The dolmen is known locally as the Grave of the Princess.

4. Dolmios in 'once-a-week' shocker!

Segueing nicely from Dolmens to Dolmio pasta sauces! The company that makes Dolmio pasta sauces and Uncle Ben's rice has advised consumers to use some of its products just once a week because of high sugar, salt or fat content.Mars Food is to distinguish between "everyday" and "occasional" items on its labelling and on its website. The company said about 5 per cent of its products will be labelled "occasional", the BBC reported. These include Dolmio lasagna sauces, pesto and carbonara and macaroni oven kits.