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The Joshua Reynolds work Portrait of Omai is prepared for public viewing by Kevin Kelly and Sheila Dooley at the National Gallery yesterday. The painting, considered to be one of the artist's most important works and which is valued at € 118 million, is currently on loan to the gallery in Merrion Square, Dublin.

Photograph: Matt Kavanagh

Ictu seeks radical changes to terms of social pact
A radical overhaul of social partnership is to be sought by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) in talks on a new national agreement, expected to begin tomorrow, writes Chris Dooley , Industry and Employment Correspondent.
€200m from planned Aer Lingus sale to go on pension shortfall
Aer Lingus and Government officials propose using more than €200 million generated during the sale of part of the airline to address its looming pension deficit, writes Emmet Oliver .
Despite 'magic' mushrooms ban, Bertie has a bad trip
The Cabinet had banned magic mushrooms with immediate effect. But as the Dáil got into its spring stride yesterday, you feared the ban had come too late. Midway through Leaders' Questions, it was clear the Government was having a bad trip, writes Frank McNally ..

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Ireland

Migrant childcare cost just €1m, says Taoiseach
The Taoiseach has insisted that the cost of giving the new childcare payments to migrant workers may be as little as €1 million in a year, a small fraction of the €50 million claimed by Fine Gael. p
Garda security cost €1m
The Garda security operation to protect the Corrib gas pipeline project in Co Mayo has cost the State nearly €1 million, it has emerged. p
Harney bans sale or possession of 'magic' mushrooms
The sale and possession of "magic" mushrooms was yesterday banned by Minister for Health Mary Harney. p
Robinson criticises Bush use of power
President George Bush has shown "a worrying assertion of presidential power" since the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, former Irish president and UN high commissioner for human rights Mary Robinson told an audience of government leaders here yesterday. p
Wren says decision on Ludlow suspects not his
Former Garda commissioner Laurence Wren yesterday disputed a finding of the Barron report into the murder of a Co Louth man that it was probably him who had made a decision not to pursue the interrogation of four loyalist suspects in Northern Ireland. p
Nigerian who illegally re-entered State loses challenge
A Nigerian mother who was deported from Ireland but later illegally returned has lost her High Court challenge to the deportation orders made for her and her children. p
Hain calls for more teamwork across the Border
The Northern Secretary has called for new levels of North-South co-operation aimed at enhancing employment and economic development throughout Ireland. p
Colleges spend more to attract school-leavers
In a sign of the increasing competition for school-leavers, two Dublin third-level colleges have spent more than €100,000 each on advertising campaigns over the past month. p

Finance

Statoil's Irish business goes up for sale
Norwegian state-owned energy group Statoil has put its Irish service station and oil supply businesses on the market with an estimated price tag of €150-€200 million. p
Monthly credit card spend breaks €1bn level
Credit card spending has topped €1 billion a month for the first time. Figures released by the Central Bank yesterday show that in December €1.05 billion was spent on credit cards as total private sector borrowing recorded its highest ever monthly jump. p
House prices tipped to rise by 10% this year after 9% rise in 2005
Property prices are forecast to grow by 10 per cent this year, after average national price growth of 9.3 per cent in 2005, according to the latest edition of the Permanent TSB/Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) house price index. p
AIB to sell its HQ building
AIB is preparing to put its headquarters building in the Bankcentre complex on the market for a sale and leaseback deal that could value the premises at more than €350 million. p

World

Russia, China act to defuse Iran crisis
IRAN: Russian and Chinese officials flew to Tehran last night to try to defuse the burgeoning nuclear crisis after agreement was finally reached on sending Iran to the UN security council. p
Alito appointed to supreme court in boost for president
US: Samuel Alito has been confirmed as a supreme court justice, helping President George Bush to put his conservative stamp on America's highest court. p
War in Chechnya at an end, says Putin
RUSSIA: Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday announced the end of the six-year war in Chechnya, saying rebel forces had been defeated. p
Afghanistan will be occupied by troops until at least 2010
AFGHANISTAN: Foreign troops will be in Afghanistan until at least the end of 2010, according to a plan agreed at an international conference which began yesterday in London. p

Sport

Close calls go much as expected
They're all back. Not only have Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell returned to the Irish fold in prime form, but David Wallace will make his first Six Nations start since the Triple Crown decider against Scotland two seasons ago for Saturday's opener against Italy at Lansdowne Road. p
Bocanegra seals poor affair
Fulham - 1 Tottenham - 0: This was a Tottenham performance to give even a stuttering Arsenal much hope of overhauling their rivals and finishing fourth. Lacking the creativity and quality to break down a stubborn Fulham, Martin Jol's team fell in injury-time to a Carlos Bocanegra header from a free-kick. p