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Brian O'Driscoll exercising on the sideline at Croke Park during the Irish rugby squad training session yesterday in advance of their match with France tomorrow.

Photograph: Alan Betson

Four toy store founders share €14m as sales boom
Christmas came early for the owners of Ireland's largest chain of toy shops. The four brothers behind Galway-based retail chain Smyths Toys were paid management fees of more than €14.1 million last year, according to the company's accounts.

Rabbitte wants State to jointly fund house purchases
The State would jointly buy homes with tens of thousands of young homebuyers under a radical new plan put forward by Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte last night.
McDowell admits child porn evidence may have been lost
Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has conceded that Garda delays in acting on Interpol information about Irish involvement in a global child pornography ring may have resulted in the loss of vital evidence here.

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Finance

Doherty acquires former Tory HQ for €46m
Donegal property developer Pat Doherty has acquired the former headquarters in London of the Conservative Party in a £30.5 million (€45.72 million) deal. Arthur Beesley , Senior Business Correspondent, reports. p
Cartelism 'rife' in motor trade, court hears
Cartelism is endemic in the motor trade in Ireland, it was claimed yesterday as a retired director of Henry Ford and Son was given a 12-month suspended sentence and fined €30,000 for assisting Ford dealers operate a price-fixing cartel. Barry Roche , Southern Correspondent, reports. p
Congestion charges proposed for Dublin airport
Passengers using Dublin airport at peak times of the day may face a congestion charge under proposals being considered by the aviation regulator. Ciarán Hancock reports. p
Ahern confident on Pfizer plants
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has indicated that he is confident that US drugs multinational Pfizer will secure buyers for two of its plants in Cork, where close to 500 jobs are currently at risk. Kathryn Hayes reports. p

Ireland

Ban on traffic crossing Dublin city proposed
A radical new traffic management plan from the DTO, the Dublin Transportation Office, that would effectively ban private cars from Dublin city centre, is to be put to Dublin city councillors within weeks. p
Harney insists she will seek re-election
Progressive Democrats Minister for Health and Children Mary Harney has blamed Dublin Mid-West constituency opponents for rumours that she will not run for the Dáil in the general election. p
Standards body to question councillors
Two Killarney councillors, one the town's Fine Gael mayor, the other a Fianna Fáil member and a major figure in the tourism industry, have been ordered to appear before a public hearing of the Standards in Public Office Commission. p
Groups concerned, 'uneasy' at child porn inaction
Children's rights campaigners yesterday expressed deep concern over the apparent lack of Garda action on information it received six months ago from Austrian authorities on Irish involvement in a child pornography ring. p
In Cork, Enda does exactly what it says on the tin
Maybe we've been unfair to Enda, writes Miriam Lord , who watched him meet the people p
Government rules out challenge to greenhouse gases cuts
The Government will not contest an order by the European Commission to cut the amount of CO2 Irish industry can emit between 2008-2012. p
Driver in fatal crash admits speeding, drinking
A man who admitted dangerous driving, causing the deaths of three pedestrians at the beginning of last year, told gardaí he was driving at up to 100km/h after drinking beer and spirits. p
Inishbofin could be 'washed away' unless reinforced
The Connemara island of Inishbofin is at risk of "being washed away, literally" unless vital coastal protection works are carried out, according to Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív. p

World

Six men charged in London with terror offences
Britain: Six of the nine men arrested in anti-terrorist raids in Birmingham last week have appeared in court charged with terrorism offences - one with plotting to kidnap and kill a British soldier. p
Violent clashes as police storm mosque
Middle East: Hundreds of Israeli police stormed the compound containing the Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem yesterday, firing stun grenades and tear gas at a crowd of several thousand Muslim worshippers who were hurling rocks, bottles and iron bars in protest over construction work by Israel close to the disputed holy site. p
Branson puts up $25m prize in earth climate change challenge
Britain: Airline tycoon Richard Branson yesterday announced a $25 million prize for the first person to come up with a way of "scrubbing" greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere in the battle to beat global warming. p

Sport

Ireland can make big stage their own
Rugby: Hands across the Liffey; passports, travel visas, road maps and sherpas at the ready. At last history is upon us. p
Lampard's future at Chelsea unclear
Soccer/ FA Premiership: The future of Chelsea's England midfielder Frank Lampard has come under the spotlight yet again after his agent refused to say whether the player would be at Stamford Bridge next season. p
Flood decides to resign
The immediate future of Shelbourne looks set to be decided during the first half of next week following the news that Finbarr Flood has resigned as the club's chairman having completed his work to put together a package intended to pave the way for its survival. p