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Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte in Kilkenny yesterday on the campaign trail.

Photograph: Dylan Vaughan

US to tighten security controls on EU visitors
Irish people will have to adhere to new security requirements to enter the US, as part of a new law to reduce the terrorist risk which is currently passing through Congress, writes Jamie Smyth in Brussels.

FF goes on attack over FG/Labour spending plan 'gaps'
The election campaign intensified sharply yesterday following bitter divisions between the Government and Fine Gael and Labour over economic policy and alleged gaps in spending plans, writes Mark Hennessy , Political Correspondent.
Local councils collect €60m in lieu of social housing
Local authorities have collected more than €60 million from developers in lieu of social housing while between 40,000 and 50,000 people are on their housing waiting lists, writes Barry O'Halloran .

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Ireland

Ahern's Westminster address to be wide-ranging
The development of the relationship between Britain and Ireland, both historically and in more recent times, will be covered in a wide-ranging speech by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at Westminster today. p
Nurses step up dispute with total ban on overtime
Health services face even greater disruption from Friday when some 45,000 nurses currently engaged in industrial action escalate their protest by withdrawing from doing any overtime. p
Rapist jailed for 10 years after attack on tourist
A north Dublin businessman who raped a foreign tourist in a Killarney hotel has been jailed for 10 years by Mr Justice Paul Carney at the Central Criminal Court. p
Three A&E units in northeast to close
The A&E departments of hospitals in Monaghan and Dundalk are due to close next year, and the A&E unit at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan will close next year or the year after, it has emerged. p
Tara group urges rethink on M3
Voters in Co Meath are to be asked to support candidates opposed to the current plans for the M3 motorway, which is to pass close to the Hill of Tara. p
First-time children's author nets top prize in competition
All thoughts of celebrities such as David Beckham or Westlife were temporarily put to one side at yesterday's Children's Books Ireland (CBI)/Bisto Book of the Year awards in Dublin, as authors became the focus of eager young autograph hunters. p
Big increase in number of US troops using Shannon
The number of US troops passing through Shannon airport increased dramatically last month following a massive 77 per cent drop in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period in 2006. p
Councillors vote to ban clamping
Councillors in Dún Laoghaire have voted to ban clamping from the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown local authority area, against the wishes of county manager Owen Keegan. p
Developer's plan for Ballsbridge rejected
A plan by the developer Seán Dunne for a 32-storey building on the Jurys and Berkeley Court hotel sites in Ballsbridge, Dublin, looks set to fall foul of the planning authorities. p

World

Man who helped in hunt for Madeleine questioned
Portugal: Police searching for the missing four-year-old Madeleine McCann last night focused their hunt on the house of a British woman whose son, named as Robert Murat, had been helping the media as a go-between and translator with the Portuguese police. p
Anti-government strike paralyses Pakistan's cities
Pakistan: Pakistan's biggest cities were brought to a virtual halt by an anti-government strike yesterday in the wake of the worst street violence the country has seen in 20 years, which killed more than 40 people over the weekend. p
Sarkozy steps down as party president
France: There can be only one president on the right: Nicolas Sarkozy. France's president-elect stepped down as president of the right-wing Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) yesterday, two days before taking over from President Jacques Chirac. p

Finance

Profits at industrial group DCC rise 16% to nearly €162m
Profits at industrial and distribution group DCC grew 16 per cent to almost €162 million in the 12 months to March 31st, the company reported yesterday. DCC said turnover increased 17.7 per cent during the period to €4 billion from €3.4 billion last year. p
Sale of Aer Lingus slots likely to meet opposition
The Government and the Aer Lingus Employee Share Ownership Trust (Esot) are likely to block any attempt by Ryanair to sell Aer Lingus landing slots at Heathrow Airport. p

Sport

Ireland off on right foot thanks to Rooney
SOCCER/European Under-19 Championship Qualifying/Republic of Ireland 3 Bulgaria 0: The Irish took a confident step towards a first European Youth finals appearance in five years last night at United Park where Adam Rooney's hat-trick early in the first half proved enough to earn Seán McCaffrey's side a victory. p
Longford likely to gain home venue for Laois tie
GAELIC GAMES: Leinster secretary Michael Delaney has indicated that the provincial quarter-final between Longford and Laois is more likely to be played in Longford. p

Front Page

US to tighten security controls on EU visitors
Irish people will have to adhere to new security requirements to enter the US, as part of a new law to reduce the terrorist risk which is currently passing through Congress, writes Jamie Smyth in Brussels.