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Cardinal-designate Seán Brady with his sister, Kitty Mulligan, at a reception in the Irish College in Rome last night.

Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Taoiseach defends Harney on vote of no confidence
The Taoiseach has rallied to the defence of Minister for Health Mary Harney, saying he has full confidence in her ability to reform the health service. Stephen Collins , Martin Wall and Olivia Kelleher report.
Fundraiser tells of $10,000 in envelope
The former chief Fianna Fáil fundraiser Des Richardson told the Mahon tribunal yesterday he was given $10,000 cash in an envelope during a lunch in Manchester in April or May 1994. Colm Keena and Fiona Gartland report.
Fingleton approved €4.1m loan to Lynn, court hears
Irish Nationwide chief executive Michael Fingleton directly approved the loan of €4.1 million to solicitor Michael Lynn for the purchase of a property in Howth, a court heard yesterday. Dominic Coyle reports.

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Finance

Sharpest fall in house prices since 1996
House prices fell sharply last month as the autumn selling season failed to take off, according to data released yesterday, writes Dominic Coyle p
Iseq bounce reduces week's loss to €4.8bn
It was "Green Friday" on the Irish stock market yesterday, with dealers breathing a sigh of relief at the sea of green tickers on their monitors, indicating that almost all Irish stocks were making gains. Laura Slattery reports. p
Pierse projects valued at €760m
Civil engineering and building group Pierse has more than €700 million worth of public and private projects under way, according to the latest figures. Returns filed with the Companies' Registration Office (CRO) show that at the end of its financial year on April 30th last, the group had €470 million worth of work on its books. Barry O'Halloran reports. p
Court halts suspension of INBS manager
A senior manager with Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) has secured a High Court injunction restraining his suspension after claiming yesterday that the society was seeking to "scapegoat" him over the granting of loans to solicitors Michael Lynn and Thomas Byrne. p

Ireland

€7m Garda database to store fingerprints
All foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) coming to live in the Republic will from next year have their fingerprints taken and stored on a Garda database along with criminals and asylum seekers, it has emerged. Conor Lally , Crime Correspondent, reports. p
President's plea to end 'embedded sectarianism'
President Mary McAleese has stressed the need "to finally eliminate the embedded culture of sectarianism" in a speech celebrating this year's creation of the new Northern Ireland Executive. p
New chief of Garda calls for public aid on crime
New Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy said yesterday the force would not be intimidated by armed gangs, but gardaí needed the public to supply them with information if serious criminals were to be brought to justice. p
Oxegen 2008 to run for three days
The thoughts of most may be preoccupied with the looming festive season. But for those music fans already pining for the summer rock festival programme, there was some welcome news yesterday following the announcement that Oxegen is to be extended to three days for the first time next July. p
Gore to bring message to Dublin
Nobel Prize winner and former US vice-president Al Gore will arrive in Ireland next weekend to address an environmental conference. Steven Carroll reports. p
Duty of care was not extended to patients
Events have been dominated by the needs of the system and not those of women patients , writes Medical Correspondent Dr Muiris Houston p

World

Polish PM pledges to withdraw troops from Iraq
POLAND: Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has pledged to withdraw his country's troops from Iraq in 2008 and end the confrontational politics pursued by the previous administration, writes Jamie Smyth in Warsaw. p
Lebanon in political limbo as MPs fail to elect president's successor
LEBANON: Lebanon faced a political vacuum last night after rival politicians failed again to elect a successor to pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud hours before he was due to step down, writes Lucy Fielder in Beirut. p
154 escape sinking vessel
ANTARCTIC: Four Irish people were among more than 150 passengers and crew who escaped unhurt after their cruise ship hit ice in the Antarctic and started sinking yesterday, the ship's owner and coast guard officials said. Cesar Illiano in Buenos Aires. p

Sport

Jewell asked to reconsider by Delaney
International Soccer: John Delaney, the chief executive of the FAI, rang former Wigan manager Paul Jewell in a bid to get him to reconsider his decision to rule himself out of the running for manager of the Republic of Ireland. p
Big blow for FA as O'Neill commits his future to Villa
International Soccer: The true size of the task confronting the Football Association's chief executive, Brian Barwick, to appoint a successor to Steve McClaren emerged last night as potential candidates, including his preferred target Martin O'Neill, began distancing themselves from the vacant England manager's position. p
Ulster maintain place in provincial pecking order
Celtic League/ Connacht 13 Ulster 30: The home crowd arrived at the Sportsground last night hoping Connacht could redraw the natural pecking order of provincial rugby. p
The great pall over China
The Olympic 2008 hosts won't discuss reports of human rights abuses or pollution. They prefer to focus on the €18 billion budget, taking the Olympic torch to the top of Mount Everest and hiring Steven Spielberg for the opening ceremony. Ian O'Riordan reports p