• Department of Agriculture records four new cases of BSE this week

  Four new cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) were recorded this week, the Department of Agriculture said yesterday. p
  

• Church Of Ireland Notes

  Last week the Church of Ireland Gazette devoted its front page to the appointment of Canon Adrian Empey as principal of the Theological College. This week, in a similar format, the Gazette's front page carries the appointment of its editor, Canon Ian Ellis. p
  

• Methodist Notes

  The 10th world assembly of Methodist and Uniting Church Women has completed its meetings at Loughborough University in halls decorated with hangings contributed by member groups around the world. The Irish contribution of mobiles drew particular attention. p
  

• Reporter awarded £70,500 for constructive dismissal

  The former crime correspondent of the Sunday Independent, Ms Liz Allen, has been awarded £70,500 for constructive dismissal. The Employment Appeals Tribunal found unanimously in her favour after one of the longest and most bitterly contested unfair dismissal hearings held in the Republic. p
  

• Half-days of sun to brighten weekend fun

  Met Eireann says the bank holiday weather will be mixed. There is a "medium" risk of sunburn in all regions, along with moderate pollen counts. The predicted degree of sunburn has little to do with weather and more with general ozone conditions. In general the weather is likely to be unsettled. It "will not be especially warm". p
  

• Holiday arrangements

  The Irish Times will be published on Monday. The Classified Advertisement Department is open today from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m., and on Monday from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. Telephone (01) 671 7191. p
  

• 35,000 to travel to Witnness festival

  Up to 35,000 people are expected at Fairyhouse racecourse this weekend for the two-day Witnness festival. The event will feature over 60 acts on five stages around the grounds of the Co Meath racecourse. p
  

• Hospital's intensive care unit is closed to halt spread of superbug

  St James's Hospital, Dublin, has closed its intensive care unit to admissions following the spread of a potentially fatal "superbug" among a number of critically ill patients. p
  

• Craic enters final furlong of Galway Races

  The betting and the boozing, the racing and the raving, were still going strong in Galway last night but the week-long party is drawing to an end. p
  

• Murder charge husband in mental hospital

  A man charged with the murder of his wife and two young sons in Co Westmeath last weekend has been transferred to the Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, for psychiatric treatment. p
  

• Protected plants and rare molluscs to be maintained in recreated habitats

  A habitat restoration project is to be carried out to compensate for the impact the Waterford city bypass will have on a natural heritage area of national importance, an oral hearing into the project was told yesterday. p
  

• Late planting and drought lowers potato yield

  Falling yields of new and main crop potatoes because of late planting and lack of rainfall in the main growing areas could mean higher prices this autumn. However, the price of new potatoes should fall this month, as the main crop will be coming on the market from the middle to the end of August, according to industry sources. p
  

• Order says it will return donations if judge finds against Irish priest

  The order of Holy Ghost Fathers has said it will return more than $200,000 in donations from the will of an American woman if a US judge rules that "undue influence" was exercised on her by an Irish priest. p
  

• Autism group says Disabilities Bill stops short of enshrining rights

  The proposed new Disabilities Bill "would appear to stop well short of enshrining disability rights in legislation", the Irish Autism Alliance has warned. p
  

• Flooding of care unit being studied

  An investigation is under way at a Cork hospital after three patients had to be evacuated from an intensive care unit because of flooding. p
  

• Air Corps crash in Tramore

  A report in The Irish Times on Thursday by Security Editor Jim Cusack said the pilot of the Air Corps helicopter, which crashed at Tramore on July 2nd, 1999, "flew the helicopter into a sand dune". p
  

• TV3 unlikely to seek Premiership

  TV3 has indicated it is unlikely to make a bid for the rights to broadcast Premiership football highlights. This follows RTE's decision to drop its Saturday evening show, The Premiership. p
  

• `Equipment risks lives' warning

  The lives of Naval Service officers are being put at risk due to faulty equipment on fishing vessels, according to the headquarters at Haulbowline. p
  

• Help sought to find missing man

  Gardai at Tallaght are seeking help in tracing the whereabouts of Mr John Crawford (29), of Ellens borough Park, Tallaght, who has been missing since October 18th last. p
  

• Steam train trip to Wexford

  The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland and Iarnrod Eireann are running a steam train (the Sea Breeze) to Wexford town next Saturday. The train departs at 9.45 a.m. from Connolly Station, Dublin. It arrives back at 9 p.m. p
  

• Rotunda chooses a new master

  The Rotunda Hospital in Dublin has chosen a new master to succeed Dr Peter McKenna. Dr Michael Geary, whose appointment was announced yesterday, is a graduate of NUI Galway and is currently working in Toronto, Canada. He takes up the post next January. p
  

• Reading between a confusion of soundbites

  It's frenetic out there, but in the stolen, quieter moments as one awaits Monday's deadline for a general verdict on the British-Irish blueprint, one harbours suspicions of someone engaging in a policy of heavy-duty disinformation. p
  

• Sinn Fein calls for details of proposals to be published

  Sinn Fein has called on the Irish and British governments to immediately publish the details of their proposals aimed at ending the political stalemate. p
  

• Alliance Party and UUP differ in opinions on police reform proposals

  The Alliance Party has said it is reassured by the proposed implementation plan for reform of policing in the North. p
  

• RUC uncover Belfast explosives

  The RUC have recovered six explosive devices and 300 rounds of ammunition abandoned in a north Belfast playing field. p
  

• Man faces charges in Brett case

  A 36-year-old man arrested in connection with the murder of teenager Mr Gavin Brett is due to appear in court in Belfast today charged with withholding information. p
  

• Bomb a murderous attack on peace process - police

  The Ealing car bomb was a "callous and potentially murderous" attack by terrorists determined to destroy the Northern Ireland peace process, Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Mr David Veness said yesterday. p
  

• Ahern, Cowen lead party leaders in condemning London bombing

  The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, have described Thursday night's bombing in London as an attack on the peace process that will not succeed. p
  

• 52% of food businesses are unaware of regulations

  Half OF Irish food businesses are unaware of their legal obligations regarding food safety management, a major study has shown. p
  

• Main Findings Of Survey

  Only 48 per cent of respondents had heard of HACCP, the legal standard for food safety management. p
  

• Corrib gas terminal gets green light from council

  Mayo County Council has granted planning permission to Enterprise Energy Ireland Ltd (EEI) for the construction of a major onshore terminal to receive gas from the Corrib Field off Belmullet. p
  

• Virus may have led to illnesses at hotel

  The Southern Health Board's team investigating cases of gastrointestinal illness which occurred last week at a hotel in Co Kerry believe the outbreak may have been caused by a virus, the board said yesterday. p
  

• Court grants Lawlor stay on sentence pending appeal

  Mr Liam Lawlor, the independent Dublin West TD, has been saved from serving a week in prison from Wednesday next for contempt of court. p
  

• The Words We Use

  A marvellously entertaining book was sent to me recently by the literary editor of this paper. It's called Words on Words; it's by David and Hilary Crystal, and the publisher is Penguin. p
  

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