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Exam marking system to become tighter
The Department of Education is to tighten marking procedures for the Leaving and Junior Cert exams after controversy in two subjects last year. p
Bono sees a Dublin 'defaced' by developers
The once "extraordinary" city of Dublin has been "defaced and vandalised" through "corruption and cronyism", according to Bono of U2. "No one so far has paid a fine or gone to prison, but we're hopeful," he added. p
Minister rejects family's refugee case plea
A family of failed asylum-seekers from Kosovo who have been evading deportation for more than a month have failed in their bid to have their case for refugee status reconsidered. p
New road safety adverts said to be 'harrowing'
Two new road safety advertisement films, which graphically depict the killing of pedestrians, are to be launched in Belfast this morning. p
Other Stories
Smith pledges to continue policy of recruitment
The policy of continuous recruitment to the Defence Forces, introduced two years ago, will continue, the Minister, Mr Smith, said yesterday. The Department of Defence would take its share of the pain of changed economic circumstances, but would not be "the fall guy" for others. pFarm leader challenges profit margins of grocery retailers
Farm organisations should be exempt from the Competition Act for any collective action taken and should be indemnified against any claim for damages, a farm leader said yesterday. pINO seeking 35-hour week and a Dublin allowance from McCreevy
"Radical action" to begin reforming the health service has been sought by the Irish Nurses' Organisation in a pre-Budget submission. pUnion wants Budget to boost social housing
Measures to boost the building of local authority houses and to "curb greedy developers" have been demanded by the BATU trade union. pBoy's 1958 death to remain unsolved
It now seems most unlikely that the cause of death of 16-year-old Joseph Pyke at St Joseph's Industrial School, Tralee, Co Kerry, in 1958 will ever be independently verified, gardaí have indicated. pMansergh says FF blamed RTE for 1989 result
Decisions in the late 1980s of then communications minister Mr Ray Burke favouring Century Radio over RTÉ arose from Fianna Fáil's antipathy to RTÉ as well as from financial contributions, according to the Taoiseach's former adviser, Dr Martin Mansergh. pInterest on tax rebates debated
If a scheme to pay interest on income tax repayments is introduced it would have to be "prospective" rather than retrospective, the Minister for Finance has warned the Dáil. p'Resign' call as motion castigates McCreevy
The resignation of the Minister for Finance was demanded by the Opposition last night in heated Dáil exchanges. pPoliticians must be ready for tough decisions - McCreevy
Politicians should be prepared to make tough decisions, according to the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy, who said he would not be using "independent assessment" when deciding the Government's decentralisation programme. pBasis for Irish Box fishing restriction is 'legally sound'
The Government is satisfied that the Irish Box restriction is "legally sound" and that there is no justification for its removal, the Dáil was told last night. pPoor living in fear in their own communities, report finds
Many poor families are living in fear of people in their own communities, with both children and adults being bullied and picked upon, according to a new study. pBullied because she stood out in class for not wearing designer clothes
Susan left school at the age of 14 after being kicked unconscious by five of her classmates. The attack was the culmination of two years of bullying of the teenager, who wore "crap" trainers and had no father. pFerries on extra alert, confident of security measures
Irish ferry operators on routes to and from Britain are on a heightened security alert following warnings of possible terror attacks on British ports. pDemolishing myths about losing weight
SCIENCE WEEK IRELAND: There is no such thing as a pill that makes you lose weight. Nor can you choose to lose fat from one place while keeping it at another. Most people, however, could achieve a perfectly flat stomach with the right kind of exercise and diet, according to two physiologists from the Institute of Technology Sligo. pSatellites 25-year 'grand tour' in space described
SCIENCE WEEK IRELAND: Two satellites launched 25 years ago will soon cross into the "interstellar void", the first time a man-made object will take measurements beyond the influence of the sun. Both satellites are still fully operable and should continue sending data back to earth for another 20 years. pMexican president says two states can learn much from each other
Patrick Smyth spoke to Mexico's President Vicente Fox ahead of his first state visit to Dublin today to strengthen the EU-Mexico trade agreement pDail protest by Irish Fertilizer Industries staff
Hundreds of workers who have lost their jobs at Irish Fertilizer Industries are to protest at Leinster House today during a meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party. pConcern over registration of foreign medics
Concern among medical regulatory authorities that doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and other health professionals from abroad could come and work in Ireland without registration under new EU rules are to be conveyed to officials in Brussels by the Tánaiste tomorrow. pTesco says truck ban report false
Tesco Ireland has denied reports claiming its trucks would be affected by a ban on double-decker trucks in Ireland. pUrgent need stressed for child medical card
The "children's medical card" must take priority in Budget 2003, according to Children's Rights Alliance. The organisation has called on the Minister for Finance to fulfil a Government commitment to extend medical-card eligibility to tens of thousands of low-income children. pRyanair appeals against new Pier D at Dublin Airport
Ryanair has appealed to An Bord Pleanála against Fingal County Council's decision to approve plans by Aer Rianta for a new pier at Dublin Airport catering for low-cost airlines. p
Tribunal hears of garda claim that interviewee beat himself up
A garda claimed that Mr Frank McBrearty jnr beat himself up while in custody in February 1997, the Morris tribunal heard yesterday. pWitness expenses documents forged by garda
A member of the Garda has pleaded guilty to issuing forged documents for a man who admitted making false statements about members of the extended McBrearty family, the Morris Tribunal has been told. pPub was inspected 128 times in 7 months
There were 128 inspections of the McBrearty premises between January and July 1997, and 89 summonses for breaches of the liquor licensing laws in a year and a half, the tribunal was told. p
PSNI agent 'infiltrated IRA' in spying inquiry
A police agent penetrated the IRA's central structure and played a key role in the Police Service of Northern Ireland's offensive against IRA intelligence gathering, according to a security source. pSpying goes to heart of republicanism - Trimble
The spying operation uncovered by the Police Service of Northern Ireland at Stormont and Castlereagh goes right to the heart of the republican leadership, and that means the heart of the IRA, the Ulster Unionist Leader, Mr David Trimble, said yesterday. pOmagh families seek O'Loan inquiry
Relatives of the Omagh bomb victims say they want the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland, Ms Nuala O'Loan, to carry out an independent investigation into allegations that gardaí had advance information the "Real IRA" was planning a car bomb attack before the Omagh blast. pDurkan launches SDLP's 'Direct Rule Watch' plan
The SDLP leader, Mr Mark Durkan, has launched the party's "Direct Rule Watch" to try to ensure key policy initiatives proposed by the suspended Executive and Assembly are fully implemented by the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy, and his four ministers. pFord denies 'lapping up' army operation
THE BLOODY SUNDAY INQUIRY/Day 260: British army's most senior surviving Bloody Sunday officer yesterday denied describing the day's events as "the best thing he had seen for a long time". p
Dispute over storage of 'BSE-risk' tallow
The directors of a company which manufactures products entering the food chain were shattered to discover they were storing allegedly hazardous material derived from those parts of cattle believed most likely to carry the risk of the BSE virus, the High Court was told yesterday. pJudge to visit house which woman says is unsafe
A High Court judge will travel to Co Offaly on Friday to inspect a house which is at the centre of a long-running action for damages and has been described as unsafe and unhabitable. pFire officer convicted of hockey stick murder
A senior Northern Ireland fire officer Gordon Graham showed no emotion as he was found guilty by a unanimous verdict of a jury yesterday of murdering his lover's husband, Paul Gault. However, the Belfast Crown Court jury of 10 men and two women, who spent seven hours' deliberation over two days, have yet to decide on the fate of his former lover, Ms Lesley Ann Gault (35). p
Fishermen criticise Fischler response
Fishermen in the south-west have lifted their ban on foreign vessels landing into port, but have warned of further action over the coming weeks in defence of the Irish Box. pFears for Kilkenny buildings as flood relief scheme shifts land
A number of important buildings in Kilkenny are to be placed under close observation after a shift in land along the quayside during work on a €40 million flood relief scheme. pNumber of visitors from Continent to Meath attractions quadrupled
The number of continental tourists visiting Meath is continuing to grow, and in some cases has quadrupled, according to the chief executive of Meath Tourism, Ms Bríd O'Connell. She estimates that the industry was worth about €40 million to the county this year. pMeath residents plan masts protest
Residents in Co Meath are organising a protest march in opposition to the proliferation of mobile phone masts in the county. pBrennan urged to retain rail service
City councillors in Waterford are to write to the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, seeking his support for the retention of the Rosslare-Limerick rail service. pPostmasters in Ballina protest as dispute with An Post continues
A group of postmasters and postmistresses demonstrated outside the post office in Ballina, Co Mayo, yesterday as their dispute with An Post continued. p
