ireland.com - The Irish Times

'Eyes of the people are on these Houses'
The following is the statement made to the Dáil yesterday by the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell introducing the motion calling for the removal from office of Judge Brian Curtin: p

Injury award guidelines listed
Compensation awards of up to €300,000 for serious injuries are provided for in new guidelines published by the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB), which began work this week. p

Students in part-time work get lower exam grades, says report
The number of second-level students working part-time has more than doubled in recent years, seriously impacting on their performance in State examinations, a confidential new study has indicated. p

Wexford businesses close as 400 Travellers arrive
A hotel in Wexford and some local pubs closed last night after more than 400 Travellers moved onto a Department of Marine site in the town. p

Other Stories

Role of Masters to be discussed next month
The role of the Masters of Dublin's three main maternity hospitals in the forthcoming citizenship referendum was not discussed in detail at yesterday's meeting of the Medical Council. p
Brennan opens M50 link road in Dublin
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, yesterday officially opened the Drummartin link road, which provides a direct link to the M50 motorway from Sandyford business park and industrial estate. p
First-time novelist takes award at Listowel
Poet and a classical guitar musician Gerard Donovan has won the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award at Listowel Writers' Week for his first novel Schopenhauer's Telescope. p
McDonald's adds new salad menu to attract women customers
McDonald's has added a new range of salads, including low- fat options, to its fast-food menu in the hope of enticing more discerning and "hip" women customers back to the restaurant. p
Ex-prisoners to seek 'slopping out' payments
A Limerick-based solicitor is preparing to lodge a class action on behalf of hundreds of prisoners and former prisoners who are seeking compensation for having been "dehumanised" by the practice of "slopping out" - emptying chamber pots - while jailed. p
Mayo hospital staff in row over new €10m unit
An ultra-modern operating theatre, costing over €10 million, is to remain empty because of staffing problems at the facility. p
Five guilty of violent disorder in Limerick
The trial of nine men charged in connection with a "pitched battle" between members of opposing factions outside a Limerick fast-food restaurant finished last night when a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict in the case of five of the accused who had denied a charge of violent disorder. p
Abolition of farm diesel is sought by hauliers
Farm diesel must be abolished to eliminate the black economy in the haulage industry, the Irish Road Haulage Association has said. p
Crackdown on drug drivers urged
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, is to make representations to the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, requesting that gardaí pursue more drug drivers in the courts. p
Petrol prices look set to continue rising
Petrol prices, which have risen nearly 10 per cent in the past eight weeks, look likely to continue their climb for at least the next month. p
Ryanair rejects undermining democracy claim
A claim that Ryanair was seeking to undermine democracy by attacking the Taoiseach was rejected yesterday "with contempt" by the airline. p
Toscan du Plantier file still open, insists garda
Gardaí have insisted that the file on the murder of Frenchwoman Sophie Toscan du Plantier remains open after her son criticised the Irish justice system for "going around in circles" and failing to prosecute in the case. p
Warm summer drives fruit sales up by 40%
Sales of strawberries have doubled in the past three years, highlighting a 57 per cent increase last year. p
Motion on Curtin is unique and may be challenged
In presenting the motion to remove Judge Curtin from the bench, the Minister for Justice suggested that this process was unique and not comparable to any other legal process. p
O'Hanlon to respond to bias accusation in Dail
The Ceann Comhairle, Dr O'Hanlon, intends to make a statement today after the Labour leader, Mr Rabbitte, accused him of being "congenitally incapable" of fairness in the Dáil yesterday. p
Charter to change RTE's emphasis
RTÉ will have to move away from "Dublin-centric" TV and radio coverage under a new charter published by the Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, yesterday. p
Pay talks structure set to emerge
Trade union and employer representatives met yesterday for an opening round of talks on a new national pay deal for the private sector. p

Elections2004

Ombudsman for Children concerned about referendum
Referendum campaign: Ms Emily Logan, the first Ombudsman for Children who was appointed in December, told The Irish Times her primary concern was Articles 2 and 3 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Ireland ratified the convention in 1992. p
'Vulnerable women blamed for maternity cutbacks
Referendum: The Government has not demonstrated any "substantive evidence" to support its claims that large numbers of foreign women were giving birth in the Republic to obtain citizenship for their children, according to the National Womens' Council of Ireland. p
'Irish Times' website on poll
A special site devoted to explaining the Constitutional Referendum on Citizenship is now freely available at ireland.com. p
Key NI process talks to be held after European poll, says Adams
Sinn Féin's manifesto launch: The Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams has said that key peace process talks would take place after the European Parliament elections and that a strong Sinn Féin representation in Europe would strengthen the party's negotiating hand. p
County small in size but big in issues
Council profile/Louth: It may be the smallest county in the country, but the issues dominating this election vary greatly across Louth. Health services feature in the north of the county, planning in mid-Louth and commuter and development issues in the Drogheda area. p
Former Clonmel mayor stands on his opposition to smoking ban
Council Profile/Tipperary South: A former mayor of Clonmel is standing as an Independent candidate on a single issue, his opposition to the smoking ban, in the local elections in Tipperary South Riding. p
Model citizen puts country in spotlight
Country profile/Estonia: One Estonian is making sure that her little nation's race to fill just six seats in the European parliament will get plenty of attention. p
All's fair in war between FF's hopefuls in South
Campaign trail: The veteran Fianna Fáiler gazes wonder-struck at the swoosh of canvassing genius that is Gerry Collins. p
Cork's dominant parties have modest ambition to hold on to seats
Council profile/Cork city: For a city with an expanding and changing population, the political make up of Cork City Council has remained remarkably consistent. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour have dominated the council for 25 years and shared out the mayoralty in five-year pacts. p

In the Dail

Government's letter to judge
The following is the text of the letter, read into the Dáil record by the Minister for Justice, from the Secretary General to the Government, Mr Dermot McCarthy, to Judge Brian Curtin last April. p
Rabbitte leaves the Chamber hopping mad after explosive battle with Ceann Comhairle
Dáil Sketch: The Minister for Agriculture usually has quite a sedating effect on the Opposition. p
Leader moves motion to consider removal of judge
Seanad Report: Two apparent errors were made by the leader of the House, Mrs Mary O'Rourke, in moving arrangements for consideration of the removal from office of Judge Brian Curtin. p

In the North

DUP MPs call for peaceful summer
Senior DUP members Mr Peter Robinson and Mr Nigel Dodds last night called for a peaceful summer, a call which was immediately welcomed by the president of Sinn Féin, Mr Gerry Adams, and the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern. p

In The Courts

Man fined for punching van driver
A motorist who punched a van driver for abruptly changing lanes was fined a total of €1,100 yesterday for assault, abusive behaviour, careless driving and failing to produce driving documents. p

Regional News

Staff at ESB power plant set to take 30% cut in pay
ESB workers at the country's largest power plant are set to take a pay cut of up to 30 per cent to secure the station's future. p
British clubhouse transplanted to Offaly
A Co Offaly golf club that had no clubhouse has solved its problem - by dismantling a 40-year-old unwanted clubhouse in England and rebuilding it on its own course. p
Farmers upset at delay in EU single payment plan
Irish farmers are upset that they are to receive their new EU single payment for 2005 at the end of that year. p
High hopes for former councillor's recovery
Former Limerick councillor Michael Kelly, who suffered a gunshot wound to his head three weeks ago, opened his eyes yesterday for the first time since the shooting. p
Nitrates strategy has failed farmers, IFA meeting hears
Hundreds of farmers from Munster last night attended the first of a series of protest meetings, organised at Bandon Mart by the Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) over the proposed Nitrates Action Programme. p
Council approves rezoning of lands on outskirts of Killarney
A controversial proposal to rezone lands on the outskirts of Killarney, Co Kerry, has been passed by the town council. p

Sections

Search for

Services

Most popular stories

Property

Jobs

Motors

Dating