ireland.com - The Irish Times

Ethics body to delay inquiry into FF TD's tax
The Standards in Public Office Commission has postponed its investigation into whether Mr Michael Collins TD made false tax declarations, pending a decision on whether the Limerick Fianna Fáil deputy will be prosecuted. p

Suspension for Stagg after latest Labour row
Labour's chief whip Mr Emmet Stagg was suspended from the Dáil yesterday when he refused to withdraw allegations against the Ceann Comhairle of "outrageous rudeness" to opposition speakers. p

Benchmarking review next year as part of new pay deal
A new benchmarking review of public service pay is to begin next year as part of the national wage agreement, which was published yesterday. p

Main points
Main points of the new pay deal: p

Other Stories

Martin testifies on residential abuse
A 1955 memo from an official at the Department of Education, concerning a residential institution for children, said "the wonderful conditions in which the cattle are kept in marked contrast to the care and feeding of the boys." p
Pope has no plans to visit Ireland
The Vatican has indicated that Pope John Paul II has no plans to visit Ireland in the foreseeable future and his itinerary to August 2005 does not include this country. p
Courier gets 15-year jail term for possession of ecstasy
A 22-year-old courier who was found in possession of up to €8 million worth of ecstasy has been jailed for 15 years by Judge Desmond Hogan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The seizure was the largest ever for the drug in the State. p
Senator calls for Ryanair funding to be 're-declared'
The former minister and leader of the Seanad, Ms Mary O'Rourke, has called on all individuals and parties involved in framing aviation policy to "re-declare" any funding they received from Ryanair or its chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary. p
Road regulations regime criticised
The Irish Insurance Federation has clashed with the National Safety Council and the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, over the enforcement of speed and drink-driving regulations, claiming that people driving while drunk know they are not likely to be detected. p
Row over An Post managers intensifies
A row between An Post and its senior managers over a planned shake-up of management structures has intensified, and is to be referred to the Labour Court. p
Big drop in number of complaints about gardai
The number of complaints made against gardaí dropped to 1,175 last year, the lowest level since 1995, according to the annual report of the Garda Síochána Complaints Board. p
Sinn Fein to discuss joining Socialist group in Europe
Sinn Féin has requested a meeting with the secretary general of the Socialist group in the European Parliament to discuss the possibility of the party's two newly-elected MEPs, Ms Mary Lou McDonald and Ms Bairbre De Brún, joining the group. p
Irish look forward to longer lives
Women born in Ireland can expect to live to just beyond their 80th birthdays, five years longer than men. But the gap between the sexes is narrowing, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO). p
Numbers of visitors in April increase by 5 per cent
The number of trips to Ireland from overseas increased by five per cent in April compared to the same month last year. p
Lithuanians questioned on body remains
Gardaí have arrested two Lithuanian men for questioning in connection with the discovery of the remains of a Lithuanian man in a ditch near Dunboyne, Co Meath, last Sunday evening, writes Conor Lally. p

Bush Visit

Trade unions call for protests at visit by Bush
The trade union movement has called on all its members to protest against this weekend's visit by President George W. Bush. p
Security operation around Shannon is finalised
Gardaí and the Army were last night putting the finishing touches to the security operation around Shannon Airport and Dromoland Castle in anticipation of the arrival of President Bush and his entourage tomorrow. p
Irish presidency aims to restore US ties with EU
Deaglán de Bréadún assesses the likely outcome of the summit in Dromoland Castle p

In the Dail

Harney tells of Aer Rianta privatisation plan
The Tánaiste revealed that she rejected a demand that 40 per cent of Aer Rianta be privatised. p
Irish differences in foreign policy 'will be made clear to Bush'
The Government disagrees with the US approach on many foreign policy issues, and this "will be made clear to the US President", the Tánaiste told the Dáil. p
Workers affected by decentralisation should not join 'lottery for their jobs'
Public servants who will be disrupted by decentralisation should not be expected to "enter into a lottery for their own jobs", the Dáil was told. p
Tánaiste finds questions agreeable
Dail Sketch/Frank McNally: As every good barrister learns, you should never ask a question in court to which you don't already know the answer. This is equally true of Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, where requests for information are the traditional overture to displays of moral outrage. p
Voices in the House
President Bush might declare the hurley a weapon of mass destruction and bring in the US air force. - Mr Joe Higgins (SP) on the suggestion that Mr Bush would like to attend a hurling game p
Fears prisoners are passing through Shannon
Seanad report: The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, said it would cause him grave concern if he thought that people were being smuggled through Irish territory in circumstances that amounted to unlawful detention. p

In The Courts

Garda on trial charged with assault
A garda has gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with assault causing harm to a protester at the 2002 "Reclaim the Streets" march in Dame Street. p
Minister not to repeal Immigration Act
The Minister for Justice will not repeal the 2004 Immigration Act, introduced last February to plug the holes left in immigration law by a High Court judgment, though that judgment was overturned yesterday. p
State's appeal against judgment allowed
In an important judgment dealing with the law-making powers of the Oireachtas, the Supreme Court yesterday unanimously allowed the State's appeal against a High Court judgment, which had struck down Section 2 of the Immigration Act 1999 as unconstitutional. p
Investigation into attack on Irishman was 'casual'
The police investigation into an attack on an Irishman in Gran Canaria last year was described as "very casual" by witnesses at the inquest into his death in Dublin yesterday. p

Mahon Tribunal

Former FF councillor denies asking developer for £100,000
A former Fianna Fáil county councillor has rejected as an "outrageous lie" and a "wild fabrication" an allegation by developer Mr Tom Gilmartin that he sought £100,000 (€126,973) in return for planning favours. p

Barr Tribunal

Garda accused of refusing to answer query
The chairman of the Barr tribunal has accused the Garda negotiator at the Abbeylara siege of refusing to answer his questions in relation to the dangers of crossfire at the scene. p

Regional News

Report criticises dead girl's treatment
A report ordered by the North Eastern Health Board into the death of a nine-year-old girl within weeks of her having an appendix operation at Cavan General Hospital criticises the manner in which she was dealt with by the hospital when she returned to it with stomach pains just weeks after her surgery. p
Station loses radio licence appeal
The operators of North West Radio (NWR), which has been broadcasting for the past 14 years, have lost their High Court challenge to the Broadcasting Commission's decision to grant a broadcasting licence for their area to a rival company. p
Ex-child carers guilty of sex abuse
Two former child carers in a Dr Barnardo's home in Co Antrim were yesterday found guilty of a series of sexual abuse offences. p
Public inquiry called for after fourth road death
A Fianna Fáil TD has called for a public inquiry into safety levels at the 4.5 metre Piltown-Fiddown by-pass in Co Kilkenny, where four people have been killed in separate accidents since it opened in January 2002. p
Breeders extend Connemara Pony Show
The Connemara Pony may be getting too big, but its annual show in Clifden is never too long. Perhaps that's why the organisers of this year's annual event in Clifden have decided to extend it to a full week. p
Court defers costs ruling over Sellafield case
The High Court has deferred the issue of who should pay the estimated €1 million costs of one aspect of a legal battle by four Co Louth people aimed at closing the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria. p
Restrictions at Slane to apply during concert
Only Slane residents with Garda passes will have access to the Co Meath village on the night before, and on the day of, the Madonna concert on Sunday, August 29th, it has emerged. p
Limerick man on murder charge
A 19-year-old murder accused has been further remanded in custody at Limerick District Court. p

Exam Times

Topical paper keeps economics vibrant
Leaving Certificate Economics: A summary of Ireland's economic performance of the last 12 months was just one of the topical questions on yesterday's Leaving Certificate Higher Level Economics paper. Students were broadly satisfied with the paper, which was described as "testing but fair". p
Students satisfied with great variety in exams
Leaving Cert Construction Studies, Classical Studies and Latin: More than 9,000 students sat yesterday's Leaving Certificate Construction Studies paper, including 603 girls, and the overall response was one of satisfaction. p
Tough questions on music, but technology students happy
Junior Certificate Music and Technology: Junior Certificate Music students faced a couple of tough questions on yesterday's higher level paper but were pleased with the general tone of the exam. p

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