ireland.com - The Irish Times

Lack of agreement puts NI timetable in doubt
The British and Irish governments' timetable for Stormont devolution by March 26th is under increasing doubt with agreement still being sought over the policing and justice matters. Dan Keenan , Northern News Editor, reports. p

Military justice system set for major overhaul
The disciplinary regime within the Defence Forces is to be radically overhauled and made more independent in order to bring it into line with international human rights practices. Conor Lally reports. p

Dublin airport has busiest day
Over 83,000 people passed through Dublin airport yesterday, its busiest day in the lead-up to Christmas, writes Ruadhán Mac Cormaic at Dublin airport p

Other Stories

Flights to and from Dublin delayed by fog in UK
Passengers travelling to and from Dublin airport experienced delays of up to three hours yesterday evening due to weather conditions at several UK airports, including Heathrow. p
O'Dea signs deal for new helicopters for Air Corps
The Air Corps will take delivery of two new AW 139 helicopters in 2008 following the signing of a €26 million contract by the Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea, with an Italian supplier. p
'Body blow' for Bray as 100 jobs lost
Local representatives in Bray, Co Wicklow yesterday labelled news of the loss of some 100 jobs at a multinational hard drive manufacturer as "another employment body blow" for the area. p
Sales up 8% in Dublin city centre shops
Christmas shopping figures in Dublin were up 8 per cent on last year, with shoppers making the most of the late dry spell to squeeze in last-minute purchases, according to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. p
Priests to highlight plight of Christians in Bethlehem
All parish priests in Ireland have been asked to raise awareness in their sermons over Christmas of the current suffering facing the Christian community in Bethlehem, the town where Jesus Christ was born. p
Sutherland gives €4m towards new UCD law school
The former attorney general and European commissioner Peter Sutherland has donated €4 million towards the development of a new law school on the UCD campus at Belfield, Dublin. p
Bookies say gaming machines still an option
Bookies say they are still considering trialling casino-style gaming machines in their shops, despite Government opposition. p
Homeless agencies say Minister's remarks 'callous'
Agencies working with the homeless have described as "callous" and "inappropriate" remarks made recently by Minister for Housing Noel Ahern, which they say implied that people slept rough by choice, writes Ruadhán Mac Cormaic p
Simon fears shelter issue 'slipping'
Cork Simon Community has urged the Government not to forget the issue of homelessness. p
Survey seeks sightings of mistletoe
Irish people are being asked to report where mistletoe, the most romantic of Christmas plants, is growing in this country as part of a national survey on the shrub. p
Mozart birth marked at cathedral services
Christmas at the Pro Cathedral in Dublin will be flavoured with Mozart as St Mary's celebrates the 250th anniversary of the composer's birth, writes Fiona Gartland. p
Forecasters predict frost and fog but no white Christmas
There is little chance of a white Christmas - unless a possible hoar frost on Monday morning is taken into account, according to Met Éireann. Tim O'Brien reports. p
A lot more to do on road safety - Ahern
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said a lot has been done to improve the safety of the Republic's roads and he promised more work was under way. p
Passengers stranded in Tipperary
A train full of Christmas travellers was left stranded in Co Tipperary last night after striking debris on the track. p
Immigrants put turkey on Christmas menu
Many of those non-Irish nationals braving the city centre last night were planning to mark Christmas regardless of whether they would have in their home countries. Several were even planning to include turkey in their main meal on Monday. p
'Shocking record' of convicted killer
A convicted killer with a "shocking record" who was twice found drunk in Tallaght, Co Dublin, had his case remanded for a pre-sentence report in Tallaght District Court. p
€20m initiative to buy Irish embassy properties abroad
The Government is planning to buy property for three of its embassies abroad in a €20 million initiative next year. p
Number of BSE cases drops to 41
The number of cases of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) has dropped to 41 this year, 28 fewer than last year. p
Hauliers call for 'education' on tunnel use
Volumes of freight traffic using Dublin Port Tunnel will be low over the holiday period, according to the Irish Road Haulage Association. p
Officials advised to take part in hospital site plan
Top officials at the three children's hospitals in Dublin have been told by the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive (HSE) that they would be better off taking part in the process of developing a new national paediatric centre rather than remaining outside. Martin Wall reports. p
McDowell in 'contrived dispute' with judiciary
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte has described the row between Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and the judiciary over bail and mandatory sentencing as "a contrived dispute". p
Macarthur to be released for brief period
Murderer Malcolm Macarthur is to be released from prison for a short period on Christmas Day so that he can spend time with family members, it has emerged. p
Irish Times appointment
Fintan O'Toole has been appointed an Assistant Editor of The Irish Times . He will be resuming his weekly column in the new year following his return from a six-month assignment in China. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief. p

In the North

Man and girl (8) die in car crash in Antrim
A man and an eight-year-old girl were killed after a car crashed into a tree in Co Antrim yesterday. p
Jailed Stone in court video link
Michael Stone appeared before a prison camera yesterday for a video link remand appearance. p
Members head back to court as Labour fails to sign agreement
A legal action against the Labour Party over the treatment of its members in Northern Ireland appeared to be heading back to the courts yesterday. p

Regional News

Family of drowned Polish man awaits body
The family of Piotr Bedzlowicz is still waiting for his body to be returned to Poland, nearly two months after he drowned off the coast of Clare. p
Gardaí deny using baton on protester
Gardaí have denied that force was used during yesterday's early morning protest at the Corrib gas terminal in north Mayo. Lorna Siggins , Marine Correspondent, reports. p
Concern over missing student (21)
Concern was mounting yesterday as to the wellbeing of a 21-year-old Cork student who has been missing since mid-December. p
Garda remanded in assault case
A member of An Garda Síochána was yesterday remanded on bail of €2,000 charged with two counts of assault against his former partner. p

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