ireland.com - The Irish Times

Inflation may lead to pay talks
Trade unions may seek to renegotiate the new national pay agreement if the inflation rate continues to rise, Ictu general secretary David Begg has warned. p

New EU citizens not able to claim refugee status
Nationals from EU member states, including some 220 Romanians who applied for asylum here over the past week alone, are not eligible to do so except in exceptional circumstances, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell announced yesterday. p

Airports,roads and ferries disrupted by storms
Record wind speeds caused major travel disruption yesterday, particularly in Dublin, creating conditions which were described as "unprecedented". p

Other Stories

Patients' waiting times decrease, says HSE
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has said that with the exception of three hospitals, there has been a significant improvement in the number of patients having to wait for more than 24 hours in A&E departments for admission to wards. p
State facing EU action over VHI derogations
EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy is to take legal action against the Government over the unlimited guarantees it offers State health insurer VHI. p
Mater site advisers must consult Crumlin
The British consultants preparing a framework for the development of a national children's hospital on the Mater site in Dublin are required to consult with "relevant stakeholders", including Our Lady's children's hospital in Crumlin. p
Call for EU ban on alcohol for new drivers
With the number of road deaths in the EU climbing to 40,000 each year, the European Parliament's transport committee has proposed that an EU-wide zero alcohol limit be imposed on all new drivers, bus drivers and those carrying hazardous goods. p
New rules on food nutrition claims come into force
New EU regulations governing the health and nutrition claims made about food products come into force today. p
Inquest put back to allow for inquiry into 'end of life' issue
An inquest into the death of a man who told medical staff at St James's Hospital in Dublin that he did not wish to be kept alive by artificial ventilation has been adjourned so that the "end of life issue" can be fully explored at the resumed hearing. p
State to hold talks with faith groups next month
The first structured talks process between the State and the various faith groups to discuss areas of common concern is to be launched next month. p
Churches lack dynamic structure, says archbishop
A climate of materialism and rejection of Christian values in the EU may be due to a lack of dynamism in the churches' pastoral structure for evangelisation, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has said. p
Increase in Fingal home-building masks shortages
The number of new homes built in the Dublin area in 2006 rose to about 18,000 - but they were built mostly in Fingal and the figures mask a continuing lack of supply on the city's southside. p
Talks on meeting of pope, Russian patriarch
Discussions on a meeting between the Pope and the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox have been taking place in Rome and Moscow, the most senior Irishman at the Vatican has said. p
Atlantic storm makes way for big chill
The bad weather yesterday was caused by an Atlantic storm which passed to the north of Ireland, bringing with it wind and rain which particularly affected the east coast. p
Beboclaimsover 1mIrishusers
There are now over one million registered Irish users of the controversial social networking website bebo.com, which is targeted at younger internet users, according to the company. p
No evidence to support Fahey rumour claims
A Garda investigation has uncovered no evidence to support allegations made by Minister of State for Justice Frank Fahey that individuals in his Galway constituency had embarked on a rumour campaign aimed at damaging his career. p
Colombia lifts visa rule for Irish visitors
The visa requirement for Irish visitors to Colombia has been lifted, following representations from Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern. The restriction was introduced following the August 2001 arrest of the "Colombia Three" on terrorism charges at Bogota's El Dorado Airport. p
Gardaí arrest three after motorway crash
Three young people were arrested yesterday after a car in which they were travelling lost control and crashed on the M50 in Dublin yesterday morning. p
N11 road blackspot upgrade not in NRA plan
The upgrading of one of the east coast's most notorious stretches of roads, a 19km-link between the Rathnew and Arklow bypasses in south Co Wicklow on the N11, has been left out of the National Roads Authority construction programme for the third year in a row. p
Opposition parties join in concern over 'child' referendum
Both Fine Gael and Labour have expressed concern that the Government will hold one composite referendum in March to cover both children's rights and child protection issues. p
EU bodypublishedwrongfigures,says ESB
The ESB has accused the European Commission of publishing inaccurate information which suggested that Irish householders were paying the third-highest prices in the EU for electricity. p
Greens granted live RTÉ coverage of conference
RTÉ is to provide live television coverage of the Green Party annual conference next month - even though the party does not meet the qualifying criteria applied by the station. p
Security firm to use remote locks to deter raids
One of the State's biggest security firms has decided to introduce a remote locking system when delivering money to banks and ATM machines in an attempt to reduce the risk of its staff being targeted by armed gangs. p
Female prisoners living in cramped conditions
Female prisoners held in Limerick Prison are living in cramped and claustrophobic conditions, sharing cells designed for single occupancy, the Inspector of Prisons has said. p
Convicted drugs dealer found guilty of rape
A convicted armed robber and drugs dealer has been found guilty by a jury of raping his partner's teenage daughter after she returned home in the early hours of the morning from the Vatican disco in Dublin city centre. p
Fine Gael proposes new law to target 'rip-off' professionals
A proposed tough new law to tackle rip-offs alleged against professionals such as estate agents, dentists, solicitors and insurance brokers was unveiled yesterday by Fine Gael spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment Phil Hogan. p
'Lives were shattered' by botched Garda inquiry
Morris tribunal: A mother-of-five has told the Morris tribunal that "lives were shattered" by the botched Garda investigation into the death of a local cattle dealer a decade ago. p
Wide range of medical courses for small number
College Choice: The following medical courses attract relatively small numbers of applicants who are all expecting to secure very high points. Small changes in the number of first-choice applicants can therefore see points moving up or down by 10 or 15. p
In Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief... p

In the Courts

Costs in education cases a 'scandal'
A High Court judge has expressed concern about "the scandal of extensive protracted and convoluted litigation and legal costs" in cases relating to the educational entitlements of children. p
Man's release ordered inextradition passport case
The Supreme Court has ordered the release of a man who was facing extradition to the UK where he is wanted for allegedly advertising Irish passports for sale in the names of children who had died in infancy. p
Court action over broadcaster's death
The family of the late RTÉ presenter Uaneen Fitzsimons has succeeded in its High Court action for damages arising from the 29-year-old broadcaster's death in a crash in Co Laois seven years ago. p
Teacher takesaction on sick leave
A languages teacher has brought High Court proceedings claiming she was unfairly dismissed from her teaching job when she was out on sick leave due to vocal problems. p

In the North

€18m of assets held in Manchester operation
The lawyer representing a businessman whose assets were frozen yesterday by the UK's Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has denied his client has been involved in criminality. p
Republican SF dismisses PSNI talks with Adams
Republican Sinn Féin has rejected an appeal by Gerry Adams to discuss policing in Northern Ireland. The Sinn Féin president had offered to meet other republican organisations to discuss the PSNI in advance of Sinn Féin's ardfheis on January 28th. p
NI police body says plans to cut numbers by 1,500 'ill-conceived'
Plans to cut police numbers in the North are "ill-conceived and foolish", according to the Police Federation for Northern Ireland. p
Voluntary groups back NI devolution
Northern Ireland's political instability is harming ordinary people, according to voluntary organisations. p

Regional News

Dive teams study trawler design in rescue bid
A Naval Service dive team has obtained design drawings of the sunken trawler Pere Charles and is devising a strategy to gain access to the vessel and search for the bodies of its missing crew as soon as there is a reasonable break in the bad weather. p
Cork villa proposed for global list of at-risk sites
A Co Cork villa dating from 1784 which is in a state of significant disrepair has been nominated by the Irish Georgian Society (IGS) for inclusion on a list of the world's 100 most endangered sites. p
Moyross shooting leaves man (21) injured
The son of a former Sinn Féin election candidate, who was injured in a gun attack last year, is recovering after an early morning shooting in Limerick city yesterday. p
Name change sought for Kerry village
A second attempt is to be made to rid a north Kerry village of the name of a "notorious landlord". p
Suspended sentence for shoplifting garda
A garda convicted of two shoplifting charges has been given a one-year suspended sentence by a judge who told him he had brought shame and humiliation on his own head. p

Sections

Search for

Services

Most popular stories

Property

Jobs

Motors

Dating