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Applications for teaching courses increase by 27%
Student demand for places in teaching courses is booming with an
increase of 27 per cent in the number applying to the Central
Applications Office. p
Increase in use of cocaine highlighted by report
Cocaine use is continuing to rise, crossing all social strata and affecting every region, according to a new report. p
Secondary schools exclude foreign nationals, says Begg
Many secondary schools appear to have a policy of excluding foreign national students from enrolling in them, the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu), David Begg, said yesterday. p
Other Stories
Motorola confirms closure of Cork plant
American-owned electronics and mobile phone company Motorola confirmed yesterday it is to close its Cork operation with the loss of 330 jobs, following a consultation process with workers. p7.7m tourists here last year
Close to eight million people visited Ireland last year while almost seven million left the country to visit overseas destinations, according to figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) yesterday. pSharp increase in cocaine use a worrying trend
Medical implications: The extent to which cocaine use has increased in this country is reflected in figures published yesterday by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD), which show a three- to four-fold increase in people seeking treatment for cocaine addiction over a five-year period. pFlexible approach to UK's drug laws urged
Britain's drugs laws are driven by "moral panic" and should be replaced by a more flexible approach which recognises that most drug-users harm neither themselves nor those around them, according to a two-year study published in London yesterday. pSomething 'going to give' over pensions
The Pensions Ombudsman has suggested that the traditional public sector pension arrangements may have to be changed in the future. pFive arrested over murder
Five people were arrested in Limerick yesterday in connection with the murder of a Southill man last year. pBCI ban on Trócaire ad 'surprising' - Minister
The Broadcasting Commission of Ireland's (BCI) ban on a Trócaire advertisement opposed to violence against women was "surprising" and "in an ideal world" should be lifted, Minister of State for Development Conor Lenihan has said. pFianna Fáil decides on election candidates
Fianna Fáil's general election advertisement campaign will get under way the week after the party's ardfheis at the end of March, with the launch of a high-powered billboard blitz. pProtest at closure of centre for women's studies
A symbolic burning of university degrees and diplomas took place on campus at NUI Galway (NUIG) yesterday during a protest over the impending closure of its women's studies centre. pHarney warns of dangers of rainbow coalition
A warning about the consequences for Ireland's future if a party, suspicious of multinational companies and opposed to economic growth, was included in the next government has been issued by Minister for Health Mary Harney. p470 inmates released early from Cork Prison
Some 470 prisoners were released early from Cork Prison last year, it has emerged. pGardaí question two men about Saulite murder
Two men were being questioned by gardaí last night in connection with the murder of Latvian woman Baiba Saulite in Swords, Co Dublin, last November. pBrennan stresses welfare reform gains for women
Social welfare changes to be introduced over the coming year would result in the system becoming much fairer to women, Minister for Social Affairs Séamus Brennan said yesterday. pFamily of woman linked to Australia baby found
Gardaí have made contact with the family of an Irish woman who police in Australia believe abandoned her baby in a Queensland toilet cubicle earlier this week. pFresh appeal in Lucan case
Gardaí last night issued a fresh appeal for information from members of the public in relation to the death of a man in Lucan last Sunday morning. pMinisters take to the skies to represent Ireland at St Patrick's Day events
Government ministers and Ministers of State going abroad for St Patricks Day have been told to highlight the global threat of climate change in their travels. p
€250,000 for garda with stress disorder
The High Court has awarded €250,000 compensation to a Garda who was "immeasurably" traumatised as a result of finding the bodies of a young garda and soldier in Derrada Wood near Ballinamore in Co Leitrim in 1983 after a shoot-out with the kidnappers of supermarket boss Don Tidey. pCourt told murdered teenager was seen arguing with accused
A teenage mother of two, who was stabbed to death outside a supermarket, was seen arguing with the woman who is accused of her murder and repeatedly asked her why she had kicked her in the stomach when she was pregnant with her three-year-old son, a witness has told a jury at the Central Criminal Court. pABS not on bus service list, trial told
The regular servicing of the Bus Éireann school bus that crashed killing five secondary students in Meath two years ago did not include checking the ABS braking system because it was not included by Bus Éireann on the service check list, a court has heard. pRyanair action over slots at airport
Ryanair has taken High Court proceedings challenging decisions of the Commission for Aviation Regulation as to how landing and take-off slots at Dublin airport are to be allocated from summer this year. pJournalist tells court of 'threats'
A journalist has claimed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that a man accused of threatening to kill him told him: "You will be meeting Veronica Guerin." p'Progress' in dispute over medical supplies
Progress has been made in a dispute involving a severely dis-abled Cork man and the HSE/Southern Health Board over the provision of basic medical supplies for the man, the High Court was told yesterday. pOrder sought to build house
Businessman Oliver Barry has gone to the High Court seeking to compel a developer to build a larger house for his son. It is claimed the developer is proposing to build a smaller house than that allegedly agreed. p
Success for South Belfast newcomer
South Belfast: Alliance newcomer Anna Lo eased home in South Belfast having cornered nearly a quota on the first count. pDUP's Campbell easily tops poll
East Derry: The first count result in the East Derry constituency brought good news for the DUP, but disappointment for the Ulster Unionist Party. pDUP and Sinn Féin on track to make significant gains
Overview: The DUP and Sinn Féin were last night on track to make significant gains as counting resumes this morning in the Assembly elections. pHay returned as unlikely poll-topper
Foyle: The DUP's William Hay yesterday created electoral history when he became the first member of his party to top the poll in the nationalist-dominated Foyle constituency. pCandidate arrested at Omagh count centre
Omagh: Independent republican candidate Gerry McGeough was arrested outside the count centre in Omagh yesterday. pO'Dowd tops poll in Upper Bann
Upper Bann: Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd topped the poll in the unionist heartland constituency of Upper Bann, where former Ulster Unionist Party leader David Trimble once reigned supreme. pFoster tops poll in Fermanagh-South Tyrone
Fermanagh-South Tyrone: Arlene Foster, who switched from the UUP to the DUP after the last Assembly election, has topped the poll in Fermanagh-South Tyrone. pSinn Féin wins three seats in West Tyrone
Sinn Féin has won three seats in West Tyrone in a constituency which could see the SDLP and UUP left without a seat. pSinn Féin on course for five West Belfast seats
West Belfast: West Belfast saw potential electoral history made as an unprecedented five Sinn Féin candidates looked on course to be elected, the gain coming at the expense of Diane Dodds of the DUP. pSinn Féin's Ruane tops South Down
South Down: Sinn Féin's candidate Caitríona Ruane topped the poll in South Down, closely followed by the SDLP's Margaret Ritchie. pAlliance Party survives in Lagan Valley
The Alliance Party last night survived in Lagan Valley as its candidate, Trevor Lunn, gained from the SDLP's departure from the constituency. Mr Lunn was deemed elected on the seventh count. As the count continued late last night, Sinn Féin's Paul Butler was elected following the elimination of the SDLP's Marietta Farrell. pDUP and SF juggernauts flatten opposition
Analysis: The DUP and Sinn Féin juggernauts trundle on, rolling over respectively the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP, although the injuries inflicted on Mark Durkan's party are not as severe as the wounds sustained by Sir Reg Empey and his colleagues. pSinn Féin and DUP hold seats in North Belfast
North Belfast: Sinn Féin and the Democratic Unionist Party were assured of holding their two seats each after the early counts in North Belfast. DUP MP Nigel Dodds topped the poll with just under 7,000 first preferences while Sinn Féin's Gerry Kelly polled 5,414. Both of them easily surpassed the 4,246 quota. pLocal warming evident as ice melts for Ian and Martin
The unmistakable sound of ice melting and breaking could be heard in Ballymena yesterday. Big Ian and Big Martin still weren't talking face-to-face, but the body language spoke volumes. The war is over, bar the shouting. pResults a clear validation of St Andrews, says Ahern
Reaction: The early Northern Ireland Assembly election results are a "clear validation" of the St Andrews Agreement, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, has said. p
O'Brien snr says Lowry not linked to club deal
Denis O'Brien snr yesterday insisted that former government minister Michael Lowry had no involvement in the purchase of Doncaster Rovers Football Club. p
Durkan queries election of some TDs to Dáil
There were TDs who should never have been elected to the Dáil, Fine Gael environment spokesman Bernard Durkan claimed yesterday. pMcDowell defends decision to adjourn Dáil
Tánaiste Michael McDowell defended the Government's decision to adjourn the Dáil for a week in the face of strong Opposition criticism. pHiggins calls for change in law to allow broadcast of Trócaire ad
Labour foreign affairs spokesman Michael D. Higgins argued for amending legislation to allow a radio advertisement for Trócaire's Lenten campaign to be broadcast. p
O'Donoghue 'sceptical' of claims
Former minister for justice John O'Donoghue has told the Morris tribunal that he was "highly sceptical" of claims of high-level Garda corruption brought to him by two Opposition TDs in June 2000, but he referred them to the Garda commissioner to be properly investigated. p
Residents oppose Banna caravan park
A decision by Kerry County Council to grant planning permission for a large caravan park near Banna Strand has been greeted with dismay by local residents who had objected in large numbers to the proposal. pMan claimed welfare while in prison
The brother of a Limerick man shot dead in a gangland murder last year claimed almost €12,000 in social welfare while serving a two-year prison sentence for drugs, a court has heard. pSargent warns against proposal for incinerator
The €100 million incinerator proposed for Carranstown, Co Meath, would undermine the regional waste-management plan for the northeast, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent has told a Bord Pleanála hearing in Drogheda. pHomeless hostel in Ennis given go-ahead
Clare County Council yesterday secured planning permission for the first homeless hostel in Ennis, Co Clare. pBull breeders may seek recompense for IBR outbreak
Pedigree breeders who had sent bulls for evaluation to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation's centre in Tully, Co Kildare, where an outbreak of IBR disease struck last month, may seek compensation for losses. pRelatives of Kosovo-born Irish citizens having 'visa problems'
A meeting of Kosovo-born nationals, many of them former refugees and now Irish citizens, in Tralee on Wednesday night heard how relatives of those who are now Irish citizens are being refused short-term tourist visas here. p
