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Towns and villages are fastest growing centres
Towns, both large and small, and villages are the fastest growing centres of population in Ireland. Proportionately, fewer people are living in cities, according to census data published by the Central Statistics Office. p
Limerick criminal is killed in ambush on motorbike
Gardaí believe a gunman who shot dead a father of three in
Limerick city yesterday morning had intimate knowledge of his
movements. p
Reports of inspectors highlight school conditions
Substandard conditions in some primary schools and acute pressure on accommodation are highlighted in the latest batch of reports from Department of Education inspectors published yesterday. p
First-class review for Bertie's school
The second-level school attended by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern receives a glowing review from Department of Education inspectors in a report published yesterday. p
Irish Times TNS MRBI Poll
Contest wide open as Fine Gael narrows gap with beleaguered FF
Voters have the uncanny knack of being able to level the playing field. Everyone craves a contest and Election 2007 is shaping up to be a battle royal, Irish-style.Polling companies need to reflect voter realities
Damian Loscher explains the reasons for the adjusted figures in TNS mrbi opinion polls.The methodology
This survey in the Republic of Ireland was conducted exclusively on behalf of The Irish Times by TNS mrbi, among a national quota sample of 1,000 representative of the approximately 3.2million electors aged 18 upwards, covering 100 sampling points throughout all constituencies in the Republic of Ireland.
Voters are tired of smug Government, FG leader insists
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny yesterday said people were "tired"
of waiting for the general election and they were "tired and jaded
of this Government".Protests as Ahern visits Border constituency
The visit by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to the Cavan/Monaghan constituency yesterday morning for the launch of a Fianna Fáil election campaign by a "newcomer" female candidate in the Border five-seater, Margaret Conlon, was marked by a protest by a group of picketers outside a Castleblayney hotel.Politics failing immigrants - report
Irish political parties are among the least diverse, responsive and capable of leading by example when it comes to representing the diversity of 21st-century Irish society,researchers at University College Dublin (UCD) claim.Salaries soar for Government's inner circle of special advisers
The multimillion-euro bill for the Government's coterie of top advisers and spin doctors has rocketed since the first coalition was formed ten years ago, according to new figures.Commission to review figures for Dáil districts
An independent commission to review the State's 43 constituencies, including two that now break constitutional rules, will not report for six months, following publication of detailed census figures yesterday.Bali trip in doubt over election timing
The Ceann Comhairle, Rory O'Hanlon, is to scrap plans to attend a major conference in Bali next week if Taoiseach Bertie Ahern does not dissolve the Dáil today, as rumours continue about Mr Ahern's election plans.Bodies of four Dunnes released to families
The bodies of all four members of the Dunne family who were found dead in their home at Monageer, Co Wexford, last Monday were released by gardaí yesterday to their families. pMother warns of risk to baby's life
A young Dublin mother is worried her baby son could die unless the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides the special-care package at home which Temple Street children's hospital says he needs. pIncinerator emissions 'not significant'
Emissions from the proposed incinerator at Poolbeg would not have a significant impact on the environment, an oral hearing on the project was told yesterday. pCharges follow Mullingar kidnap
A brother-in-law of Northern Ireland's deputy first minister designate, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness, appeared in court in Derry yesterday charged with seven offences connected to the alleged abduction of a couple from their home in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, last Monday night and their assault on Tuesday. pFamily seeks news on son's death
The family of a Polish carpenter who was stabbed to death in
Dublin last Friday has made an emotional appeal for anyone with
information relating to his death to come forward. pMinister shares concern at fall in reporting of rape
The legal system is failing to provide full protection to the victims of sexual crimes and a referendum is needed to address this, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell has said. pRevival of 'dead' man not unique
The case of the man who was wrongly declared dead in the Mater hospital in Dublin earlier this month is rare but not unique, a city undertaker has said. pDriving initiative 'scary' for some
Schoolchildren from Gorey, Co Wexford, were yesterday given a first-hand experience of what it is like to be in a car travelling at 100km/h (62mph) when the emergency brake is applied. pA third of road deaths under 25
European Commission figures out today will show that Ireland has the highest percentage of young people killed on the roads in the EU. pSurvey finds high levels of social isolation
Substantial levels of social isolation have been identified with one third of people reporting that they do not attend any social or leisure events, according to a new survey on mental health. pCall for women's sexual health strategy
A national sexual health strategy is needed as a matter of urgency if the high chlamydia and cervical cancer rates are to be adequately addressed, the new director general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) has said. pPrison alert over ricin traces find
A section of Limerick Prison was sealed off last night after traces of the deadly poison ricin were found at the jail. pIrish Aid expands to tackle climate change
The Republic's aid programme for developing countries is being reorientated to incorporate concerns about environmental protection and sustainable development, according to a new policy document published yesterday evening. pHuman rights guide relates to Garda work
A new human rights guide outlining how the European Convention on Human Rights relates to the work of gardaí was launched by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy yesterday. pMEPs call for BBC man in Gaza to be freed
The European Parliament has called for the immediate release of BBC journalist Alan Johnston, who was abducted in the Gaza Strip last month. p2,000 more platelet donors required
An appeal has gone out for up to 2,000 more people to come forward to donate blood platelets. pCall for attack compensation
A leading public sector trade union has called on the Government to introduce a statutory compensation scheme for officials attacked and injured in the course of their work. pIctu warns of dire result if nurses' row talks fail
The president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Peter McLoone, has said the consequences would be horrendous if the current talks aimed at resolving the nurses' dispute fail. pHeroin addiction report calls for more detox beds
The number of drug detoxification beds should be more than doubled and the number of community employment (CE) places for recovering drug addicts should be increased by at least 30 per cent, a major Government report on rehabilitating people addicted to heroin, will propose. p75% of addicts in treatment centre stayed clean - report
Nearly three-quarters of the offenders who completed the only residential addiction treatment programme within the criminal justice system stayed clean and sober while two-thirds did not reoffend once discharged, a new report released yesterday found. pDNA tests identify Stardust dead
The bodies of five victims of the Stardust tragedy have now been identified using DNA techniques. p'Better education' for Travellers
Education for Travellers here is changing for the better but still has a long way to go, President Mary McAleese told a conference of Travellers centres yesterday. pBaby son for Michael Flatley and wife
Multi-millionaire dancer Michael Flatley and his wife Niamh are celebrating the birth of their first child, a boy, at Cork University Maternity Hospital. p€2m plan for Blackrock Park
A €2 million plan to redevelop Blackrock Park in south Dublin, to be considered by councillors next week, will include a proposal to develop an underground car park close to Booterstown nature reserve. pCat Laughs comedy line-up announced
A line-up of more than 40 internationally known comics is expected to draw 30,000 comedy fans to Kilkenny this summer for the 13th Smithwick's Cat Laughs Comedy Festival. pLansdowne nostalgia auction kicks off
Irish rugby fans nostalgic for their decommissioned home turf are invited to "own a piece of history" by bidding in an online auction. pIn short
More news in brief. p
Man foundnot guilty of threatening to kill sister
A Lebanese national who was accused of threatening to kill his
sister has been acquitted by direction of the judge after two
prosecution witnesses failed to appear to give evidence. pChallenge to constituency changes gets hearing date
A High Court challenge by two Independent TDs and election candidates to the constitutionality of the manner in which Dáil constituencies have been revised is expected to be heard next Thursday. pRuling today in Lawlor widow case
A High Court judge will rule today on an application by the widow of the late TD Liam Lawlor for a stay on the Quarryvale Two module of the Mahon planning tribunal. pAn Taisce appeals Tara motorway order
An Taisce has brought an appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court's refusal to permit it to challenge the legality of the development of the M3 Clonee to Kells motorway near the Hill of Tara, Co Meath. pFarmers take case against golf club
More than 30 farmers from the midlands have brought High Court proceedings alleging a golf club is interfering with their long-standing grazing rights on commonage in Co Laois. pJudgment reserved on birth cert case
The High Court has reserved judgment on a bid by a dentist, who was registered at birth as male but who has undergone a sex change operation, to be given a new birth certificate describing her as female. pIn short
More court reports in brief. p
O'Malley defends risk equalisation
Risk equalisation was a necessary feature in a community-rated health insurance market, Minister of State for Health Tim O'Malley told the Dáil. pFG says no standards in place two years after Leas Cross
No definitive set of standards for nursing home inspections is yet in place, almost two years after the revelations of abuse and poor care at Leas Cross nursing home, Fine Gael has claimed. pInquiry into man's death in Mountjoy cell
The Dáil approved a motion setting up a commission of investigation into the death of Gary Douch, who was found dead in a cell in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin last August. pCall for two more public holidays
Labour has called for the introduction of two more public holidays over the next five years to bring Ireland into line with most other EU countries. pQuinn claims abuse of power over justice Bill
Seanad report: The Criminal Justice Bill passed the second stage by 21 votes to four, half an hour before the debate was due to conclude. Independents Shane Ross, David Norris, Feargal Quinn and Mary Henry voted against the Bill's progress. pDeputies take cover as air is thick with rumour
Dáil Sketch: The spirit of the blitz enveloped Leinster House yesterday. Deputies huddled together in their evacuation shelter, a place formerly known as the Members' Bar. p
Garda security for Corrib costs €5.4m
Garda security for the Corrib gas project in north Mayo has cost €5.4 million for just over six months, according to Minister for Justice Michael McDowell. p'Intense pressure' on EPA to issue licence
Ireland's "close political-corporate climate" will put "intense pressure" on the Environmental Protection Agency to issue an integrated pollution prevention licence, according to Bríd McGarry, a landowner in ongoing High Court proceedings against Shell E&P Ireland. pInquest told car seat not fittedproperly
Children's car seats should be fitted only after carefully reading the instruction manual, a jury has recommended after an inquest into the death of a nine-month-old boy heard the seat was not fitted properly after being sold with no instruction manual. p
