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Junior Cert science stages comeback
The Junior Certificate results published this morning show some encouraging trends in the problem area of science. p
Fine Gael only half way there after election, Kenny says
Fine Gael must change the way it develops and communicates policies if it is to become the largest party in the Dáil after the next general election, the party's leader, Enda Kenny, declared. p
Councillors reject 15-storey tower planned for Ballsbridge
Plans for a 15-storey tower on the site of the former veterinary college in Ballsbridge have been rejected by a Dublin City Council committee, despite being less than half the height of a neighbouring scheme sought by property developer Seán Dunne. p
Other Stories
Junior Cert now proving tougher than the Leaving
The Junior Cert is no longer an "easier" exam than the Leaving
Cert, when this year's results in both exams are compared. pCreche at centre of toddler inquiry to reopen
The Health Service Executive (HSE) yesterday said it had no difficulty with the decision to reopen a Dublin creche which was under investigation following the near-drowning of a toddler last month. pMayo FF to help plan Flynn's return
Senior Fianna Fáil activists in Mayo have agreed to work with the national executive of the party on devising a strategy for a "strife-free" readmission of Independent TD Beverley Flynn to the party fold. pEU regulators relent on switch to metric
The pint of plain has had a stay of execution following a
climbdown by EU regulators. pJailed Galway councillor to retain seat
Independent Galway county councillor Michael "Stroke" Fahy has secured unanimous support from colleagues for retention of his local authority seat while serving a jail sentence. pFormer senator Morrissey quits politics and says PDs in trouble
Former Progressive Democrats senator Tom Morrissey bowed out of politics yesterday, conceding that the future of the PDs was under severe threat. pLandmark case gives unmarried father custody rights over twins
An unmarried father who has acted reasonably and dutifully towards his children, has rights of custody over them, a High Court judge has decided. pSupport group seeks referendum
Family welfare groups have called for a change in the law relating to the status of unmarried fathers following yesterday's Mr G judgment. p100% mortgages 'inflated house prices'
Banks and lending institutions have been accused of escalating the housing crisis by providing 100 per cent mortgages. pStatement was altered, inmate tells inquest
An inquest into the death of a prisoner was adjourned yesterday after a witness alleged that parts of his original statement to gardaí had been omitted. pCoroner to seek detail of hospital's infection policy
The Dublin county coroner is to write to a Dublin hospital regarding its infection control policy following the sudden death of a patient who was being considered for discharge after he contracted the superbug MRSA. pOne-third of couples in mediation faced domestic violence
New research has found that almost one in three couples who underwent family mediation had experienced domestic violence. pGarda criticised over rights
An Garda Síochána is still "some distance" from being fully human rights compliant, the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has said. pHorses returned after stables demolition
A meeting between Fingal County Council and representatives of the community-run pony club at Scribblestown Lane appears to have eased the dispute caused by the demolition of makeshift stables over the weekend. pEnglish classes urged for migrants
The Government must provide adequate opportunities for migrants to learn English if it intends to make proficiency in the language a requirement for citizenship, the Immigrant Council of Ireland has said. pConsultants' talks 'slow and frustrating'
Participants in the talks on a new contract for hospital consultants said that negotiations yesterday had been slow and frustrating. pThree held at Shannon over 'air rage' incidents
Three people were arrested at Shannon yesterday after two transatlantic jets were forced to divert to the airport following separate alleged air rage incidents. pFine Gael blames Roche as State unlikely to gain MEP
Opposition parties have criticised the Government for doing "too little, too late" in its bid to secure an extra seat at the European Parliament. Fine Gael and Labour both said the Government had been disappointingly slow in lobbying Brussels to get one of 16 extra seats at the parliament that will become available from 2009. pVet to monitor farm of man convicted of animal cruelty
A veterinary inspector has been asked by a judge to continue monitoring the farm of a 42-year-old man convicted of animal cruelty to ensure that he does not resume keeping animals after he was ordered by the court to dispose of all his livestock. pIn Short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief. p
Businessman says Ahern did not react when given £28,000
When Manchester businesman Michael Wall handed about £28,000, mostly sterling, to Bertie Ahern, the Taoiseach was neither surprised nor appreciative, Mr Wall told the Mahon tribunal yesterday. pTaoiseach's friend tells of £30,000 in hotel wardrobe
Money handover: Manchester businessman Michael Wall left almost £30,000 sterling (€44,000) in a suitcase in the wardrobe of his room in the Ashling Hotel in Dublin while he went to a Fianna Fáil dinner, he told the Mahon tribunal yesterday. pChairman criticises Ahern team
Murtagh evidence: The chairman of the tribunal said that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's legal team should have produced documents which the tribunal had sought from them in early August. pWall joins 'wads of money' roll of honour
Miriam Lord at Dublin Castle: The planning tribunal has established an honourable tradition of key witnesses taking the stand to tell hilarious stories of how they happened to give large sums of money to politicians, while simultaneously failing to understand why ordinary people might not be inclined to believe them. pSet record straight, Kenny warns Ahern
Bertie Ahern must leave "no ambiguity, no confusion, no unanswered questions" about his personal finances after his Mahon tribunal appearance, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has warned. Stiffening his rhetoric about the Taoiseach, Mr Kenny said the sums in question equalled €300,000 in today's money. p
SF accuses DUP of conflict of interest
DUP Ministers and Assembly members yesterday rejected Sinn Féin criticism of a DUP ministerial decision that could see a DUP member being granted permission to develop a private visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway in Co Antrim. p
Boys Town founder honoured in home town
Veteran Hollywood actor Mickey Rooney (86) visited Ballymoe, Co
Galway, yesterday for celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of
the founding by local man Fr Edward Flanagan of Boys Town in
Nebraska. pShot fired at family home in latest Limerick attack
A Limerick family with four young children had a lucky escape early yesterday morning when a gunman targeted their home in the third shooting in the city in as many days. pCall for Galtee pig meat boycott
Irish consumers were yesterday urged to boycott Galtee pork and bacon products by former workers and pig suppliers who accused the company of failing to clearly state where it is sourcing meat for its products. pGogarty tribute in his former home
Fifty years after his death, writer and politician Oliver St John Gogarty is to be celebrated at his former home in Connemara, Renvyle House Hotel, Co Galway, from November 8th to 11th. pLimerick man accused of stealing car worth €60,000
A Limerick man has been charged with stealing a car worth €60,000. p
Autistic traits linked to raised testosterone levels in womb
British Association for the Advancement of Science festival: There is an increased risk of a child developing autistic traits if the child was exposed to raised levels of the male sex hormone testosterone while in the womb. This new finding represents the first time that an association has been established between hormone levels in the womb and autistic traits, according to the researchers. pChocolate could extend your life
Health and wellbeing: Chocolate can certainly make
you feel good but now scientists have found that there may be
health benefits from certain types of chocolate, including helping
you to live longer. pAncient Egyptians had recipes for mummification all wrapped up
Embalming: A researcher has unearthed a recipe developed over centuries by the ancient Egyptians of a blend of spices, oils and resins needed to mummify a cat. pTwo legs good but Achilles' tendon better
Evolution: While our early ancestors stood upright on two legs millions of years ago, humans really only got a spring in their step when the Achilles' tendon evolved. pRecognising unfamiliar faces a risky business
Identification: The public are surprisingly bad at recognising unfamiliar faces, something that has implications for security, according to new research. p
