ireland.com - The Irish Times

Mahon inquiry to end its public hearings next year
The planning tribunal has pushed its deadline for finishing public hearings to late summer next year, six months later than originally planned, according to its chairman, Judge Alan Mahon. p

Taoiseach confirms electronic border plan
The Taoiseach has confirmed Ireland will follow Britain in establishing electronic border controls in the near future and this will ultimately involve Irish citizens having to carry a passport when travelling to Britain by air or sea. p

LRC talks continue over Moneypoint
Talks were continuing last night at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in a bid to avert industrial action at the country's largest power station, Moneypoint in Co Clare, which is due to commence today. p

Other Stories

New Dail committe chairs announced
Former Fianna Fáil ministers of state demoted by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern after the last general election were among those chosen yesterday to head Oireachtas committees. p
'Drastic' moves against gang crime planned
The Government will next year consider "drastic" measures such as the use of the Special Criminal Court if current gangland crime trends continue, Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan has said. p
Price of bread set to rise by up to 40%
The price of a loaf of bread is set to rise by between 40 and 60 cent as a result of rapidly rising international wheat prices, the Irish Bread Bakers' Association warned yesterday. p
Media plays 'vital role as a watchdog'
President Mary McAleese yesterday paid tribute to the media's contribution to Irish life and society at a special press reception at Áras an Uachtaráin. p
Gormley begins archaeological policy review
Measures to strengthen protection of archaeological heritage, rolling back a more liberal regime introduced by the 2004 National Monuments (Amendment) Act, are likely to emerge from a major review of archaeological policy and practice. p
Geothermal firm claims fault line could yield cheap power
A geological fault line that stretches along the fringes of Dublin could provide thousands of homes with cheap sustainable heating and electricity through geothermal energy, it has been claimed. p
US to pay dearly for war in Iraq, warns reporter
The US will pay dearly for the war in Iraq both domestically and in terms of the fallout throughout the Middle East, award-winning investigative reporter Seymour Hersh told an audience at Trinity College Dublin last night. p
Consumer body received 250 car hire complaints
European-wide legislation and the standard contracts are needed to help reduce the high number of complaints about car rental companies, according to an Irish consumer body. p
More Roebuck counselling cases emerge
More cases have emerged concerning the Dublin counselling centre where clients seeking counselling were asked to pay significant sums of money upfront. p
Community work an 'antidote to violence'
It is only through establishing healthy communities that we will overcome the horrors of the violence we have seen again and again on our streets, the Archbishop of Dublin Dr Diarmuid Martin has said. p
Soulless suburbs not progress - archbishop
Developers' building new Dublin suburbs without social infrastructure is not progress, the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin, has said. p
Chain plans to open 42 new stores
It has been four years since Dunnes Stores had a fashion show, but yesterday in the cool, glass-fronted new service restaurant on the top floor of its remodelled Henry Street flagship, it broke its silence with a small but well chosen selection from its autumn/winter collections. p
Greens deny split with Ahern over number of incinerators
The Greens last night denied Opposition claims that a split had opened up between the party leader, John Gormley, and the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, over the number of incinerators required by the country to deal with waste. p
Budget must deliver on promises, says women's council
Equality in the social welfare system, universal free pre-schooling, extensions of national health screening programmes and the distribution of funds earmarked for combating violence against women will top the list of issues on today's pre-budget submission by the National Women's Council of Ireland (NWCI). p
Irish more reluctant to declare 'informal' incomes - EU survey
More than a quarter of Irish people know someone who works without declaring some or all of their income to the authorities. But a similar number also refused to say whether they had received some or all of their income "cash-in-hand" from their employer within the last year, a new EU-wide survey has shown. p
New heraldry law needed urgently, society claims
The Government has been called upon to introduce fresh heraldry legislation as a matter of urgency, amid claims that a statement by the board of the National Library of Ireland yesterday "unwittingly asserts that Ireland has the youngest heraldic authority in the world". p
Designer clothes stolen with car
Gardaí are investigating the hijacking of a car containing dresses made by some of the Irish and international fashion industry's best-known designers. p
Consumer body to review home building industry
The National Consumer Agency has begun a study of the home building industry with the aim of providing greater protection for house-buyers and people extending their homes. p
Removal of 'Irish Times' columnist McWilliams
Mourners gathered at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Wexford town last night for the removal service of meteorologist and Irish Times columnist Brendan McWilliams. p
Arcade Fire live up to billing with incendiary Phoenix Park show
Few bands have captured the devotion of the music-loving Irish public quite as emphatically as the Montreal group Arcade Fire. p
Minister urged to clarify policy on grinds
Labour has asked the Minister for Education to make a clear policy statement on the role of grinds in the education system after an ESRI report showed 25 per cent of Junior Cert students are paying for extra tuition. p
In short
More news in brief. p

Mahon Tribunal

Chairman says Dunlop horse deal 'suspicious'
Tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon said yesterday Frank Dunlop's payment of almost £64,000 for a horse that subsequently died raised "a significant degree of suspicion" and "warranted close questioning". p
Gilmartin quizzed on bribe allegations
Former assistant Dublin county manager George Redmond quizzed developer Tom Gilmartin yesterday on what was the last day in a four-month session at the tribunal for the Luton-based developer. p

In the Courts

Doubt over title of homes linked to solicitor
The legal title of a number of residential homes in relation to which a Dublin solicitor had dealings appears to be cast in doubt by information put before the High Court by IIB Bank plc. p
IIB Bank outlines concerns on properties
The head of lending with IIB Bank has told the High Court of concerns about title documents to a number of properties, including residential properties, in relation to which solicitor Thomas A Byrne had dealings. p
Dapper dresser with sharp eye for property market
Simon Carswell profiles Thomas Byrne, a solicitor under suspicion. p
Banks to review lending practices
The recent legal cases involving Dublin solicitors Michael Lynn and Thomas Byrne have prompted the State's banks to examine the use of solicitors' undertakings in property transactions. p
Man jailed for stabbing friend
A 27-year-old Dublin man has been jailed for nine years for killing one of his friends during a drunken New Year's Eve fight. p
In short
More court reports in brief. p

In the North

Robinson to unveil draft budget today
The North's Minister for Finance Peter Robinson will reveal his draft budget today to a special sitting of the Assembly. p

In the Dáil

Technology may cut incinerator number - Ahern
Proposals for four major incinerators were in the planning process, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern told the Dáil during sharp exchanges. p
Kenny warns of EU debate 'headbangers'
The Fine Gael and Labour leaders warned against outside interference in the EU treaty referendum campaign. p
Labour raises car mileage of Green Ministers
The two Green Ministers "have each clocked up more mileage per month than the Taoiseach", Labour communications spokeswoman Liz McManus has claimed. p
Pensions will rise to €300 a week, says Ahern
Social welfare pensions will rise to €300 a week within the lifetime of this Government, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has reiterated in the Dáil. p
Amgen to repay public grants, says Martin
Public expenditure incurred in an indefinitely postponed American industrial project for east Cork will be repaid by the company involved, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin told the Dáil. p
New judges needed to combat gangs, says Harris
Seanad report: A new category of judge should be created as part of a pro-active campaign to smash crime gangs, Eoghan Harris (Ind) urged. p
Bertie douses allegators' incinerations
Dáil Sketch / Miriam Lord: We thought it was a brave move by Enda, asking Bertie to expound for him on the subject of the incinerators, and how many of them there might be. p

Regional News

Harney faces call to retain west's cancer network
Minister for Health Mary Harney will be urged to retain a successful regional cancer network in the west at a protest march planned for Mayo this weekend. p
Taoiseach urged to 'stop giving out about snails'
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern should stop giving out about "snails and swans" holding up roads when it was he who encouraged support for the European treaty that brought in the safeguards for them, the president of An Taisce said yesterday. p
Students in alcohol policy protest
Hundreds of students at the University of Limerick walked out of lectures yesterday in protest over what they claim is a five-year delay by the university in implementing changes agreed under an alcohol policy plan. p
In short
More regional news in brief. p

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