Previous Day
Inquiries begin into house fire tragedy in Omagh
The PSNI and Northern Ireland Fire Service have launched
investigations to establish if there was anything "untoward" behind
the fire that it is feared killed all seven members of the McElhill
family in Omagh, Co Tyrone. p
Licence to operate Corrib refinery granted
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved an operating licence for the Corrib gas refinery in north Mayo. p
Cobh man found guilty of brother's death
A 25-year-old man was yesterday given a five-year suspended
sentence after he pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of his brother
who died trying to prevent the accused from committing suicide when
he drove his car off the quayside in Cobh, Co Cork. p
Other Stories
Town used to suffering is shocked
The firefighters looked shocked, and remember this was Omagh which has experienced the worst of the Troubles. Eoin Doyle, a fire crew leader, was at the scene from early morning. pConcerns over time parents spend with children
Most parents feel that mothers and fathers do not spend enough time with their children and that work patterns are negatively affecting the parenting of young people. pNumber of acute beds is below average, says OECD
The Republic has a below average number of acute hospital beds, but one of the highest bed occupancy rates among OECD countries, a report published yesterday has found. pEU CO2 loophole may aid Ryanair
Irish taxpayers could have to carry the cost of Ryanair's greenhouse gas emissions, even from flights that never take off from or land in Ireland, due to a loophole in new emission trading regulations proposed by the European Commission, it has been claimed. pForum to hear of Dublin gangs
Significant numbers of secondary school students in north and west Dublin are being recruited into gangs and have regular access to guns, according to new research. pChildren in Ireland
Issues of concern pLabour Court intervenes as bus row drags on
The chairman of the Labour Court, Kevin Duffy, has intervened in the dispute at Dublin Bus which has left around 60,000 passengers, mainly in north and west Dublin, without services for the past two days. pAddictive and negative message of TV soaps is criticised
Parents and teachers should be more aware of the effects EastEnders and similar soaps have on young people's outlooks, a conference on suicide prevention in schools warned yesterday. pGardaí injured as two are arrested after car hijacking
Gardaí were last night questioning a man and a woman after a Garda car was rammed near Cahir, Co Tipperary, following a hijacking in which a young woman was threatened at knife-point and forced to drive the couple over five miles in her car. pSkipper's family praise trawler salvage team
The family of an Irish skipper who perished when his trawler sank yesterday paid tribute to all those involved in the salvage operation of his vessel. pGaelscoileanna campaign to save language strategy
Gaelscoileanna have launched a campaign to preserve early immersion as an education policy in Irish medium primary schools. pRyanair advert 'inappropriate'
A complaint that a Ryanair advertisement showing a suggestively dressed teenage girl was "unacceptable and inappropriate" has been upheld by advertising watchdog the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI). pCost of VHI may rise after EU rules against exemption
Consumers could be facing further price increases in the cost of health insurance after the European Commission formally called on the Government to abolish special rules for the VHI and to make it subject to the same rules as other health insurance providers. p€2 rise in licence fee (to €160) for RTÉ approved
The Government has approved a €2 increase in the licence fee to RTÉ which will bring the annual payment to €160 from the beginning of next year. pAhern begins visit to Sudan and Chad ahead of troops' mission
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern arrived in Khartoum last night for a three-day visit to Sudan and Chad ahead of the deployment of Irish troops as part of an EU mission to protect Darfuri refugees and displaced locals in eastern Chad. pSolicitor defends conveyancing system
The system of solicitors giving undertakings to mortgage-lenders to stamp and register the deeds of property has served the consumer very well and contributed to the growth of the Celtic Tiger, according to a leading member of the Law Society. pMental ill-health hits one in four
Mental health problems are widespread in the workplace and cost employers and the economy dearly, says a new report. pOpen verdict returned in death of Tipperary boy (13)
An open verdict has been returned in the death of a 13-year-old boy who was found hanging from a wardrobe in his bedroom. pEarly school leavers low paid
The latest school leaver survey shows no improvement in the numbers completing second-level education. pIn short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief p
Eight-year jail term for heroin courier
A Dublin man caught with heroin with a street value of €1.6 million at Rosslare last June was yesterday sentenced to eight years in jail at Wexford Circuit Court. pJudge in trial of TD rejects complaint about media
A Fianna Fáil TD facing trial for alleged assault and public order offences complained to a court yesterday about "sensationalist and inaccurate" reporting of the case. But the judge dismissed the complaints and said it was "not my job to direct the press". pGRA head denies libel of reporter
Garda Representative Association (GRA) general secretary PJ Stone denied in court yesterday he had libelled RTÉ's crime correspondent Paul Reynolds in an article in the Garda Review magazine. pLibel damages for former Smart chief
Former Smart Telecom chief executive Oisin Fanning is to be paid substantial undisclosed damages in settlement of a High Court libel action against the Irish Mail on Sunday over an article accusing him of a criminal offence he did not commit and describing him as enjoying "a playboy lifestyle". p€800,000 settlement over Naas hospital negligence claim
The family of a man who died at Naas General Hospital four years ago as a result of alleged negligence in his medical treatment has secured €800,000 damages in settlement of their High Court action. The settlement is without admission of liability by the hospital. pFather told he faces arrest
A judge has warned a Limerick father that he may have to issue a warrant for his arrest if he does not attend his teenage son's next court hearing. pIn short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief p
Shell, project partners welcome EPA's decision
Shell E&P Ireland and its Corrib gas partners have welcomed the EPA's decision to approve an operating licence for the project's gas refinery at Bellanaboy, north Mayo. pCorrib gas project
Key stages of the development p
Man (73) who shot boy is fined £5,000
A pensioner who accidentally shot a five-year-old boy in the head two years ago was freed yesterday after being fined £5,000. pMurder victim's father accuses Adams
The father of Paul Quinn (21), who was clubbed to death by eight men on a Monaghan farm last month, has accused Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams of blackening his son's name with allegations of criminality and rushing to the defence of the Provisional IRA, who he believes was involved in his son's murder. pTwo arrested over shooting of PSNI officer
Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting of a police officer in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, on Monday. p
Ahern defends pay increase in absence of perks
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern defended his salary increase and claimed that, unlike himself, other international leaders had jets, yachts and private and holiday residences. pOrders kept hospitals cleaner, say leaders
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern agreed with Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny that hospitals were cleaner when religious orders were in charge. pFunding of community childcare increasing - Smith
Funding for community childcare will increase next year, Minister of State for Children Brendan Smith has insisted. pCall for debate on independence of RTÉ schedule
Seanad report: Calling for a debate on the independence of RTÉ, Jerry Buttimer (FG) welcomed the new-found interest of RTÉ and the Late Late Show in balanced programming. It was a pity that the Late Late Show did not have balance before the last general election, he said. pDig deep and sponsor a Taoiseach this Christmas
Dail sketch: Bring a little light into a poor Dub's life. pElectoral register described as 'beyond redemption'
The current electoral register process is "beyond redemption", an Oireachtas committee chairman has said. pHanafin accused of evading questions on prefabs
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin was accused in the Dáil of deliberately evading questions during a row about the terms of contracts for the rental of prefab school accommodation. p
Financial services firm set to shed 80 jobs
The Shannon Free Zone in Co Clare looks set for more job losses, with confirmation that Thomson Financial Ireland is exploring a proposal to move from Ireland with the possible loss of 80 positions. pIn short
A round-up of today's other stories in brief p
No public hospital given top rating in review
None of the State's 51 public hospitals received a top score in
the latest national review of hospital hygiene published
yesterday. pHospitals and HSE must take the blame
Analysis: Hospitals need resources to tackle super bugs, writes Muiris Houston , Medical Correspondent pHospitals and how they fared
The HIQA report pHygiene checks
Nine hospitals that rated 'poor' pHygiene results 'disappointing'
Hospital boards and managers have to take hygiene and infection-control seriously, Minister for Health Mary Harney said last night. pNew clinics for infusions
A plan to establish 20 private clinics across the State at which patients requiring intravenous drugs could access them without having to visit a hospital was unveiled yesterday. p
Government announces €87m to fund research
The Government has announced funding worth €87 million in support of research that links academics with industry. It includes support of €16.9 million for a single research project to be based at Dublin City University. pFocus on science in classroom
Classroom materials that help promote an awareness of the influence of science on our daily lives will be launched this morning by Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin. The materials are intended to help demystify science by showing how it surrounds us in our everyday lives. pJohnston also gets a kick out of maths
Prudent use of science and maths can make for better, safer athletes, but also deliver a better kick of the ball, according to former Liverpool player Craig Johnston. pScience Week Ireland
What's on: today and tomorrow p
