ireland.com - The Irish Times

Ahern says he is not damaged by loan to Larkin
TAOISEACH BERTIE Ahern has insisted his authority has not been damaged by the disclosure that his former partner bought a house with a loan from his constituency organisation. p

Aer Lingus and Siptu reach deal to avert disruption
A THREATENED disruption to Aer Lingus flights, which could have affected up to 20,000 passengers from today, has been averted following a deal reached between management and the trade union Siptu last night. p

Awards tribute for Rosaleen Linehan
A SPECIAL tribute award was presented to actor Rosaleen Linehan for her contribution to Irish theatre at the 11th annual Irish Times Theatre Awards last night. p

Major developments in 'The Irish Times'
THE IRISH TIMES embarks on the single biggest development programme in its editorial history this week to broaden its appeal to readers with more content and supplements - in advance of the newspaper's 150th anniversary in 2009. p

Other Stories

Rivals cry fowl as Irish plump for Turkey song
TO BOOS and applause from the audience and a welter of bad puns from his critics, Dustin the Turkey has been selected as Ireland's entry in this year's Eurovision song Contest. p
SING WITH DUSTIN...
'Give us another chance, we're sorry for Riverdance . . .' p
Taoiseach 'enjoys my support', says Cowen
THE DECISION by the constituency organisation of Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to lend Celia Larkin £30,000 to buy a house was not "a run-of-the-mill disbursement", Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has said. p
Cowen's praises sung, but Bertie gets the ovation
BERTIE AHERN entered the Ógra Fianna Fáil conference hall quietly, surrounded only by a couple of TDs and Senators, writes Mark Hennessy . p
Taoiseach pleads for Lisbon Treaty Yes vote
IRELAND'S HAND at EU negotiations will be strengthened by a Yes vote in the upcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum because no other country will have a mandate from the people, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said. p
Ó Cuív predicts UUP as coalition partners
THE ULSTER Unionist Party (UUP) will consider Fianna Fáil as future coalition partners in Northern Ireland in years to come, Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív has predicted. p
Men due in court after foiled kidnapping
FIVE MEN are due to appear at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today after gardaí foiled what they believe was a planned kidnapping of a businessman in Cork by members of the Irish National Liberation Army . p
Two men critical after stabbing incident in Dublin
GARDAÍ HAVE appealed for help in connection with an incident in Dublin in which two men suffered serious injuries on Saturday evening. p
Gardaí question man over fatal attack in Limerick
A MAN in his 20s was being questioned last night in connection with the death of another man following an assault in Limerick at the weekend. p
Search of river Suir for missing man (18)
A LARGE scale co-ordinated search continued into last night for a missing teenager who entered the river Suir in Waterford early yesterday in an attempt to rescue his friend. p
Two lifeboat crewmen rescued off Donegal coast
TWO LIFEBOAT crewmen were winched to safety yesterday from the sea off Co Donegal after their vessel capsized in a freak wave during a routine training exercise. p
Sligo to honour Flatley tonight
MICHAEL FLATLEY, who is to receive the Freedom of Sligo tonight, reached the top in showbiz because when other boys were playing football, he insisted on dancing. p
Dáil to use only Fairtrade drinks
BARS AND restaurants in the Dáil and Seanad are to switch the bulk of their tea and coffee supplies to Fairtrade products as part of a Government commitment to support the ethical trading initiative. p
Murdered woman's family seek legal rights
A GROUP set up to promote the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the murder of French woman Sophie Toscan du Plantier wants the rights of the dead woman's family acknowledged by the Irish legal system, as they are in French law. p
McDowell says fathers' rights can be sought under EU law
THE RIGHTS of unmarried fathers can be fought for in the Irish courts through the European Convention on Human Rights, according to Michael McDowell SC. p
'Once' gets Independent Spirit foreign film award
THE MICRO-budget Dublin musical Once was voted best foreign film at the Film Independent Spirit awards ceremony held on Saturday in a marquee on Santa Monica beach. p
Ahern welcomes Bicker's decision to join Fianna Fáil
FORMER ULSTER Unionist councillor Harvey Bicker, who has confirmed that he has joined Fianna Fáil, is a former British army officer and current member of President Mary McAleese's Council of State. p
Man (81) dies after being struck by van
AN 81-YEAR-OLD pedestrian was killed on Saturday night after he was struck by a van at Creggs Road in Glenamaddy, Co Galway. p
DUP rebukes Bloody Sunday remark
THE DEMOCRATIC Unionist Party has criticised a comment by the North's Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, that he would have killed every British soldier in Derry directly after Bloody Sunday had he been in a position to do so. p
More playtime for children urged
CHILDREN'S PLAY is under threat in a society that focuses too much on test results and keeping children occupied with overly scheduled and structured activities, a childcare group has warned. p
Pledge to protect minimum wage
THE GOVERNMENT will take whatever legislative steps are necessary to protect the existing legal mechanism for setting minimum terms and conditions for around 250,000 workers, Minister for Enterprise and Employment Micheál Martin has said. p
Civil servant awarded €60,000 in age discrimination case
A senior civil servant in the Revenue Commissioners, who was passed over for promotion, has been awarded €60,000 after the Equality Tribunal ruled he was discriminated against on the basis of his age. p
New attempt to avert strike by air traffic controllers
TALKS AIMED at averting a shutdown of the State's main airports on Thursday will take place at the Labour Court today. p
Consultant group defers decision on contract
THE IRISH Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA) has deferred until the end of March a decision on whether to recommend a new contract for senior doctors to its members. p
People from poorer backgrounds less likely to attend arts events, research shows
PEOPLE FROM less well-off backgrounds are many times less likely to go to the cinema, music concerts or art exhibitions, new research shows. p
Project for lone mums to end
LABOUR PARTY president Michael D Higgins has criticised the Minister for Education's decision to withdraw funding from an educational initiative for lone parents in Galway. p
Bridge Notes
THE ALL-Ireland inter-county bridge team championship (Burke Trophy) will be decided over three sessions next Saturday and Sunday at the Templeogue Centre in Dublin. The holders are Dublin City. p
In Short
More news in brief. p

Law Matters

Law and justice: the adversarial system and mediation
THE ADVERSARIAL system is a powerful means of ensuring justice, but it is not without its faults and mediation is sometimes a better way of ensuring justice. p
Settlement with DAA precludes Ryanair from challenging plans for Terminal 2
Ryanair Ltd -v- An Bord Pleanála p
Legal Briefs
Other news in brief. p

Angling Notes

Well, holy mackerel!
Earlier this month I had the pleasure to attend an event to test an innovative idea aimed at expanding the charter boat angling season. p

Regional News

Gormley stresses Burren's uniqueness
THE GOVERNMENT will actively pursue efforts to make the Burren Ireland's next Unesco world heritage site, Minister for the Environment John Gormley is to disclose this evening. p
Existing sites
Archaeological Ensemble of the Bend of the Boyne (designated in 1993): Over 5,000 years old, Newgrange, Dowth and Knowth in Co Meath together comprise Europe's largest and most important concentration of prehistoric megalithic art. p
Corrib gas opponents condemn fire near Shell site
OPPONENTS OF the Corrib gas onshore pipeline in north Mayo have condemned "without reservation" the "apparent criminal damage to materials" associated with the project. p
Coillte criticised over plan to sell wood
AN INTERNATIONAL forestry expert has appealed for retention of the east Galway woodland that is under threat from a potential quarry development. p
Ennis man (44) dies in Lough Derg after boating mishap
THE MAN recovered from Lough Derg in Co Clare on Saturday has been identified as Tomás Mannion (44) from Ennis, a member of a well-known business family from the town. p

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