The Irish Times - Irish

Two for court over foiled raid

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:59:30 GMT

Two men arrested over the attempted armed robbery of a jeweller’s shop in Dublin have been charged in connection with the incident.

Three arrested over drugs ring

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:56:40 GMT

A cross-border drugs ring in Ireland has been broken up by police with cannabis with a street value of £500,000 (€558,000) seized.

SF 'playing second fiddle' to DUP

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:52:34 GMT

Sinn Féin has allowed the Democratic Unionists to undermine the interests of the nationalist community, the SDLP claimed today.

State facing 'social conflict' - Gilmore

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:32:34 GMT

The country is facing a time of “unprecedented social conflict and disruption” unless the Taoiseach shows leadership and widens the agenda for partnership talks, Eamon Gilmore of the Labour party said.

Cowen calls for 'fundamental reform' of public services

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:17:07 GMT

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has called for fundamental reform of the public service to meet the country's needs in the new economic environment.

NI remembrance event delayed over alert

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 13:44:33 GMT

A parade to mark Remembrance Sunday in Bellaghy, Co Derry, was postponed this afternoon due to a security alert.

Kenny will not support benefit cuts

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:34:49 GMT

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said he would not support a cut or a tax on child benefit in next month’s Budget.

Two men killed in road incidents

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:18:53 GMT

A man has died in a car crash in Co Meath and a second man was killed in a road incident in Dublin early this morning.

Award for Goal aid workers

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:27:54 GMT

Aid worker Sharon Commins and her colleague Hilda Kawuki, who were kidnapped and held for more than 100 days in Darfur, have been given a humanitarian award for their "brave and selfless" work.

Exhibition pokes fun at political 'Blarney'

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 09:12:18 GMT

Sculptures of Bertie Ahern at the Mahon tribunal and HSE chief executive Brendan Drumm wielding a guillotine form part of two new exhibitions casting a wry look at Irish society.

State facing 'social conflict' - Gilmore

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:11:20 GMT

Kenny against child benefit tax

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:08:33 GMT

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny has said he would not support a cut or a tax on child benefit in next month’s Budget.

Man arrested over arms haul

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:20:45 GMT

A man in his 30s has been arrested following the seizure of guns and ammunition at a house in Limerick city.

Man for court over cocaine seizure

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:27:35 GMT

A 26-year-old man arrested in connection with a seizure of cocaine in Dublin is to appear before Dublin District Court later today.

Belfast street subsides into hole

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:05:37 GMT

Part of one of Belfast’s busiest streets subsided into what is believed to be a large hole.

NI leaders in London for talks

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:14:32 GMT

Northern Ireland’s First and Deputy First Minister will meet Gordon Brown in Downing Street today to discuss devolving policing and justice powers.

Four hurt in Red Cow collision

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:14:32 GMT

A man remains in a critical condition in hospital today after a car crashed into a stationary Garda patrol vehicle in Dublin.

Man taken from sea off Clare coast

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:55:01 GMT

A man who fell into the sea off the Co Clare coast has been located and taken by coastguard helicopter to hospital.

Gardaí investigate Westmeath incident

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:55:01 GMT

Gardaí are investigating an incident at a house in Co Westmeath after members of the public reported hearing gun shots.

Ending of NI reserve ranks criticised

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:32:11 GMT

The police officers’ union and the DUP have denounced a decision by the PSNI chief constable to go ahead with the scheduled abolition of some 440 so-called Full-Time Reserve officer positions.

War dead to be commemorated

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:00:22 GMT

Thousands of Irish soldiers killed in both World Wars will be honoured at a cross-Border commemoration service in Co Louth today.

PSNI Reserve to be scrapped

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:49:28 GMT

The organisation representing rank and file police officers in Northern Ireland lashed out today after the new chief constable confirmed plans to phase out the Full-Time Reserve.

28,000 people receive H1N1 vaccine

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:33:38 GMT

Close to 8,000 people received the swine flu vaccine today at clinics around the country, according to new figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE).

No public-private sector rift say protesters

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:02:06 GMT

Protesters imarching n Dublin today accused the Government of using a perceived public-private sector rift to "divide and conquer" in the run-up to the December Budget.

Designer sues over Riverdance costumes

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:41:04 GMT

A fashion designer who created the costumes forRiverdance the Showhas told the High Court he was” “shocked” to learn he would not be designing the outfits to be used during the show’s run on New York’s Broadway.

Supreme Court hears Izevbekhai case

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:23:31 GMT

Nigerian mother Pamela Izevbekhai has told the Supreme Court a sworn statement from a doctor asserting she never had a child who died as a result of complications from female genital mutilation (FGM) is untrue. She claims she has a certificate from another doctor to prove the child’s death.

Two held over foiled Dublin raid

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:23:31 GMT

Two men have been arrested following an attempted robbery at a jewellery shop in central Dublin this afternoon.

Man remanded over soldier deaths

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:36:25 GMT

The High Court in Belfast has heard that soil found on a boot belonging to prominent republican Colin Duffy matches a sample in a getaway car allegedly used by gunmen who murdered two British soldiers outside a Co Antrim military base.

Harney appeal to hospital consultant

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:36:25 GMT

Minister for Health Mary Harney has appealed to a Donegal consultant who said he has virtually no work to do at Letterkenny General Hospital to “look for solutions” instead of “always identifying problems”.

Anger over threat to community projects

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:04:18 GMT

Some of the most deprived communities in the State would lose "essential services" such as after-school projects, meals-on-wheels, créches and adult education if Community Development Projects (CDPs) were closed, a protest in Dublin was told today.

Shankill, Falls Road do not pass GO

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:47:09 GMT

Two of Belfast’s most famous landmarks have failed to secure a place on the city’s edition of the Monopoly board.

Tens of thousands join nationwide union marches

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:47:09 GMT

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets today as part of a campaign organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) for a “fairer” alternative to the Government’s budgetary strategy.

Boots Irish staff vote to strike

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:30:19 GMT

About 900 employees at Boots Ireland have voted in favour of industrial action over proposed pay cuts and changes to workers' terms and conditions.

Budget Travel court case adjourned

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:30:19 GMT

A dispute between Budget Travel and the aviation regulator over what the company claims are “unreasonable and unlawful pre-conditions” for renewal of Budget’s licence has been adjourned at the High Court to Monday while the sides try and resolve the matter.

No funds for full mid-west jobs plan

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:42:36 GMT

The Government does not have the resources to implement all the recommendations from an interim report by a jobs task force charged with overseeing economic development in the mid west, the Tánaiste said today.

Protest, weather to cause disruptions

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:35:25 GMT

Nationwide travel disruptions are expected today as tens of thousands of people take to the streets as part of an Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) "campaign of opposition to the Government's handling of the current crisis".

Two held over €1.1m cocaine seizures

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:35:25 GMT

Cocaine worth €1.1 million has been seized during a house search in north Dublin.

No drink-drive change before 2011

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:47:06 GMT

The new drink-driving limits will not be introduced before mid-2011 because the equipment used to test breath samples from drivers must be replaced.

Derry murder trial jury discharged

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:11:29 GMT

A jury has been discharged after failing to agree a verdict in the trial of a 37-year-old Derry man charged with murdering his former partner.

Fire at Sandyford apartment block

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 10:46:54 GMT

Several units of the Dublin Fire Brigade attended a fire in the basement car park of an apartment block in south Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

UN climate summit 'likely to fail'

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:19:28 GMT

The UN climate change conference in Copenhagen next month will fail to produce an agreement to combat the threat of global warming, British officials have warned. They forecast here yesterday that a deal could take another 12 months to strike.

Nama Bill approved in the Dáil

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:24:24 GMT

The Dáil has tonight voted to pass the law establishing the National Asset Management Agency (Nama).

Bono and the boys rock the Brandenburg

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:05:29 GMT

Tonight in Berlin, it wasAchtung Babyone more time.

Martin says economy key Lisbon factor

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:29:14 GMT

The key factor in persuading the Irish electorate to ratify the Lisbon Treaty in the second referendum was the sense of vulnerability arising out of the economic crisis and the feeling that working with the rest of the European Union was the best solution, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said in Dublin today.

'Tiger' kidnapping measures agreed

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:29:14 GMT

Banks have agreed new measures to ensure employees follow protocol in so-called 'tiger' kidnapping situations by limiting their access to large sums of cash to handover.

O'Keeffe notes grants difficulties

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:10:37 GMT

Every effort is being made by local authorities and Vocational Education Committees (VECs) to ensure that students get decisions on their grant applications as soon as possible, Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe said today.

NIB seeks ruling over 'Buy & Sell' case

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:55:03 GMT

Financier Niall McFadden is opposing a court application by National Irish Bank for €6.3 million summary judgment orders against him arising from his personal guarantee over loans to acquire the Buy & Sell classified ads business.

Long drugs sentences rare, says report

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:07:11 GMT

The use of long sentences for drugs offences in Ireland and other European countries is rare, a report into drugs use in Europe has found.

Four more deaths from swine flu

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:51:44 GMT

Four more people have died from swine flu in the Republic, bringing the number of deaths to 14.

Consultants 'not abiding by contracts'

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:51:44 GMT

Hundreds of hospital consultants are not abiding by the terms of their new contracts, the Committee of Public Accounts has heard.

Cowen says cuts in public sector pay bill 'unavoidable'

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:51:44 GMT

Taoiseach Brian Cowen said today a reduction of €1.3 billion in the public service pay bill is "unavoidable" because pay makes up such a large proportion of State expenditure.

Tánaiste defends jobs taskforce

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:36:19 GMT

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan today defended a jobs taskforce which has only met once this year.

Lenihan hints at widening tax net

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 16:36:18 GMT

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan today refused to rule out bringing more low income earners in to the tax net, but said that any potential economic recovery would likely be stifled by further large increases in taxation by the Government.

Concerns raised over HIV treatment

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:49:26 GMT

Poor availability in Ireland of a medical treatment which can prevent HIV infection after a person has been potentially been exposed to the virus was an area of "major concern and dissatisfaction", a conference in Dublin heard today.

Trend toward efficient cars

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:21:59 GMT

Car buying patterns have moved toward more energy-efficient cars since the introduction of the new Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) and motor tax rates for private cars, according to a report published today.

Two more NI swine flu deaths

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:03:11 GMT

Two more people died from swine flu in Northern Ireland this week.

Fine Gael sets out economic stall

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:46:14 GMT

Fine Gael promised business people today the party would not "hinder" enterprise if it is elected to Government, but will help them "trade their way out of recession".

HSE to close child detention unit

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:46:14 GMT

The closure of a special detention care unit that cares for the needs of young people with serious emotional and behavioural problems shows that lessons of the Ryan report "have not been learned", Fine Gael has claimed.

Search for Irish surfer off Thailand

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:06:19 GMT

A search is continuing for an Irishman who went missing while surfing off the coast of Thailand earlier this week.

Quotas for female politicians sought

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:50:51 GMT

Ireland’s record on women’s political representation at local, national and European level is very poor and disimproving, a report compiled by Senator Ivana Bacik has found.

Spending on foreign travel falls

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:50:51 GMT

Spending on both foreign and domestic travel dropped in the second quarter of the year in a further sign that households are locking down their budgets.

No decision on cuts - Coughlan

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:35:19 GMT

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan told the Dáil today the Government will publish its pre-Budget outlook next week.

Sixteen rescued from Cork fire

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:17:47 GMT

Sixteen people were rescued from a fire in an apartment building in Cork city centre this morning.

Woman dies in Westmeath crash

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:17:47 GMT

A woman has died and a man has been hospitalised with serious injuries following a crash in Co Westmeath this morning.

Ibis opens two Belfast hotels

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:17:47 GMT

Belfast’s growing reputation as a must-see tourist destination was further reinforced today with the opening of two new hotels.

McAleese pledges to cut Áras spending

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:17:47 GMT

President Mary McAleese has pledged to cut household spending at Áras an Uachtaráin by 12.5 per cent.

Lifeboatman to get bravery medal

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:34:44 GMT

A Portrush lifeboatman is to be awarded a bravery medal for rescuing two boys from a cave last August.

Regtel warning on new phone Bill

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:02:47 GMT

Consumers who have been overcharged or ripped off by premium rate telephone service providers will find it more difficult to seek redress once a new communications Bill become law, the chairman of RegTel has warned.

Kildare security van robbery foiled

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:02:47 GMT

Three men were arrested outside a school in Co Kildare this morning on suspicion of planning to rob a cash-in-transit van.

Food businesses warned over safety

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:28:56 GMT

One food business was prosecuted and another was served with a closure order last month for breaching food safety legislation, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said.

Explosive device disarmed in Dublin

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:43:42 GMT

A Garda investigation has begun following the discovery of a 'viable' improvised explosive device outside a house in Dublin last night.

OECD warning over living standards

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:24:30 GMT

Living standards in Ireland are likely to remain “permanently lower”, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said yesterday in a new report on Ireland.

Data security measures for Bord Gais

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:06:18 GMT

Bord Gais is to introduce new security procedures after it accepted it was in breach of Data Protection legislation in relation to the theft of details of some 93,000 customers on a laptop.

Magdalen women meet justice officials

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:47:33 GMT

Five women who had been in Magdalen laundries met the secretary general of the Department of Justice Sean Aylward and assistant secretary James Martin for a two-hour meeting today. Compensation for the women and a State apology were among topics discussed.

Dublin rape trial collapses

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:47:33 GMT

The trial of two men accused of raping and sexually assaulting a woman after kidnapping her while she was on her way to pick her son up from school has collapsed.