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Quinn family questions 'generous' redundancy payouts for ex-staff
Report by Quinn into loss of Insurance empire.
Care home residents 'drank too much while socialising'
SOME residents in a nursing home drank too much while socialising locally, putting their safety at risk, inspectors have found.
Insurance firms at centre of data protection report
THE prosecution of three large insurance companies for breaking data protection laws will be among the key points of the 2012 annual report by Data Protection Commissioner Billy Hawkes today.
Latest version of Dracula to be filmed in Belfast
A FILM version of Dracula is to be made in Belfast.
Boyband wannabes on song as Louis seeks next sensation
Louis Walsh 'more than impressed' with talent.
School saved as Hero the bull helps raise €100k
A school which was under threat of closing has won a reprieve after a bull called Hero saved the day.
Price of spuds soars by 85pc as long winter delays crops
FAMILIES have been hit with a 10pc hike in the cost of locally produced food because of the cold winter and delayed spring.
Highest courts to hold extra sittings in effort to tackle caseload logjam
MORE of the country's highest courts are to hold extra sittings later this year in an attempt to tackle "significant delays" and to help break a logjam of backed-up cases.
Body in flat was convicted murderer
A BODY found in a flat had been dead for two months and turned out to be that of a convicted murderer living under an assumed name.
Jail terms for abortion pill use to be debated
THE prospect of women facing up to 14 years in prison for buying abortion pills over the internet is expected to be one of the key topics for discussion at the Oireachtas abortion hearings today.
It's barking mad – Tiny the terrier adopts six orphaned ducklings
DOGS and ducks have been known to be arch enemies but a little terrier called Tiny has taken happily to the role of foster mother to six orphaned ducklings.
Statue of hurling legend Mackey unveiled
A LIFE-sized bronze statue of legendary hurler Mick Mackey has been unveiled in Castleconnell, Co Limerick.
Gun found in harbour
Garda technical experts are examining an Uzi machinegun, which was found in Howth harbour in Dublin.
Finance chief gets key economic data at the local Spar
The Department of Finance Secretary General John Moran has revealed that when it comes to taking the pulse of the real economy, he likes to hear from taxi drivers and the people at his local Spar shop, believing their views to be better "leading indicators" than the reams of statistics provided by his officials.
Support for suicide abortion down: Poll
A SLIM majority (53 per cent) finds abortion acceptable in cases of a threat of suicide – down five points in three months, according to the latest Sunday Independent/ Millward Brown opinion poll.
State faces being sued if IBRC fails to pay debts
THE CEO of a leading German-based investment fund has warned that his company may sue the State should the IBRC fail to honour its commitment to repay millions of euro owed to its subordinated bondholders.
More shops forced to shut doors as town struggles in face of recession
It was a neighbourhood cafe, bakery and cakeshop named after a U2 song, but after three years in business The Sweetest Thing closed its doors for the last time yesterday.
Irish grads sting UK for college fees
Irish students who studied in the UK and who have failed to repay more than €4.3m in student loans are to be tracked down by private investigators hired by the British government, the Sunday Independent can reveal.
Electoral systems changes considered by Constitutional Convention
ALLOWING voting for a local Dail candidate without affecting overall party strengths is among electoral changes being considered by the Constitutional Convention, it was revealed.
Calls to reopen Croppies Acre memorial park
CAMPAIGNERS have demanded the reopening of a memorial park to Irish patriots which was closed just a year after tens of thousands of euro in public money was poured into upgrading it.
King of cafe society Giorgio may have lost his palace, but he'll reign again
AT 5pm on Thursday, Dublin's 'king of cafe society' Giorgio Casari was a king without a kingdom when the Unicorn – the restaurant he had run since 1994 – closed abruptly.
TDs angry at 'attempts to buy peace with unions'
Significant anger and concern among Fine Gael backbenchers has emerged over the Government's ongoing attempts to "buy industrial peace at all costs" with trade unions.
One in seven people on the dole has never worked a single day
One in every seven people on the dole have never worked a single day in their lives, "disturbingly shocking" figures reveal.
Senator fury at RTE over Lowry tapes radio report
FIANNA Fail senator Diarmuid Wilson will be making a complaint to RTE over an "innuendo-laden" item on last Sunday's This Week radio programme dealing with the existence of a tangential "business connection" between him and Lowry tapes whistleblower Kevin Phelan.
Ritz-Carlton granted trespass order in feud over luxury suite
THE international owners of the five-star Ritz-Carlton Hotel at Powerscourt, Co Wicklow, obtained a High Court order last week barring the owner of one of its suites from occupying it.
Garda and PSNI to link systems
THE Garda and PSNI computerised licence-plate recognition systems are being linked together as part of the massive security exercise surrounding the G8 meeting of world leaders in Fermanagh next month.
Judge causes consternation – by working too hard
Another row over the judiciary's work rate has erupted – but this one is over a judge working too hard.
Business 'should give more'
THE Taoiseach's election strategist, Frank Flannery, has urged Ireland's leading businesspeople to loosen their purse strings when it comes to charitable donations.
Anger as gay porn incident cleric is made parish priest
A CLERIC who accidentally showed gay porn to parents of schoolchildren in the North has been appointed parish priest of Clogherhead.
Dowling centre-stage for the final time as he's laid to rest in US
Fewer tears were shed than laughter shared as family and friends gathered to remember Vincent Dowling during a service held on Friday in his adopted home in the United States where he was remembered as obsessive, curious, an Irish treasure and a life-changing influence for scores of actors.
FG backbenchers heap pressure on Cabinet to change draft abortion legislation
FINE Gael back benchers are likely to increase the pressure on the Government to alter the provisions for suicide in the draft abortion legislation after the emergence of key divisions between the masters of the country's two main maternity hospitals.
Teachers fear new special needs plans will be red-tape nightmare
A NEW approach to catering for pupils with special education needs (SEN) is recommended in a major report – but primary teachers warn it could turn into a bureaucratic nightmare.
Thirteen taken ill in water pollution scare
BUSINESSES in Co Roscommon are demanding the county council take immediate action to rectify the ongoing water problems that have left 13 people needing treatment and 10,000 more forced to boil their water.
Grand Slam women inspire 300 new recruits to pick up the oval ball
ALMOST 300 rugby novices had their first introduction to the oval ball as Ireland's Grand Slam winning women's team showed what can be achieved by an amateur squad.
Sex controversy poet opts out of writers' festival
CONTROVERSIAL poet Cathal O Searcaigh has pulled out of an event at next week's Dublin Writers Festival.
Tragic boy's family must consent to 999 call release
THE parents of a two-year-old boy who died after falling from an upstairs window of his home will have to consent to the recording of a 999 ambulance call being publicly released.
Low-fat foods just giving us a 'licence to overeat'
CONSUMERS view foods marketed as low fat or healthy as a licence to overeat.
Historic session for North-South legal groups
Bar councils in Northern Ireland and the Republic to meet in formal .
Relatives of Ned Kelly gather for family reunion
Genetic links of notorious outlaw is focus of gathering
Louis back to old self but 'wary' after ordeal
SIX months on from vindication in court, Walsh finally feels back to himself.
China leader tells TDs of fondness for Ireland
Chinese President Xi Jinping has spoken about his fond memories of his chat with former President Mary McAleese about Gaelic football.
Cowen 'happy to take part' in banking inquiry
FORMER Taoiseach Brian Cowen will take part in any Oireachtas inquiry into the banking collapse.
Abuser uncle who 'stole' nieces' childhoods jailed for two years
Two sisters have told how their childhoods were shattered when they were sexually abused by an uncle who has been jailed for two years.
No breakthrough in talks over Twelfth parades
Talks in Cardiff between community figures and politicians from both sides of the divide in the North and the PSNI have been described as “frank and respectful” but no major breakthrough to ease community tensions ahead of the Twelfth is expected.
Suspected bomb defused in same area as shots fired on police
What is believed to be a bomb has been removed from a residential area where police escaped injury in a gun attack in west Belfast.
Burton pledges crackdown on the 'excessive fees' in pension industry
THE pensions industry has been threatened with new legislation to force it to make its charges more transparent.
Grand Slam women inspire 300 new recruits to pick up the oval ball
ALMOST 300 rugby novices had their first introduction to the oval ball as Ireland's Grand Slam winning women's team showed what can be achieved by an amateur squad.
Enda's on the ball at emotional visit to GAA museum
TAOISEACH Enda Kenny had an emotional moment in Croke Park when he was given an All-Ireland programme featuring his late father.
Refund letters on way over mis-sold insurance
SOME of the thousands of people mis-sold a special insurance by banks will get letters next week telling them if they are to get refunds.
Callinan's last-minute talks stopped publication of informants' names Martin Callinan: concerned
A REPORT into alleged collusion between gardai and a convicted drugs trafficker originally contained sensitive intelligence and the names of informants.
School gets lift with jungle makeover
THE next time Aer Lingus chief pilot Frank Lawless comes in for landing at Dublin Airport, he'll be flying directly over a children's paradise that he and other airline staff helped create.
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Irish Video
Enda Kenny on Boston abortion protest
Enda Kenny on Boston abortion protest.
Hogan on household charge
Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan, on the household charge.
Hogan and Bruton on Shatter
Two senior Fine Gael ministers have weighed in heavily behind Justice Minister Alan Shatter in the penalty points controversy.
'Widespread breaches' of data protection
The data protection commissioner has discovered widespread significant breaches of data protection legislation during an audit
Convictions for clerical child abuse 'remain low'
The number of convictions for clerical child abuse remains low according to the Catholic churches abus watchdog
63-year-old dead after Belfast apartment fire
A 63-year-old man has died in Belfast following a fire lastnight
Doubts raised over savings target for 2013
A Junior government minister has acknowledged it may not secure all of the savings its seeking
Teachers' unions re-enter Croke Park II talks
Two teachers Unions have decided to re-enter negotiations on a revised Croke Park II agreement
Call for independent inquiry into Shatter comments
The TD Clare Daley has called for an independent inquiry into Shatter comments
Green-fingered Dublin residents growing their own
Some good news for green-fingered gardeners in North Co Dublin, a new scheme described as one of a kind is up and running.
Features
Calcium, osteoporosis and Coeliac Disease
People with coeliac disease have a higher risk of developing the bone disease osteoporosis
John Rocha talks eyes
John Rocha, known for his signature muted tones, has brought in a vibrant palette for his debut foray in to eyewear
Be fab at 50 ‘Shouts’ Lulu with new Aurora Collection
Lulu unveils a collection of glasses created specifically for stylish women aged 50 plus
Features
Should’ve gone to Specsavers …New Hawkeye will give refs a clear view
‘Should’ve gone to Specsavers’, will be a phrase aimed less often at referees, now that the new Hawkeye points detection technology is going live at Croke Park.
A splash of colour as … John Rocha and Specsavers join forces
Bright crimson, blush pink and indigo blue are the keynotes in one of the biggest fashion stories of this year. Designer John Rocha has launched his first ever eyewear collection, teaming up with Specsavers.
Managing cross contamination on a gluten-free diet
One of the problems with managing a gluten free diet is making sure that you don’t accidentally pick up gluten.
