Sinn Fein support falls behind SDLP, according to secret poll
Sunday October 29 2006
The poll shows 21 per cent of people voting for the SDLP as compared with 18 for SF. This compares with the 23 per cent support for Sinn Fein and 17 per cent backing for the SDLP in the last Northern Assembly elections in 2002.
The poll also shows that while 57 per cent of SF voters are against the party supporting policing, some 30 per cent of them back the idea.
Labour TD's u-turn on health A LABOUR TD has defended his call for public cancer patients to be given radiotherapy treatment at a private clinic.
Waterford deputy Brian O'Shea, among other deputies, signed a motion on Wednesday criticising the Government on privatising medical services. But within 24 hours he had raised in the Dail the "urgent need for the State to provide for the treatment of public cancer patients at the Whitfield Clinic" in Waterford. Mr O'Shea yesterday insisted there was no contradiction in his position. "My first concern is the welfare of my constituents," he said.
Collins retires from Lotto show Ireland's 'Mister Lotto' Ronan Collins has parted company with the National Lottery after some 18 years in the job.
Friends of the popular RTE personality indicated last week that Collins had confided that last Wednesday's televised draw was his last. Collins is currently on a 10-day holiday in the US.
A spokeswoman for Lotto had "no comment" when asked to confirm that their frontman since day one of the competition had gone. However, the spokeswoman did say there will be a "major announcement" during the coming week about a new look for the televised Lotto draw starting next Saturday.
"There will also be other changes announced in the coming week," she said.
Last night Nuala Carey took Ronan Collins' place in presenting RTE's Lotto show, announcing the winning numbers in both English and Irish.
Euromillions horse unplaced EUROMILLIONS jackpot winner Dolores McNamara failed to bump up her jackpot when her horse was unplaced at Wexford races yesterday. The Limerick woman who won €115m was not present when her horse Carraig na Gcapall, backed at 4/1, finished fourth of 17 runners.
Running in maroon colours with black and maroon hooped sleeves, Carraig na Gcapall, ridden by JT Carroll and trained by Charles O'Brien was out of the money in the €6,220 purse.
Dolores's charge, which was running in the name of Aidan McNamara, was heavily backed from 6/1 to 4/1 but failed to deliver.
However, local punters were left with something to cheer about after local trainer and and rider Liz Doyle, daughter of MEP Avril, romped home on Seepeeoh.
