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Tuesday 28 June 2011
Irish teens' online literacy above average
Irish teens' online literacy above average: "Irish 15-year-olds have fared above average in an OECD study of literacy levels published today. A new study has found that literacy levels among Irish teenagers are significantly above average. The report by the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation ...
Belfast taxi driver 'fondled dozing woman passenger', court told
Belfast taxi driver 'fondled dozing woman passenger', court told
A Belfast taxi driver allegedly sexually assaulted a female fare as she dozed in the passenger seat of his car, a jury has heard. The Belfast Crown Court jury also heard that when arrested and interviewed within hours of the alleged incident last July, ...
Boiler replacement scheme for pensioners
Boiler replacement scheme for pensioners: "However many people are excluded who experience fuel poverty,” he said. “These include people on Housing Benefit and those who are tenants of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or a housing association. The scheme does not apply to Economy 7 ...
Report into flags on NI lampposts
Report into flags on NI lampposts: "
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| A new report has found hundreds of flags are still on lampposts on main roads in Northern Ireland at the end of summer. Flags are traditionally a feature of the Twelfth of July celebrations in NI. A report from Queen's University in Belfast revealed ... |  BBC News |
Dodds Calls For Further Peace Fund Payments
Dodds Calls For Further Peace Fund Payments: "European Minister Diane Dodds has called for a continuation of Northern Ireland's peace fund during a special hearing in Brussels into special EU programmes. The Peace III Programme, worth some €333 million to Northern Ireland and the border counties, ...
Irish consumer sentiment fell in in June
Irish consumer sentiment fell in in June: "
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| By Finfacts Team Irish consumer sentiment fell in in June, highlighting the continuing difficulties that Irish households face. The KBC Bank Ireland/ESRI Consumer Sentiment Index dropped to 56.3 from 59.4 in May. While the monthly change was relatively ... |  FinFacts Ireland |
Young worried about return of guns to Belfast streets
Young worried about return of guns to Belfast streets: "
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| By Debbie Randle Teenagers and youth workers in a part of east Belfast have told Newsbeat they're worried about the return of guns. Three people were shot in the trouble, one of them a press photographer, in violent battles there last week. ... |  Radio 1 |
Respect for personal dignity can inform a brighter future
Respect for personal dignity can inform a brighter future
Advice on a Charter of Rights is the outcome of a task that the two commissions were mandated to fulfil under the terms of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. It is our considered view that people either side of the border should be reassured by ...
Police defend lack of arrests at Belfast riots
Police defend lack of arrests at Belfast riots: "Indeed, the board convened to do just that in a special session on June 23 following the events in east Belfast. Notwithstanding any legal constraints, on a practical level, it is my professional opinion that the force that would have been required in ...
Siemens to supply turbines for 389MW wind farm in Irish Sea
Siemens to supply turbines for 389MW wind farm in Irish Sea: "Siemens has secured a contract from ScottishPower Renewables and Danish utility Dong Energy to supply turbines for the West Of Duddon Sands offshore wind farm in the Irish Sea. The 389MW wind energy project, to be located 14 kms southwest of the ...
Eight-year peak in NI complaints
Eight-year peak in NI complaints: "
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| Complaints about maladministration in Northern Ireland public sector bodies have reached the highest level for eight years. In his annual report to the Assembly, NI Ombudsman Tom Frawley said last year's percentage of cases upheld, 68%, was the highest ... |  BBC News |
Annual NI legal bill tops £100m
Annual NI legal bill tops £100m: "
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| About £100m is spent annually on legal services in Northern Ireland. Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, Dr Michael Maguire, said it would be prudent to set some limits on the overall rates that can be charged. ... |  BBC News |
Irish ship's mission to Gaza hit by Greek delay
Irish ship's mission to Gaza hit by Greek delay
Efforst by Irish pro-Palestinian activists to challenge Israel's blockade of Gaza have been hindered after Greece prevented several ships from leaving port to join a convoy bound for the Palestinian territory. The Irish ship MV Saoirse, ...
Irish Property Market Seeks Divine Intervention
Irish Property Market Seeks Divine Intervention: "The ongoing financial crisis in Ireland, as exemplified by the Irish property market, is discussed in this essay by Bill Bonner.
New plans to solve Greek crisis could benefit Ireland
New plans to solve Greek crisis could benefit Ireland: "
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| From an Irish standpoint, these initiatives are important for two reasons. First, they stand as a serious attempt to ease some of the immediate burden of Greece's vast public debt. If it proceeds it would offer a little breathing room to the ... |  Irish Times |
24% of boom births to 'new Irish'
24% of boom births to 'new Irish'
Figures show Ireland had the highest birth rate in Europe in 2009 and almost 24% of births were to the country's new Irish. The figure was 17% four years earlier. Caesarean sections also jumped by a quarter over the past decade, accounting for over 26% ...
Wage reforms 'could cause poverty'
Wage reforms 'could cause poverty': "In its letter to the minister yesterday, the coalition said JLCs protected the wages and conditions of hundreds of thousands of Ireland'slowest-paid workers. Mr Bruton has suggested that "radical overhaul" is necessary to help reduce costs for ...
Google head urges more broadband investment
Google head urges more broadband investment: "
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| Speaking yesterday in Dublin, the company's executive chairman said Ireland was behind some of our competitors – France, Germany and the UK getting a specific mention – in providing high-speed internet access to homes and businesses, through both ... |  Irish Times |
Higher legal fees 'not justified'
Higher legal fees 'not justified'
There is no justification for paying lawyers in Northern Ireland as much as 50% more per case than their counterparts elsewhere in the UK, inspectors have found. High legal aid fees paid to defence teams in the region are also making it harder for the ...
Police officer acquitted of rape
Police officer acquitted of rape: "
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| The Belfast Crown Court jury of seven men and five deliberated before returning with their majority not guilty verdict. Gary Ervin, 30, whose address was given as PSNI HQ, was off-duty when he met the woman in a Belfast nightclub on 30 March 2009. ... |  BBC News |
Effective drug treatment for cystic fibrosis
Effective drug treatment for cystic fibrosis: "Cystic fibrosis (CF) sufferers have been given fresh hope with a new drug that specifically targets the so-called 'Celtic gene' mutation (G551D) that is common in Ireland. International trials led by Irish researchers have shown that the drug VX-770 ...
Google sees growing struggle over web censorship
Google sees growing struggle over web censorship: "DUBLIN (Reuters) - Internet giant Google's tussles with some governments over Internet censorship could get worse, Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt said on Monday, adding he feared his own colleagues faced mounting danger of occasional arrest and ...
The last act in an Irish tragedy - Boston.com
The last act in an Irish tragedy - Boston.com: "The saga of Whitey Bulger can be told as a peculiarly Boston Irish story, marked by local versions of nursed resentment, and the victimhood that justifies ...
Irish alcohol, tobacco prices highest in EU
Irish alcohol, tobacco prices highest in EU: "In the area of personal transport equipment, Irish prices were at 116%, third highest in Europe behind Denmark and Portugal. However, Ireland was below the EU average in two areas, with clothing at 95% and consumer electronics at 94%.
Monday 27 June 2011
Plunged into darkness
Plunged into darkness: "
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| By Cecilia Daly BBC weather presenter Northern Ireland could be plunged into darkness by a solar flare within the next two years, according to some scientist predictions. The suggestion has been made after a study of the sun's 11 year approximate cycle ... |  BBC News |
Charting the way forward on human rights
Charting the way forward on human rights: "THE NORTHERN Ireland Human Rights Commission and Irish Human Rights Commission will today fulfil their joint mandate from the Belfast Agreement by producing advice on a charter of rights for the island of Ireland. The two human rights commissions ...
Northern Ireland health minister warns of “thousands” of job losses
Northern Ireland health minister warns of “thousands” of job losses: "
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| Just over a year since they were first introduced, DUP health minister Edwin Poots has hinted free prescriptions in Northern Ireland could come to an end as part of efforts to address what he identifies as a £177 million shortfall being faced by his ... |  Left Foot Forward |
Details revealed of riot victims
Details revealed of riot victims: "
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| A teenager and a man in his 20s were among those shot during violence in Belfast this week, police have said. Some of the most serious rioting for years broke out in the east of the city, with the Ulster Volunteer Force blamed for orchestrating it, ... |  Banbridge Leader |
Heating scheme piloted to curb fuel poverty
Heating scheme piloted to curb fuel poverty: ""The introduction of the Allowance provides another vehicle for tackling fuel poverty as part of the Executive's Fuel Poverty Strategy." The Boiler Replacement Allowance will be administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.
Road Works Underway In South Belfast
Road Works Underway In South Belfast: "The timing of the works has been co-ordinated with the recent completion of the excavation work by Northern Ireland Water, and Roads Service has carefully programmed the works operations and the traffic management arrangements in order to minimise any ...
Demographics is the Norwegian Blue of NI's Constitutional politics ...
Demographics is the Norwegian Blue of NI's Constitutional politics ...: "Rather they should use it as a spur to making the Union a better place for all the people of Northern Ireland. In fact, they did not need us (or the NILT) to tell them, the last census demonstrated that continuing to treat Catholics as ...
Varadkar pledges review of bonuses in State agencies
Varadkar pledges review of bonuses in State agencies: "
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| His comments came after the chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority Declan Collier announced yesterday he would forego a bonus of €106000. Mr Varadkar had threatened not to reappoint the board of the DAA when its term expires later this year ... |  Irish Times |
The truth about Belfast's riots
The truth about Belfast's riots: "
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| Loyalist rioters use fire bombs on police officers in east Belfast, Northern Ireland, last Wednesday. Photograph: Peter Morrison/AP Explosions ripped across Belfast Lough on Sunday afternoon creating vibrations in the air and apprehension amid some of ... |  The Guardian |
What the papers say
What the papers say: "
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| It reports that up to 180 criminal gangs are operating across Northern Ireland, peddling drugs, prostitution, fake goods and more. The newspaper says that where this sort of thing was once the domain of paramilitaries, today's gangland threats range ... |  BBC News |
Education cuts 'will badly hit economy'
Education cuts 'will badly hit economy': "The head of Northern Ireland's largest university is expected to warn of "catastrophic economic consequences" for the future if severe cuts in education are to continue. Speaking to students, parents and staff at a graduation ceremony in the University ...
Europe worried about Spain not Ireland: Irish finance minister ...
Europe worried about Spain not Ireland: Irish finance minister ...: "Europe is more concerned about the fallout on Spain and other large euro zone economies from the Greek financial crisis than on Ireland and Portugal, ...
Hollywood loves Boston's seamy underbelly
Hollywood loves Boston's seamy underbelly: "
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| It was as if the revelations about Bulger's reign of terror as the head of the Irish mob and his flight from justice encouraged filmmakers, television producers, and writers to probe beneath the surface of Boston's notion of itself as a genteel, ... |  Boston Globe |
More Irish peacekeepers leave for Lebanon
More Irish peacekeepers leave for Lebanon: "An additional 200 Irish troops left for Lebanon today for duty in the UN backed peace keeping mission, UNIFIL. An additional 200 Irish troops left for Lebanon this morning for duty in the UN backed peace keeping mission, UNIFIL. ...
Eight held over cannabis haul | Irish Examiner
Eight held over cannabis haul | Irish Examiner: "EIGHT people were in custody last night following the discovery of 55kg of cannabis with a street value of €660000.
PhD for strawberry breakthrough
PhD for strawberry breakthrough
The academic, who is originally from Durham but lives in Belfast, now works in the biomedical research laboratories in the Northern Ireland Centre for Diet and Health at Coleraine and is continuing her food-related research at the University of Ulster. ...
Doctorate for Belfast man leading diabetes study
Doctorate for Belfast man leading diabetes study
By Lindsay Fergus A Belfast man who explored new ways to treat diabetes was today celebrating a PhD on the first day of the University of Ulster's summer graduation ceremonies. Barry Kerr's doctoral research looked at ways to combat Type 2 diabetes by ...
Garda inquiry continues into fatal shooting
Garda inquiry continues into fatal shooting: "GARDAÍ ARE continuing their investigations following the shooting dead of a man in a Dublin pub over the weekend. A gunman entered the Black Horse Inn in Inchicore at about 12.15am on Saturday morning and fired a number of shots, killing the victim, ...
Case studies: five workers explain why they'll be on the picket lines
Case studies: five workers explain why they'll be on the picket lines: "
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| 'It will drive people into poverty. We're not exactly Sir Humphreys' – public sector workers tell their own stories why they're striking Workers in public sector unions have voted to strike on 30 June. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/Reuters Jo Letson, 29, ... |  The Guardian |
University chiefs warn MLAs of £40m deficit
University chiefs warn MLAs of £40m deficit: "THE NORTHERN Ireland Executive must do the right thing and ensure a £40 million black hole facing the higher education sector is filled, university heads have warned. University of Ulster vice-chancellor Prof Richard Barnett will use his address at the ...
Charting the way forward on human rights
Charting the way forward on human rights: "THE NORTHERN Ireland Human Rights Commission and Irish Human Rights Commission will today fulfil their joint mandate from the Belfast Agreement by producing advice on a charter of rights for the island of Ireland. The two human rights commissions ...
Protesters call on Bono to justify tax arrangements
Protesters call on Bono to justify tax arrangements: "
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| A MEMBER of Art Uncut, the group which staged the protest against U2 at Glastonbury on Friday night, has told The Irish Times that she fully supports the charity work that Bono does and says his work on behalf of HIV/Aids awareness is “excellent”. ... |  Irish Times |
Talks on 2000 bank job losses go to arbitration
Talks on 2000 bank job losses go to arbitration: "The merger of Anglo Irish Bank with Irish Nationwide Building Society and the merger of AIB with EBS Building Society are both scheduled to take place on Friday. Mr Broderick said he had met Anglo Irish Bank's management and would be seeking further ...
In this Country at Least, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
In this Country at Least, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised: "
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| In Belfast Ireland, protesters hurl bricks and firebombs at police vehicles. In Greece, national strikes along with rolling street battles, with protesters combating tear gas with Molotov cocktails. In Spain, thousands of protesters have taken to the ... |  OpEdNews |
Louis Walsh hits back at claims of sexual assault
Louis Walsh hits back at claims of sexual assault: "Show biz mogul Louis Walsh is to hire round-the-clock security after he was accused of groping a father of two in a Dublin nightclub toilet. The Westlife manager has been rocked by the claims from a man that he was sexually assaulted by Walsh at the ...
Friday 24 June 2011
Ireland has EU's highest level of drugs fatalities | Irish Examiner
Ireland has EU's highest level of drugs fatalities | Irish Examiner: "IRELAND has the highest mortality rate from drugs in the EU and the third highest across the whole of Europe, according to the UN.
Belfast braces for more clashes - ABC News (Australian ...
Belfast braces for more clashes - ABC News (Australian ...: "Heavily armed police patrolled the streets of Belfast and local officials held talks to try to avert a third night of violence after some of Northern ...
Belfast university bookshop to close
Belfast university bookshop to close: "A Belfast academic bookshop has decided to shut its doors after 53 years trading, blaming competition from the internet for declining sales over the last five years. The Bookshop at Queen's on University Road in Belfast, Northern Ireland, ...
U2 faces 'tax dodge' protest at Glastonbury fest
U2 faces 'tax dodge' protest at Glastonbury fest
Member Charlie Dewar said Bono campaigns against poverty in the developing world but has avoided paying Irish taxes at a time when his austerity-hit country desperately needs money. Ireland, which has already accepted an international bailout, ...
Ireland has one of Europe's highest drugs fatalities rate
Ireland has one of Europe's highest drugs fatalities rate: "IRELAND HAS ONE of the highest rates of death from drug use in Europe according to a new United Nations (UN) report. The UN's Office on Drugs and Crime has reported in its annual World Drug Report that Ukraine, Iceland, Luxembourg and Ireland have some ...
DUP's Peter Robinson plans appeal to Catholic voters
DUP's Peter Robinson plans appeal to Catholic voters: "
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| Most voters continue to live in segregated communities and, even if nationalists see Northern Ireland as less of a cold house, it doesn't mean they are comfortable defining themselves as unionists. The DUP leader may be calculating that his comments ... |  BBC News |
From Belfast to Inwood - Jon Michaud and Northern Ireland
From Belfast to Inwood - Jon Michaud and Northern Ireland
Jon Michaud has watched the Northern Ireland peace process unfold from a particularly unique perspective. “I happened to be in Belfast when the Good Friday accords were signed,” Michaud said in an interview this week. “You could feel the atmosphere ...
U2 face protest at Glastonbury gig
U2 face protest at Glastonbury gig
Direct action group Art Uncut is planning to unfurl a giant inflatable before the cameras as anti-poverty lobbyist Bono and his band take to the Pyramid Stage. Art Uncut member Anna Walker, 32, said: "Everyone there will see it. ...
Rostrevor staff issue 'will be examined'
Rostrevor staff issue 'will be examined': "
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| Minister for Health James Reilly has said the HSE will examine how workers at the former Rostrevor nursing home in Dublin can be facilitated. Dr Reilly said this morning they would look at this from a HSE perspective and see there was "any way we can ... |  Irish Times |
Tesco hands Ireland boost with 522 jobs
Tesco hands Ireland boost with 522 jobs: "DUBLIN, June 24 (Reuters) - British supermarket group Tesco said on Friday it will open a number of new stores in Ireland, creating 522 jobs in a timely boost to an economy which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the European Union. ...
Moodys cuts Anglo Irish, INBS snr debt
Moodys cuts Anglo Irish, INBS snr debt: "DUBLIN, June 24 (Reuters) - Moody's followed fellow ratings agency Standard & Poor's in cutting the senior debt rating of Anglo Irish Bank on Friday after Dublin said last week it wanted to impose losses on bondholders at the failed lender. ...
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