'Jihad Jane' linked to Irish plot

Gardaí believe a Pennsylvania woman arrested in the US travelled to Ireland last year to recruit people for a plot to kill a Swedish cartoonist.

Cowen has 'confidence' in Harney

Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil today that Minister for Health Mary Harney has his “confidence” in light of the latest scandal to hit the health service.

Man gets life for murder of widow

A Co Cork man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of widow Anne Corcoran after abducting her from her farmhouse during a robbery last year.

Hospital was 'warned over X-ray delay'

Consultant radiologists sent more than 40 letters to management at Tallaght hospital in Dublin expressing concern at the "growing delay" in reporting on X-rays, the Irish Hospital Consultants' Association has said.

SDLP names ex-journalist as candidate

Former TV journalist Fearghal McKinney admitted today he had a fight on his hands to win a Westminster seat after announcing his intention to stand for the SDLP in the coming general election.

Thousands of marriages 'illegal'

Thousands of foreign couples who married at their country’s embassies in the Republic over the past three years are being told their marriages are invalid and illegal.

Court adjourns Liam Adams case

Liam Adams, the brother of Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams, was before the High Court today for the first stage in an extradition hearing.

Aer Lingus confirms 230 job cuts

Aer Lingus has confirmed it is to make about 230 of its cabin crew redundant and that it will issue new contracts of employment to remaining staff in that area.

Taxi drivers continue protests

Protests by taxi drivers are continuing in Dublin today with the action spreading to Limerick.

Six held over dissident activity

PSNI officers from the Serious Crime Branch have arrested six men following an investigation into suspected dissident republican activity in Belfast.

Three charged over UVF membership

Three men arrested in connection with a PSNI investigation into UVF activity in north Belfast face court today on a series of charges.

Villagers flee rampaging elephants

Wild elephants rampaged through a southern village in Angola last weekend, destroying farms and dozens of houses and prompting most of its 4,000 residents to flee to neighboring Namibia, local officials said.

HSE to investigate X-ray review process at Tallaght

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has said it is to carry out an investigation into the handling of X-rays at Tallaght hospital.

Taxi protests come to an end

There was widespread disruption in Dublin this evening due to the taxi dispute which began this morning and then escalated.

HSE statement on Tallaght hospital

HSE Statement re Adelaide and Meath hospital Dublin

HSE 'under-resourced' says protection expert

One of the leading child protection experts in Ireland has criticised the lack of resources being provided to the HSE.

Tallaght hospital statement on x-rays

Statement by the Adelaide and Meath hospital Dublin Incorporating the National Children's hospital

Hospital admits x-rays not reviewed

Tallaght Hospital has admitted that almost 58,000 X-rays taken over a four-year period were never reviewed by a consultant radiologist.

Third of drivers not stopped - study

A third of drivers have never been stopped by a Garda for any reason, according to a new study from AA Ireland.

Lissadell a 'playground for locals'

The Lissadell estate in Co Sligo was considered a “playground” by locals with its roadways and amenities open for use by all, the High Court was told today .

Opposition seeks rent review measures

Opposition parties have called on the Government to urgently introduce measures to allow for a downward review of commercial rents on existing leases.

Ryanair drops plans for Dublin jobs

Ryanair confirmed today it would push with negotiations to site an aircraft maintenance base on mainland Europe, saying its controversial bid to establish the facility in Dublin airport would not longer be pursued.

Child review under way 'in weeks'

The review of cases of children who have died while in the care of the State is expected to get under way "in a matter of weeks", a member of the newly appointed review group said today.

Gardaí appeal over Louth death

Gardaí in Louth are investigating a serious assault on Sunday morning which led to the death of a 25-year-old man.

Assembly backs devolution plan

The Northern Ireland Assembly has voted in favour of devolving policing and justice powers, despite opposition from the Ulster Unionists.

Seven held over plot to kill cartoonist

Gardaí have arrested seven suspects in Waterford and Cork as part of an international investigation into an alleged plot to murder a cartoonist who drew images of the Prophet Muhammad.

Dublin hospitals face strike action

Siptu today announced it has served strike notice on seven Dublin hospitals for two days next month as part of the union campaign against public sector pay cuts.

O'Reilly criticises political 'deficits'

Ombudsman Emily O’Reilly claimed today the work of her office was being undermined by what she described as “deficits in our parliamentary and government arrangements”.

Woman charged over fatal drugs party

The mother of a man who died after he fell into a coma after a party in her home has denied she allowed drugs to be sold or handed out on the premises.

Couple for trial over child abuse

A couple are to go on trial in the Central Criminal Court on more than 300 charges relating to the abuse of their children following a court appearance today.

NCA to focus on banking market

Reduced competition in the Irish banking sector following the withdrawal of Halifax and Postbank from the market is to become priority for the National Consumer Agency (NCA), its chief executive Ann Fitzgerald said this morning.

Coalition 'will survive resignation'

Minister for State for Children Barry Andrews said he believes the Government will last its full-term in office despite Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism Martin Cullen’s resignation.

Group to examine child deaths

The work of an independent group examining the deaths of children in the care of the HSE over the past decade will restore public confidence in the State's child protection systems, it was claimed today.

Paisley jnr to fight father's seat

A Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) meeting last night unanimously selected Ian Paisley jnr to fight for the North Antrim seat that his 83-year-old father has held for 40 years.

Top hurler promotes Éigse event

Kilkenny hurling star James “Cha” Fitzpatrick joined students at Trinity College Dublin yesterday to launch Éigse na Tríonóide, the college’s annual Irish language festival.

North crime rate at '12-year low'

Crime is at a 12-year low in Northern Ireland, police said today.

Emergency meeting at Aer Lingus

Maintenance workers at Aer Lingus have tonight voted to accept the proposed costreduction package put forward by the airline.

Cullen resigns from Cabinet and Dáil on health grounds

Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism Martin Cullen has tonight resigned from Cabinet and the Dáil due to a back ailment that has been troubling him severely in recent months.

Schools may close over union action

Schools could close for half or full days on a regional or county basis under an escalation of industrial action in the public service announced this morning.

Drumm claims distress over action

A facility letter under which a €7.65 million loan was given to former Anglo Irish Bank CEO David Drumm in 2008 to buy bank shares had described the loan as a “non-recourse” loan, meaning the bank could only redeem the loan against the shares purchased, the Commercial Court was told today.

Bishop surprised over O'Keeffe speech

The chairman of the Catholic bishops commission on education has expressed surprise at a speech by the Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe last Friday in which he said that his department “will shortly be providing an initial list of about 10 urban areas that can be used to test the concept of reducing the number of Catholic schools”.

Three held over loyalist murders

Three men were arrested today by police investigating a string of loyalist killings in north Belfast.

Support home for at-risk youths opens

A new service that provides aftercare support and accommodation for young people leaving State care opened today.

Dubliner basks in Oscar success

Dublin animator Richard Baneham, who won an Academy award for visual effects on blockbuster filmAvatartoday described his joy at collecting his Oscar at a glittering ceremony in Hollywood.

Man guilty over €6.4m heroin haul

A Dublin drug dealer has been convicted of transporting €6.4 million worth of heroin in his van.

Serial rapist jailed for 12 years

A serial rapist who told a woman that he was going to drown her baby and cut it in to little pieces after he raped her has been jailed for 12 years.

Dublin syringe robber is jailed

A drug addict who threatened staff in a Dublin shop with a bloody syringe during a robbery has received a six year sentence.

Two injured in Ringsend fire

Two people were treated in hospital today following a fire in a flat in Dublin overnight.

O'Faolain's writing hailed at festival

The three-day Dublin Book Festival  concludes today with the launch of a new collection of the late Nuala O’Faolain’s writing.

Food businesses closed over safety

Two food businesses were ordered to close last month for breaches of food safety legislation.

500 feared dead in Nigeria clashes

Soldiers patrolled the central Nigerian city of Jos today and aid workers tried to assess the death toll after attacks on outlying communities in which several hundred people were feared to have been killed.

Call for relaxation of abortion laws

The Government was today urged to relax abortion laws after a poll showed more than three-quarters of the population favour such a move.

Poll shows NI devolution support

Pressure was mounting on the Ulster Unionists today to drop their opposition to the landmark deal to devolve policing powers to Northern Ireland after a new government poll indicated sizeable public support for the move.

CRH, Elan lead early Iseq gains

The Iseq index rose 0.35 per cent this morning with early gains led by CRH, Elan, and Irish Life & Permanent (IL&P).

Pope 'could meet' abuse victims

The Catholic Bishop of Killaloe Willie Walsh has said that he can see no reason why the Pope would not meet Irish victims of clerical child sex abuse.

Siptu staff at Aer Lingus accept plan

Siptu members at Aer Lingus have voted to accept a controversial €97 million restructuring deal at the airline.

PSNI finds suspected getaway car

A suspected dissident republican getaway car that disappeared after police officers in Northern Ireland left it for two days without examination has now been recovered.

Service held for RIRA army victims

Tributes were paid to two British soldiers murdered in Northern Ireland on the first anniversary of their deaths today as detectives renewed appeals for help catching the killers.

UUP opposes NI policing deal

The Ulster Unionists insisted today they remained opposed to the landmark agreement to devolve policing powers to Northern Ireland despite weekend contact from the US administration.

Adams wants brother to return to NI

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams said e disagreed with his brother’s fight against extradition to Northern Ireland to face child sex abuse allegations.

Sinn Féin proposes 'solidarity tax'

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has told his party's annual conference that rather than a Government reshuffle, the Government "needs to go".

Emergency staff support Ictu stance

Workers in the emergency services today backed an escalation of industrial action over public sector cutbacks.

Four in hospital after two fires

Four people are being treated in hospital following separate fires in Edenderry, Co Offaly, and south Dublin.

New government needed, Adams tells SF ardfheis

Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams has told his party's annual conference that rather than a Government reshuffle, the Government "needs to go".

McGuinness rules out FG coalition

Sinn Féin has “absolutely no interest” in coalition with Fine Gael, the North’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has told his party’s ardfheis in Dublin.

Gerry Adams speech to ardfheis

Full text of the speech delivered by Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams to the party's ardfheis at the RDS in Dublin today

SF warns against 'casino capitalism'

The only economic plan that Fianna Fáil offered was "casino capitalism", Louth TD Arthur Morgan told the Sinn Féin ardfheis when urging support for the party's draft all-Ireland economic strategy, Financing the Future.

Government aggravating crisis - O'Connor

The Government is deliberately cutting pay and allowing unemployment to rise in a bid to drive down private sector wages, Irish Congress of Trade Unions and Siptu president Jack O’Connor told delegates at the Sinn Féin ardfheis in the RDS today.

Two hospitalised after robbery

Two people were taken to hospital today after being sprayed with an incapacitant during a robbery at a jewellery shop in Co Westmeath.

Masked gang robs Larne house

Four masked men have stolen a safe during a robbery at a house in Larne, Co Antrim last night.

NI house attacked with petrol bombs

Two people have escaped injury after a petrol bomb attack on a house in Northern Ireland.

Civil servants serve strike notice

A range of services, including social welfare could be severely disrupted from Monday week as unions escalate significantly their campaign to include strike action.

Order welcomes parades progress

The Orange Order today signalled its backing for parading proposals as part of a landmark deal to devolve law and order powers to Northern Ireland.

Gardaí appeal over missing girl

Gardaí in Co Dublin have issued an appeal to the public to help them to locate a 15-year-old girl.

Martin seeks EU support on Gaza

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has called on other European Union states to increase pressure on Israel to end its blockade of Gaza.