£900m package agreed on NI government

A £900 million financial deal has been struck to kick-start Northern Ireland’s devolved government.

Aer Lingus and Siptu agree framework on cost-cuts

Industrial action that threatened to paralyse Aer Lingus operations from next Monday has been called off after the airline and trade union Siptu reached agreement at the Labour Relations Commission on a package of measures to cut costs without outsourcing.

Gardai appeal for witnesses to fatal crash

Gardai have appealed for witnesses to a crash in which a truck driver was killed on the M4 motorway in Co Kildare today.

Witness tells inquest of 'force' in Rossiter arrest

The inquest into the death of 14-year-old schooboy Brian Rossiter today heard from a witness who said she saw gardai using force when they arrested Brian and another youth on the night before he was found unconscious in Clonmel Garda station.

Leech wins libel action over newspaper articles

Communications consultant Monica Leech has secured damages understood to be in the region of €125,000 plus her costs and an apology in settlement of her High Court libel action over two newspaper articles.

Used cars to be put through special NCT test

All second-hand vehicles will be subjected to an NCT before they can be legally registered with Irish plates, the Government has announced.

Health unions offer help to save vaccine programme

Ireland's three main health service unions told Health Service Executive (HSE) management today they want to help find ways to preserve the cervical vaccination programme for young girls.

Court reserves judgment in Belfast murder trial

The Special Criminal Court has reserved judgment in the trial of a man accused of the murder of a taxi driver in Belfast last year.

Woman awarded €140,000 damages for sex abuse

A High Court jury has awarded €140,000 damages to a Co Donegal woman after finding she was sexually assaulted as a young child over a two year period in her own home by a former Presbyterian Minister who gave her piano lessons.

Clampdown on tax exiles announced in Finance Bill

Curbs on dozens of Ireland's richest people living abroad, to stop them avoiding Irish tax, will be imposed next year, the Minister for Finance, Brian Lenihan has announced.

Young people positive about science benefits - study

Young people in Ireland are more positive about the benefits that science and technology can bring than many of their counterparts in other EU Member States, a new study has found.

Fuel prices fall below €1 per litre watershed

Fuel prices reached a watershed today with a number of filling stations around the country selling petrol and diesel for under €1 per litre.

12,500 teachers take Monday, Friday 'sickies' - Minister

An average of 12,500 teachers across the State take sick days on every Monday and Friday, an Oireachtas committee heard today.

Just one in three with disability employed - OECD

Only one out of three people with a disability in Ireland is in employment and those with disabilities are more likely to experience high rates of poverty, according to an OECD report published today.

Three held over Arklow post office raid

Three men have been arrested following an armed raid on a post office in Co Wicklow.

CAP reforms draw criticism from farmers' unions

Farmers' unions have described the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) reforms agreed overnight as a "death warrant" for their members.

Smoke forces plane to make emergency landing

A British Midlands flight from London was forced to make an emergency landing at Dublin airport last night after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit.

Man held after Cork drugs seizure

Gardaí in Cork have arrested a man following a drugs seizure last night.

Second man arrested over Derry murder

Police investigating the murder of a Derry man last year have arrested a man today.

Ombudsman to investigate child protection

Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan has announced an investigation into adherence to child-welfare guidelines.

North's water body breached licence - regulator

Northern Ireland Water (NIW) has been found guilty of breaching its operating licence and is set to be ordered to improve its performance, energy regulators announced today.

Reaction to 2009 finance measures

Opposition parties and business groups have given mixed reaction to measures announced in the Finance Bill today, including the new income levy and changes in tax credits for research and development.