A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
North's parties reconvene to elect chair
There is optimism that the North's parties can move forward on a committee to deal with obstacles in relation to devolution, a spokesman for Northern Secretary Peter Hain said yesterday.
The parties will reconvene today when it is hoped they will make progress towards electing a chairman of the preparation for government committee, after failed attempts to do so last week.
A spokesman for Peter Hain said today was not the deadline for selecting a chair, "but the reality is that we have had the Assembly since May 15th and the clock is ticking". However, the decision by the parties to join the committee in the first place showed they recognised its significance, he said.
UUP councillor Bowles defects
The Ulster Unionist Party has lost a party councillor who has defected to the Conservative Party of Northern Ireland over the Ulster Unionists' continued links with PUP leader David Ervine. Down district councillor Peter Bowles (25), who is also a party officer, is the first to defect since Mr Ervine joined the Ulster Unionist's Assembly group last month.
"The Ulster Unionists used to be the party of law and order and now it's linked with the UVF. Those guys haven't changed at all. They're still refusing to decommission," Mr Bowles told a Sunday newspaper. He said his decision had been very difficult. He will be the Conservatives' single elected representative in the North.
Protest in Cork on rape legislation
Hundreds took part in a demonstration in Cork city centre on Saturday to highlight the inadequacies in rape legislation.
The Protect Our Children demonstration at Daunt Square was organised by the Sexual Violence Centre and Gurranabraher Residents Association.
Fire at Co Down nature reserve
There was concern for wildlife yesterday after a fire destroyed 600 square metres of ground at a nature reserve in Co Down. The fire at Murlough National Nature Reserve is though to have been started accidentally.
National Trust officials expressed concern about the impact on birds and wildlife, some of which are thought to be unique to the reserve.
MP made honorary fellow of UCD
The deputy leader of the SDLP, who is also a part time GP, has been made an honorary fellow of his alma mater, UCD. Alasdair McDonnell MP was awarded the honorary fellowship by the university's school of medicine and medical science on Friday night.