A roundup of today's other news stories in brief
Protesters occupy office of Minister
Three Dublin Shell to Sea supporters climbed on to the roof of a Government department yesterday to express their disappointment at the stance taken by Minister for Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan.
The three, who were supported by up to 12 others, said they were occupying Mr Ryan's office on Adelaide Road, Dublin, to highlight their belief that Mr Ryan had "become a spokesman for Shell" on the Corrib gas issue.
Mr Ryan has also become "a spokesman for the industry on natural resource licensing agreements", according to Tadhg McGrath of Dublin Shell to Sea.
The group, three of whom were wearing masks depicting Mr Ryan, his party colleague and Minister for the Environment John Gormley and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, left at the request of the Garda.
Most dangerous day on roads
Today is the most dangerous day of the year on the State's roads with the highest level of vehicle crashes and December is also the month for the highest number of collisions involving drunken pedestrians, writes Tim O'Brien.
New research by Hibernian Insurance recorded a total of 223 crashes on December 20th, 2006, a significant increase on the previous year when 167 crashes were recorded. The research also found the week before Christmas has consistently shown an increase of up to 40 per cent in motor claims over other times of the year.
Maynooth centre to combat diseases
A new centre which will offer training to health researchers from Africa and Ireland on how to tackle "diseases of poverty" was opened at NUI Maynooth yesterday. The Combat Diseases of Poverty Consortium, a joint project by the university's department of anthropology and institute of immunology, was launched by former president Mary Robinson and Dr Paul Farmer of Harvard University. The programme is funded by Irish Aid, the Government's overseas development division, and supported by Trócaire and Concern.
Funeral of Dean Harman tomorrow
The funeral service for Very Rev Desmond Harman, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin,will take place at 11am tomorrow in Christ Church Cathedral, writes Patsy McGarry. The Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev John Neill, will preside at the Eucharist. The preacher will be the Ven Edgar Swann, Archdeacon of Glendalough. The burial service will be private. Dean Harman died unexpectedly in the Blackrock Clinic on Tuesday.
Road collision victim named
Gardaí have released the name of the woman pedestrian who died in a fatal road collision at Doyle's Corner, Dublin, on December 13th. She was Christina Reilly (63), of Phibsboro Road, Dublin.
Three taken to hospital after fire
Three people were admitted to St James's Hospital, Dublin, yesterday morning suffering from smoke inhalation following the outbreak of a fire at a house in Rathgar.
Four units of Dublin Fire Brigade and an ambulance attended the blaze at Garville Avenue at 8.30am. The three were released from hospital yesterday.
Meanwhile, gardaí are investigating a fire at a Co Dublin pub yesterday morning which destroyed the premises.
Six units of the Dublin Fire Brigade attended the outbreak of the fire at Polly Hops, Newcastle, Co Dublin, shortly after 4am.