Although response times recorded in the east of the country, at 60 per cent, were significantly higher than in the west, they still fell short of the 75 per cent target set out by the Health Information and Quality Authority

Third of people in the west received medical attention within eight minutes

Times it took ambulances to respond to patients reporting life-threatening emergencies last year differed significantly depending on where they lived. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill

Eight-minute ‘first response’ targets were not met anywhere during 2012

A man looks in the window at a FAS employment centre in Dublin. The 
National Economic and Social Council has said that “arguably the biggest blight of the economic crisis, affecting people’s income, their well-being and the overall economy”
. 
It found that under 25s, those with low levels of education, and non-Irish nationals were much more likely to be unemployed than the national average. 

. It also found that, while just 4,100 were under-employed in 2006 that figure rose to 145,800 in 2012, an increase of 3,456 per cent. 
Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Report says few Irish people left untouched by economic downturn

Minister of State at the Department of Health, Alex White has said there is “no question of a time limit”  on how late into a pregnancy an abortion can be carried out in circumstances where a woman's life is at risk. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons

Alex White says obstetricians should display ‘professional deference’ to psychiatrists in cases of suicide risk

Cardinal Sean Brady: “perception of the seriousness of abortion has grown progressively obscured”. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA Wire

Cardinal Seán Brady spoke at mass during a prayer vigil for mothers and babies held in Knock today

Groups on both side of the abortion debate have expressed their concerns over the Heads of the Bill for the Protection of Life During Pregnancy. Photographs: Alan Betson/The Irish Times

Iona Institute warns of ’moral Rubicon’ while pro-choice group calls prison penalty ’nothing short of barbaric’

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton at a press event in Dublin today. Up to 30 members of FG are understood to have misgivings about the suicide clause in the proposed abortion Bill. Photograph: Eric Luke/The Irish Times

Parliamentary party holds key meeting on proposed legislation

Graphic: Irish Times Studio

Recorded crime down in most categories with the exception of burglaries, theft and fraud and deception offences

Infomania: software can transform spreadsheet data into easy-to-grasp visualisations. Illustration: Biddiboo/PC

For a new generation of journalists, there is never too much information. It is raw material for stories

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Rabo Pro 12

Team P W D L F A BP Pts
Ulster 22 17 1 4 577 348 11 81
Leinster 22 17 0 5 585 386 10 78
Glasgow 22 16 0 6 541 324 12 76
Scarlets 22 15 0 7 436 406 6 66
Ospreys 22 14 1 7 471 342 4 62
Munster 22 11 1 10 442 384 8 54
Treviso 22 10 2 10 414 450 6 51
Connacht 22 8 1 13 358 422 4 38
Cardiff 21 8 0 13 335 450 6 38
Edinburgh 22 7 0 15 499 504 8 36
Dragons 22 6 0 16 358 589 4 28
Zebre 22 0 0 22 288 573 10 10