A round-up of today's other news in brief
New passport checks for trips to Britain
Air and ferry passengers travelling between Britain and the Republic will face routine passport checks under the requirements of the new Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill published at Westminster this week, writes Frank Millar, London Editor.
The decision represents an effort to improve security in the Common Travel Area in the wider context of the British government's drive towards the creation of an "electronic border".
The new legislation is expected to become law before the present parliamentary session ends in May next year.
Dispute at Czech Airlines
Services operated by Czech Airlines at Dublin airport could face disruption in a dispute over the company’s plans to close its office in Ireland and to make the staff redundant, Siptu said yesterday, writes Martin Wall. The union said the airline was closing its Dublin office, which deals with ticketing arrangements and sales and marketing, and outsourcing ground operations to Britain and to Sky Handling in Dublin.
Stage doorman at Abbey dies
The death has taken place of Pádraig Ó Faolain, who was an employee of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin for nearly 20 years. Mr Ó Faolain worked as the theatre’s stage doorman and was involved in all its productions, the theatre said.
Abbey director Fiach Mac Conghail, said: “Pádraig was an artist and was uniquely placed to support the creative work of our actors and production staff at the Abbey Theatre.”
Cousins killed in Australia buried
Two cousins killed in a road crash in Australia on New Year’s Day were buried in Co Kildare yesterday.
JJ Leonard (19) from Athy, Co Kildare, and Michael Curtis (20) from Carlow, died after their car veered off the road near a busy junction an hour outside Melbourne.
One dies in road crash
One person has died following a road crash outside Carlow last night. The crash occured shortly after 10.30pm on the Portlaoise road. It is understood two people were in the car at the time it overturned.