A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Doctor-only cards face delay - Impact
The introduction of doctor- only medical cards may face further delays after the Impact union said agreements had not been reached with all its members on the administration of the scheme, writes Fiona Gartland.
Impact's Kevin Cullinan said it had said six months ago that extra resources would be required to implement the 200,000-card scheme and it was agreed that this would be settled locally. But so far only the midlands and northeast had reached agreement.
Gerard Barry, chief executive of the Health Service Employers' Agency, said it was shocked by Impact's statement and was committed to providing whatever resources were needed to implement the scheme.
Media stirring up anger - McDowell
The media is encouraging the public to be angry about everything, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said last night.
"The media has a huge influence. Now they are handing out the angry tablets, that everything is a scandal and a disgrace."
Speaking at the launch of Dáil Spats by former Irish Times journalist Mary Minihan, the Minister said the Republic is currently the most successful economy in the European Union.
"Okay, there will be things that will go wrong, and, maybe, the computer system doesn't work," he said. Though the public has criticisms of the political system and politicians, it should be careful not to "tear down everything".
Mr McDowell said he had little doubt but that journalists would make a far poorer show of running the country, if they were let.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach last night launched the political memoir, As I Saw It, of former Fianna Fáil TD for Louth, Padraig Faulkner, in Dublin.
Mr Faulkner, appointed to government office by three taoisigh during a 30-year Dáil career, was a member of the key cabinet subcommittee on Northern Ireland during the Arms Trial period. He was also the minister who introduced the legislation establishing An Post and Telecom Éireann as semi-State companies.
Judge refuses to revoke bail
A High Court judge yesterday refused to revoke bail for a Co Louth man facing a charge of IRA membership, but said he would alter his bail conditions. Mr Justice Diarmuid O'Donovan refused the application by the State to revoke bail for Barry O'Brien (33), a native of Dundalk with an address at Stonetown, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan.
Mr O'Brien is charged with membership of an illegal organisation on April 6th, 2004. He was granted bail by the High Court in May 2004 and one of the conditions was that he must not associate with anyone convicted of, or charged with, a scheduled offence.
Yesterday, Mr Justice O'Donovan was told gardaí had seen Mr O'Brien on eight occasions with people convicted of scheduled offences. He said he would not revoke Mr O'Brien's bail because his trial is not going ahead for some time and he has a presumption of innocence. However, he ordered that Mr O'Brien must not go into Dundalk and must sign on daily at Carrickmacross Garda station.
Navy detains two fishing vessels
Two Spanish fishing vessels have been detained by the Naval Service off the west coast. A British- registered Spanish vessel, the Meridian, was apprehended by the LE Eithne about 257km (160 miles) southwest of Castletownbere, Co Cork for allegedly failing to complete its EU logbook correctly.
It also detained the German-registered Spanish vessel Rodas in the same area for alleged logbook, registration and other licensing infringements.