A round-up of today's other stories in brief...
Dublin Bus raises ticket prices from Sunday
Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann have sought permission to raise fares as Dublin Bus announced it is to increase ticket prices by up to 10 cent from Sunday.
A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus said the increases would apply only to adult cash fares. Pre-paid tickets and annual “tax saver” commuter tickets holders will not be faced with the increases.
The majority of the fare increases will involve a 5 cent increase on about 40 per cent of the company’s bus services.
A spokesman for Bus Éireann said the company had applied for an increase “because the economic downturn has led to a reduction in revenue . . .”
Iarnród Éireann said it had applied for a 5 per cent increase across all its “booking office” sales.
A spokeswoman said online and smart card fares would not be affected.
MEPs urged to support sex law
Two Irish welfare groups urged MEPs in Brussels yesterday to support legislation criminalising the purchasing of sex.
The Immigrant Council of Ireland and the Dublin Employment Pact were presenting the findings of a two-year study into sex trafficking called the Dignity Project.
“Legislation which criminalises the purchasing of sex could be very effective in controlling demand for prostitution and could play a significant role in reducing sex trafficking in Europe,” they said.
The Dignity Project was funded by the European Commission. It explored good practices in Europe that could reduce sex trafficking.
The project was led by the two Irish groups and included partners from Scotland, Spain and Lithuania.
Patterson elected as new moderator
The next moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland is to be the Rev Ivan Patterson. His election was announced last night by Church House in Belfast following meetings of presbyteries across Ireland.
Mr Patterson (62) will take up his new position in June and he will follow the outgoing Dr Norman Hamilton from north Belfast.
He has been minister of Newcastle Presbyterian Church in Co Down for the last 20 years.
Mr Patterson (above) said he was rewarded with “great satisfaction from helping people”.
He is married to Maureen and they have one married son and two grandsons.