The other news stories of the day in brief...
Second Green Isle Foods worker to go on hunger strike
A second Green Isle Foods worker will join his colleague Jim Wyse on a hunger strike on Wednesday if a resolution is not found to a dispute at the plant in Naas, Co Kildare, writes Alison Healy
Mr Wyse, a Green Isle shop steward, began his hunger strike last Wednesday in protest at the company’s dismissal of three workers and its refusal to engage with the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU).
The company has since engaged in mediation.
Some 13 members of the TEEU are on strike at the plant. The union and the company disagree on reasons for dismissals.
The union claimed the men were sacked after a private file was sent in error to an employee which he shared with colleagues. The firm say the men were dismissed after an inquiry into breaches of its IT and e-mail policy.
Taoiseach to give keynote speech
Taoiseach Brian Cowen is to deliver a keynote speech today on prospects for economic recovery to the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, which is beginning a two-day plenary conference in Cavan, writes Deaglán de Bréadún.
The assembly brings together parliamentarians from Britain and Ireland twice yearly to discuss matters of common interest.
The conference theme, Towards Economic Recovery, will also be addressed by the governor of the Central Bank, Prof Patrick Honohan, and US special economic envoy to the North Declan Kelly.
The assembly is jointly chaired by Fianna Fáil TD Niall Blaney and former Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy. Mr Blaney said: “This assembly has served as a vital forum in promoting understanding and co-operation between parliamentarians in Britain and Ireland.”
Initially established as a link between the British Houses of Parliament and the Oireachtas, membership of the assembly has been expanded to include representatives of the Scottish Parliament, the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Welsh Assembly, the High Court of Tynwald (Isle of Man) and the States of Guernsey and Jersey.
Two pipe bombs found at apartments
Residents of an apartment block in Inchicore, Dublin were evacuated yesterday afternoon after two viable pipe bombs were discovered by gardaí.
The devices were found shortly after 1.30pm in the underground car park of the apartments at St James’s Place at Tyrconnel Road by gardaí who were in the area.
The Army bomb disposal unit was contacted and confirmed devices were viable.
They were safely removed and residents were allowed return to their homes at 5.30pm.
A Garda spokeswoman said investigations were ongoing last night.
Body of woman found in Cork
A Garda investigation has been launched following the discovery of the body of a woman believed to be in her 80s at a house on New Road, Gardiners Hill in Cork city yesterday evening shortly after 5pm.
The scene has been sealed off. A technical examination took place at the scene last night and the office of the State Pathologist has been notified.
A post mortem is likely to take place this morning. The death is being investigated by gardaí in Mayfield on the northside of Cork city.
It is understood the woman lived alone. The post mortem is being carried at as a precautionary measure.