The other home news stories of the day in brief...
Pro-hunt rally in Waterford
Pro-hunting campaigners are to gather in Waterford city this morning for a lunchtime demonstration outside the hotel hosting the Green Party’s national convention, writes Michael Parsons.
The event has been organised by RISE! (Rural Ireland Says Enough!), a group campaigning against a proposed ban on stag-hunting and other animal welfare legislation included in the renewed programme for government at the insistence of the Green Party.
A group spokesman said it was expecting “thousands” of supporters to attend the protest.
Civil servant car spaces criticised
More than 2,000 cars could be taken off Dublin streets each day if “unnecessary” civil servant car parking spaces were removed from the city centre, the Dublin City Business Association has said.
The Government and city council had focused its attempts to reduce car numbers on shoppers, driving business out of the city centre, said David McCormick, chairman of association.
At the association’s annual general meeting yesterday Mr McCormick said it would make more sense for civil servants to switch to public transport.
Harney defends her record as Minister
Minister for Health Mary Harney has defended her record at the Department of Health and expressed happiness at being allowed continue in the role after this week’s Cabinet reshuffle.
She dismissed calls for her resignation over the Tallaght Hospital X-ray scandal, saying it was “unique” to Ireland for politicians to be blamed for medical errors. The Tallaght situation was unacceptable, but everything was being done to clear it up.
Her remarks were criticised by Irish Hospital Consultants’ Association assistant secretary general Donal Duffy, who said a HSE investigation had just begun and no finding of medical error had been made.