A roundup of today's other Ireland news in brief
Man killed and pillion passenger injured in crash
A motorcyclist was killed and his pillion passenger seriously injured in a crash in Mallow, Co Cork, last night, writes Olivia Kelleher.
The crash happened at Upper Quarterstown in Mallow at 6.45pm.
The driver of the motorbike, a male in his late twenties, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A passenger on the bike, understood to be female, was in a serious condition at Cork University Hospital.
It is understood both driver and passenger were foreign nationals. The motorbike crashed into a parked car.
Any witnesses to the incident are asked to call gardaí in Mallow, Co Cork, on 022 21105.
FG plans to force vote on pensions
Fine Gael plans to force a vote in the Dáil this week on the payment of ministerial pensions to serving Oireachtas members, the party’s deputy spokesman on finance, Kieran O’Donnell, has said.
The Fine Gael motion, if passed, would commit the Government to introducing legislation to end the payment of such pensions forthwith, rather than wait until the next Dáil is elected.
“All Fine Gael TDs moved in unison to give up their pension payments last week, unlike some in Fianna Fáil who continue to hang on grimly to their ministerial payments,” Mr O’Donnell said.
The Dáil resumes tomorrow.
Cattle stolen from Teagasc college
Cattle worth more than €20,000 have been stolen from the Teagasc agricultural college at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan, writes Seán Mac Connell.
The 20 animals were taken from a slatted shed on the site over a fortnight ago when there was little activity at the college.
Gardaí in Cavan have appealed for information on the theft and are working with the Police Service of Northern Ireland in investigating the theft.
Gardaí say they are looking for information from anyone who might have seen suspicious movements of lorries in the area on April 17th or 18th.
On Thursday next there will be an open day at the college where the reproductive performance of the dairy herd there will be demonstrated.
Asthma group sets five-year target
The Asthma Society of Ireland has set a target of cutting asthma hospitalisations in half within five years, as it marks World Asthma Day today.
There are about 5,000 asthma-related hospital admissions every year in the Republic.
The society’s chief executive Dr Jean Holohan said 60 per cent of people did not have their symptoms controlled.
Good asthma control involves the correct use of the preventer and reliever inhalers, the regular use of a peak flow meter and the use of an asthma management plan to monitor the condition.
The society has asked people to support their fundraising “Cupcakes for Asthma” campaign this month.
They can show their support by logging on to www.asthmasociety.ie to order a fundraising pack or to donate a virtual cupcake via Facebook.
New rule for slaughter of cattle
A change in the rules which will allow cattle to go direct from farms for slaughter even if they have not been tested for bovine TB in the previous 12 months has been welcomed by farm groups.
Prior to the change, which comes into force today, animals not tested within the previous 12 months which were presented for slaughter were returned to the farm of origin.
From today, if all other documentation is correct, the animals can be slaughtered, according to a statement from Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith.