A round-up of other home news in brief
Environment Pillar holds first talks
Members of the new environmental pillar in the social partnership process held a first round of talks with Government officials in Dublin yesterday, writes Deaglán de Bréadún.
The establishment of the pillar was announced recently, in line with an undertaking in the programme for government.
The other pillars in the process represent employers, trade unions, farmers and the community and voluntary sector.
Speaking after the meeting at Government Buildings, Oisín Coghlan from Friends of the Earth said: “Our first message was that we acknowledge there is an economic crisis but the ecological crisis is an even bigger threat to our way of life over time.”
63% not worried about crime
Almost two-thirds of Irish people do not worry about crime or the effect it has on their quality of life, according to a new study.
Some 63.5 per cent of the public said they do not worry about becoming a crime victim, while 21.5 per cent feared being a victim of crime but did not believe it was affecting their quality of life, the report, Fear of Crime in Ireland and its Impact on Quality of Life, stated.
The report found that 15 per cent of people worry about encountering crime and that their quality of life suffers as a result. It also found that Irish citizens are less worried about crime than individuals residing in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
Violinist wins musician prize
Violinist Patrick Rafter has been named the winner of the inaugural National Concert Hall Young Musicians’ Award.
The 17-year old, who has been playing violin since he was four, is currently leader of the Junior National Youth Orchestra of Ireland. He was awarded €8,000, while David Tobin (13), was awarded the runner-up prize of €2,000.
Basque separatist fights extradition
A Basque separatist facing extradition from Northern Ireland spent 18 years imprisoned in isolation and “incommunicado”, a Belfast court heard yesterday.
Lawyers for José Ignacio de Juana Chaos (53), disclosed details of his solitude as a full hearing of his case was put back to allow experts more time to prepare reports. Mr de Juana Chaos, who served a jail sentence for his role in 25 murders, is fighting attempts to have him returned to Spain to face a new charge of glorifying terrorism.
Corrib situation ‘very serious’
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív has described events this week on the Corrib gas project as a "very serious situation", writes Lorna Siggins. Mr Ó Cuív told The Irish Timeshe was keeping an "open mind" on what actually occurred at the Glengad landfall site two days ago and said that any doubts about planning authorisations should be dealt with through the courts.
Plan for Carlton site ‘destructive’
The proposed redevelopment of the Carlton cinema site on Dublin’s O’Connell Street would have a “destructive impact” on the historic fabric of the street, An Taisce has told the final day of An Bord Pleanála’s hearing on the scheme.
Irish soldiers remembered
The deaths of more than 3,000 Irish soldiers at Gallipoli will be highlighted today when the National Museum of Ireland at Collins Barracks commemorates Anzac Day. Anzac Day honours the men of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915.