A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Iarnród Éireann warns of disruption
Iarnród Éireann has said that there will be disruption to a number of train services this weekend as a result of unofficial industrial action by drivers, writes Martin Wall.
The company said yesterday that about half the services on the Tralee-Mallow route this weekend would be replaced by bus transfers.
It said that some Mallow- Cork services would also be replaced by buses as would the 13.45 Dublin-Galway and the 18.15 Galway-Dublin service on Sunday.
"The recurring situation on Sunday mornings where the services depart Cork at 8.30 and 10.30, rather than the advertised 7.30, 9.30 and 11.30, will also continue. This has resulted in the daily cancellation of the 06.30 Portlaoise to Heuston and 17.35 Heuston to Carlow since February 11th.
"We advise customers to check www.irishrail.ie for up to date travel information", the company said.
Iarnród Éireann said that the unofficial action was being taken by drivers "to put pressure on a wider ongoing process involving a review of working hours and efficiencies for drivers".
Union sources said that members were frustrated at the lack of progress on the introduction of a shorter week.
Drivers currently have a 48-hour week contract of which they are expected to work 43.5 hours. They are seeking the introduction of a 39-hour week contract.
These matters have been referred to the Labour Relations Commission and a hearing is due to take place on Monday.
Mildest winter in decade
Most parts of Ireland experienced the mildest winter in a decade with temperatures well above normal and fewer frost days.
Valentia weather station in Co Kerry recorded its warmest winter since records began in 1892. The average temperature at 8.9 degrees was almost 2 degrees above normal, a figure which Met Éireann said was "exceptional" for an entire season.
However, although Valentia was warmer than normal, it was also wetter with rainfall 126 per cent above normal. There was an east-west split in rainfall levels with Rosslare experiencing only 74 per cent of normal rainfall for the winter months.
Overall, temperatures were at least 1C above normal nationwide.
Dingle workers 'not paid'
The manager of the Dingle customer call centre Contact 4, one of three Gaeltacht centres which closed without warning on Thursday evening with a total loss of 108 jobs says staff have not been paid their monthly salaries, due yesterday.
Imelda McGrattan, manager of the Dingle centre where 38 people were employed, more than half in full-time positions, has hit out at the Minister for Gaeltacht, Rural and Community Affairs, Éamon Ó Cuív, and "politicians" for not informing staff the company was in trouble.
However, Mr Ó Cuív has said he was told himself only on Thursday the centres were in trouble. Údarás na Gaeltachta said total grants paid over the past three years to the company amounts to about €3 million.