A round-up of today's other home news in brief
Cowen returns from Finland and Sweden
Taoiseach Brian Cowen returned to Dublin last night after a two-day visit to Sweden and Finland where he met government leaders to discuss issues arising from the Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty in last June's referendum.
In Stockholm yesterday, he met Swedish prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country assumes the presidency of the European Council next July.
In Helsinki on Thursday he met Finnish prime minister Matti Vanhanen. Before he left for Stockholm yesterday morning he also paid a call on president of Finland. Tarja Halonen.
"There are a number of concerns," Mr Cowen said in Stockholm yesterday. "I've outlined them at the October council meeting and we are discussing these issues."
Climate change and the implications of the international financial crisis also featured in Mr Cowen's discussions with the two prime ministers.
Warning on cases of botulism
Doctors have been urged to watch out for cases of botulism among injecting drug users after four suspected cases were seen in recent days. The potentially fatal infection can affect the nervous system and cause paralysis.
Fire at student restaurant
The student restaurant at NUI Maynooth was extensively damaged by fire yesterday morning.
Emergency services were called shortly after the fire began at 11.20am. It was discovered by a member of the security staff.
The canteen and the nearby sports complex on the north edge of the Co Kildare university campus were evacuated. Four units of the fire bridge from Leixlip and Maynooth arrived at the scene and had the fire under control by midday.
Meanwhile, a fire broke out at a furniture shop on North Main Street in Cork city at about 7.30pm yesterday. There were no reports of any injuries.
Fourth arrest over Dublin murder
Gardaí investigating the murder of drug dealer Richard McCormack in Dublin earlier this year have made their fourth arrest of the week.
A man was arrested in Blanchardstown yesterday at 11am. He was taken to Leixlip Garda station where he was being questioned last night under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. He can be held for 72 hours without charge.
Two men and a woman were arrested on Wednesday morning in Ronanstown. The woman was released without charge on Wednesday. The men were released without charge yesterday.
A Garda file is being prepared for the DPP.
Interim examiner for developers
A company involved in developing a shopping complex in the midlands has been granted the protection of the High Court to allow it to put a survival scheme in place.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy yesterday appointed an interim examiner to GL Property Investments Ltd, Portlaoise, Co Laois, and a related company, Portlaoise Construction Ltd, which employs 10 people.
The application was made after an independent accountant expressed the view that the firms could trade out of their difficulties.
Declan Murphy for GL said the main reason for the decline in the company's position was the current economic downturn.
The firms are involved in the development and construction of the Parkside shopping centre in Portlaoise. The company was facing a €10.3 million deficit as a going concern, which would rise to €16.157 million if the company was wound up.
Ms Justice Laffoy appointed Kieran Wallace of KPMG as interim examiner on the basis of the survival scheme proposed. The case was adjourned to next month for the hearing of the substantial application for examinership.