A round-up of today's other Dail stories in brief.
Tributes paid to Leinster House official
Tributes were paid in the Dáil yesterday to Leinster House official Breda Courtney, who died suddenly this week.
Leas Ceann Comhairle Seamus Pattison offered his condolences to the family and colleagues of Ms Courtney, a member of the parliamentary reporting team who compile the record of the Dáil and Seanad debates.
Ms Courtney had worked in the Oireachtas since 1978, becoming a parliamentary reporter in 1996.
All sides of the House offered their condolences.
Tánaiste Mary Harney said Ms Courtney was "completely committed to our work in the House". Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said parliamentary reporters "have always done a fabulous job, and in that sense Ms Courtney did the State some service".
Independent raises special education
An Independent TD has claimed that the courts are effectively deciding policy for children with special education needs because Government departments are spending taxpayers' money on legal fees rather than services.
Catherine Murphy (Ind, Kildare North) said the Departments of Education and Health and the office of the Chief State Solicitor had spent up to €20 million, mainly on legal fees in the past three years, defending cases "where parents have taken legal action in an effort to get appropriate education for the children who have special educational needs".
Debate urged on de Roiste dismissal
A call was made for the Minister for Defence to address the Dáil about the measures he intends to put in place to reverse a "miscarriage of justice" in the dismissal from the Defence Forces of Donal de Roiste almost 40 years ago.
Dan Boyle (Green Party, Cork South Central) called for a special debate following the publication yesterday of a book Speaking Truth to Power.
The TD said the book "details the catalogue of events accompanying the dismissal from the Irish Army of Donal de Roiste in 1969".
Mr de Roiste, a brother of former presidential candidate Adi Roche, was compulsorily retired as an Army officer.
In 1998 he lost a Supreme Court bid to have the decision overturned because of his inordinate delay in challenging the retirement.