A round-up of today's other news stories in brief
Reaction to flu outbreak 'more muted'
There has been no significant change in poultry sales in Ireland following the recent outbreak of the H5N1 strain of avian flu in the UK, an Oireachtas committee was told yesterday.
Principal officer at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Dermot Ryan, said that public reaction in Ireland to the outbreak had been "more muted" than when another case involving a swan was confirmed in Scotland last April.
He told the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food that in the immediate aftermath of the case in Scotland, the helpline received up to 100 calls per day.
Pedestrian dies in Galway collision
A pedestrian died last night following a road collision in Galway. The incident happened at Rosamhil, near Salthill, at about 6.30pm when the man was struck by a car.
Gardaí and the ambulance service were called to the scene but they were unable to revive him. His body was brought to University College Hospital, Galway.
Students celebrate Erasmus scheme
Up to 1,000 students from all over Europe celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Erasmus programme last night in Dublin. The programme, founded by the EU, offers third-level students the chance to study in another European country for up to 12 months. It is supported in 31 countries across Europe.
St Patrick's Day festival launched
This year's St Patrick's Day festival was launched last night by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism John O'Donoghue.
The five-day festival will begin on March 15th peaking on Saturday 17th, St Patrick's Day, and continuing until Monday. The theme for the parade is legends of Ireland, Europe and the world, and will include groups from Ireland, Europe, India, Africa and the US.
Gardaí investigate Ballymun shooting
Gardaí in Dublin are investigating a shooting incident in Ballymun in Dublin on Tuesday night.
It is understood several shots were fired into a house at Belclare Lawns at about 11.55pm.
The house was occupied at the time but no one was injured.
Farmers included in bioenergy plan
Farmers who are involved in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (Reps) are not excluded from the new bioenergy schemes, Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan said yesterday.
However, she indicated that while Reps farmers may be able to join the scheme, they will lose their Reps payments on lands planted with willow and elephant grass, the energy crops.
Irish duo win ice sculpture prize
An Irish duo have won an international ice-sculpting competition in Latvia with their anti-war sculpture entitled "Why Are We Here?" Daniel Doyle from Dublin and Alan Magee from Wicklow took first prize at the Jelgavia International Ice Sculpture Festival on Monday.