A round-up of today's other news in brief
Inquiry into death at chicken plant
THE Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is carrying out an investigations into the death of a 23-year-old Polish man who died at a chicken processing plant in Co Waterford yesterday morning, writes Ciaran Murphy.
The man discovered slumped in a "chill room" at Cappoquin Chickens shortly before 9am yesterday, according to gardaí in Dungarvan.
Attempts to inform the man's family were last night ongoing and his name has not yet been released.
Investigators last night could not comment on the details surrounding the man's death, while sources close to the investigation suggested he died after "boxes of stacked frozen chicken fell on him" in a chill room. The source did not know how long the man had been in the freezer or when he died.
One local source said the man had been living in Ireland for about three years and he was "due to get married this year".
Extra month for Saulite's husband
The husband of murdered Latvian woman Baiba Saulite will spend an extra month in jail after being convicted of possession of the battery of a mobile phone at the prison.
Lebanese born Hassan Hassan (40) is serving six years, four for handling stolen cars and two for the abduction of the two children he had with his wife.
Yesterday, he pleaded guilty at Cloverhill District Court to possession of the battery during a search at Mountjoy Jail on June 5th last year. He had been due to be released in June 2010, but his jail term was extended to the following month when he was given a 30-day consecutive sentence for the mobile phone offence.
He was charged under the new offence of Section 36 of the Prisons Act which prohibits the possession or use of mobile phones or their components by a prisoner. The new offence was brought in by the former minister for justice Michael McDowell.
Ms Saulite was shot dead on the doorstep of the couple's home in November 2006. Although there have been several arrests, nobody has been convicted of her murder.
Taoiseach set for Japan trade visit
Taoiseach Brian Cowen will travel to Japan for a week-long high-level visit to boost trade and investment between the two countries, writes Harry McGee.
Mr Cowen will be received in audience by Emperor Akihito and will also meet with prime minister Taro Aso. The trip will be mostly centred on the capital, Tokyo.
Among other major engagements will be a keynote speech on research and development policy in Ireland and an address on foreign policy issues which he will deliver at Keio University in Tokyo.
The Taoiseach will be accompanied by Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith, Minister of State for Trade and Commerce John McGuinness and a trade mission comprising more than 60 companies.
Report on legacy of Troubles due
The Eames-Bradley report on how to deal with the legacy of the Troubles is to be published at the end of this month. The Consultative Group on the Past, chaired by former Church of Ireland primate Lord Eames and former deputy chairman of the North's policing board Denis Bradley, will publish its report on January 28th.
Dissident IRA suspects held
Gardaí investigating dissident IRA activity have arrested four men and a woman in Dublin. Officers recovered seven firearms and a quantity of ammunition which are being examined by the Garda Technical Bureau. The five are being detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act in Terenure, Blackrock and Shankill Garda stations. They can be questioned for up to 72 hours.