A round-up of today's Irish news stories in brief
Dodds pays tribute to Iris Robinson
DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds has become the only senior party member so far to pay tribute to Strangford MP and Assembly member Iris Robinson who is quitting public life, citing health problems including depression.
Mrs Robinson said in a statement on Monday that politics had taken its toll on her health and she would resign her seat at Stormont and not seek re-election to Westminster.
Mr Dodds said: “I want to pay tribute to, and place on record the party’s appreciation of our colleague and friend Mrs Iris Robinson following her courageous announcement not to seek re-election to public office.”
“Iris has always represented the Strangford constituency with both dedication and determination,” Mr Dodds added.
Man in court over child sex abuse
A 66-year-old man was in court in Derry yesterday following his extradition from the Republic on Tuesday on foot of 168 warrants that relate to complaints of child sex abuse and assaults.
The defendant, who cannot be named because of his relationship to the complainants, is alleged to have committed the offences in Derry on dates between 1978 and 1981.
Originally from Derry, he was arrested at his home in Co Donegal on December 21st by gardaí on foot of a European arrest warrant.
A PSNI detective constable told the court she arrested the defendant and formally executed the arrest warrants in the city’s Strand Road police headquarters.
Read small print before joining gym
Anyone thinking of working off that Christmas excess by joining a gym in the new year should read the terms and conditions carefully before joining, according to the National Consumer Agency (NCA), writes Paul Cullen.
In particular, the agency is warning consumers to check the cancellation clauses before signing any contract.
The NCA says it received more than 400 complaints and queries about gyms in 2009, many of which were the result of consumers not having read or understood the conditions of their membership agreements.
Simply cancelling a direct debit may not be sufficient to cancel the contract.
New South Korea working holiday visa
Irish citizens aged 18 to 30 can apply to spend a year working in South Korea following the Government's signing of a working holiday agreement with the country. writes Mary Fitzgerald.
Under the agreement, announced by Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin yesterday, up to 400 young Irish people will be able to spend 12 months in South Korea with casual work rights to supplement their travel.
The agreement will be implemented in early 2010.
Ireland already has working holiday agreements with Argentina, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan and New Zealand.