A round-up of today's other stories in brief.
Meetings at Aer Lingus on dispute
A series of meetings took place yesterday across Aer Lingus as the company and workers attempt to resolve a dispute over new cost-cutting arrangements.
Aer Lingus has set a deadline of next Tuesday for 1,800 ground-based staff to accept new work practices. Staff have already rejected a deal on work practice changes which had been agreed between their union, Siptu, and management at the company last February.
A Siptu spokesman said shop stewards have been briefing staff about the details of the management proposals for new working arrangements and those briefings are set to continue until next Tuesday.
McGonagle to direct art college
Declan McGonagle is to become the new director of the National College of Art and Design this autumn. A graduate of the Belfast College of Art, Prof McGonagle is currently the first director of a new research centre in the school of art and design at the University of Ulster in Belfast. He will succeed Colm Ó Briain as college director upon his retirement.
Longford man's body found
Gardaí investigating the disappearance of a 52-year-old Longford man last night recovered his body from the Inny river, near Ballymahon in Longford.
Seamus Delaney, from Barnacor, Ballymahon, was last seen at his home at 9am on April 6th. A full post mortem examination will be carried out, a Garda spokesman said.
Metallica to play in Marley Park
American hard rock legends Metallica are to play a concert at Marley Park in south Dublin on Wednesday, August 20th.
They will be supported by Tenacious D, the band fronted by film star Jack Black.
Meanwhile, controversial rap mogul Jay Z is to play the RDS, Simmonscourt, on Thursday, June 26th.
Special Olympics head's new post
Special Olympics Ireland CEO Mary Davis is to become managing director of the Special Olympics in Europe and Eurasia. Ms Davis, who has been involved in the Irish branch for 30 years, will have responsibility for the development of the 58 Special Olympics programmes from Iceland to Kazakhstan.
Fergus Finlay, chairman of Special Olympics Ireland said: "Everyone in Special Olympics Ireland is delighted that Mary has been offered this job, although she will be greatly missed in the day-to-day Special Olympics programme in Ireland."
Suicide group's funding criticised
The failure of the Government to increase the budget of the National Office for Suicide Prevention has been criticised by Dan Neville, Fine Gael mental health spokesman and president of the Irish Association of Suicidology.
He said the Government had effectively reduced the suicide prevention budget when it provided the same allocation - €3.5 million - for 2008 as 2007.
"When inflation is taken into consideration, there is a reduction of support from the Government," he said.
He called for €10 million to fund a package of measures aimed at preventing suicide
Irishmen reach Everest base
Two Irishmen, Graham Kinch (29) from Dún Laoghaire and Ian Taylor (29) from Leixlip, have reached base camp on Mount Everest as they attempt to be the youngest Irishmen to climb the mountain, writes Patsy McGarry.
They are climbing in aid of the Fields of Life charity, which is engaged in community development, mainly in East Africa. Their progress can be followed on www.everest2008.ie