More news in brief
Medical card users warned over dispute
Age Action Ireland has urged older people with medical cards to take steps to ensure they are not adversely affected by the threatened escalation in the dispute between pharmacists and the HSE.
The organisation noted that hundreds of community pharmacists had threatened to cease providing services to medical card holders from May 1st, adding that older people who had cards should contact their local pharmacist to establish if they would continue to be served under the medical card scheme.
The HSE said it had received formal notification from only two community pharmacy contractors that they will be terminating their contract with the HSE.
Man arrested after searches
A MAN in his early 30s was arrested in Limerick yesterday following planned searches in which a rifle, handgun, ammunition and drugs were found.
He was detained at Mayorstone Garda station and can be held for up to 72 hours. The man was arrested at 12.15pm and the recovered items were found at the rear of a premises at St Ita's Street in the St Mary's Park area.
Woman stabbed in attack
A WOMAN in her late 30s suffered stab wounds yesterday after she was attacked in Listowel.
The incident took place at 4.45pm at a house at Dromin Green and the victim was taken to Kerry General Hospital for treatment. A man in his early 30s was arrested at the scene in connection with the assault. It is understood the woman's injuries are not life threatening.
Co Cork mussels withdrawn
THE European Commission's health and consumer protection directorate has ordered the withdrawal of nine batches of mussels produced by a west Cork seafood company, following reports of food poisoning in France, writes Lorna Siggins, Marine Correspondent.
Bantry Bay Seafoods in Co Cork has confirmed that it is co-operating with an investigation by the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) into the alert issued by the European Commission. A company spokesman said it related to specific batches of pre-cooked frozen mussels. The batches were produced last October and exported in February to France, Britain and Italy.
Coughlan to meet Mandelson
Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan is to meet EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson next week in Brussels to express her dissatisfaction with the current direction of the WTO talks. The Minister said she would point out to the Commissioner the "serious difficulties" which could emerge for Irish agriculture should a deal be concluded on the current conditions.