A round-up of today's other news stories in brief
Big rise in foreign-born home buyers
Almost one in five first-time buyers who purchased a home in the first six months of 2007 were born outside the country, according to figures released by a leading mortgage broker yesterday.
The figures, released by the Irish Mortgage Corporation (IMC), found that from January to June 2007, more than 17 per cent of first-time buyers were not born in Ireland.
This reflected a steady increase in foreign national buyers since 2002, when the figure was 7 per cent.
The largest percentage of foreign national buyers, almost 35 per cent, came from Asia. UK nationals also increased their share of the foreign-national market, to 28 per cent.
More than 20 per cent were from the rest of the EU, and just under 8 per cent were from Africa.
However, Frank Conway, director of IMC, stressed that Irish people were still by far the largest category of first-time buyer.
Veterinary alert on Bluetongue virus
All veterinary surgeons in Ireland have been circulated with information on Bluetongue disease (BTV), which has spread to France and Belgium from Africa, writes Seán MacConnell.
The disease hits cattle, sheep, goats and deer and is spread by biting midges.
Six strains of the disease had been found in sheep in Mediterranean countries since the beginning of the century but since August 2006, there has been an unprecedented epidemic much further north than scientists had expected.
Sheep and cattle in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France have now been diagnosed with Bluetongue, the common name for the disease.
The fear here is that of the 16 most common midge species in Ireland, eight are potential vectors for bluetongue and that prevailing winds could spread infected midges from Europe across the Irish Sea.
Two rescued off Galway coast
Two men were rescued by the Clifden and Aran Islands lifeboats off Slyne Head, Co Galway, yesterday when their yacht ran into difficulty in high winds and heavy seas.
The two were on board the Galway yacht, Sanctoir, which was coming from Inishbofin when the vessel lost the mainsail and engine power in force 6 to 7 winds.
The men were said to be only "five minutes from rocks" when Clifden lifeboat reached the vessel and took it in tow.
Assistance was sought from the Aran Islands lifeboat due to heavy sea conditions.
Inquest adjourned on work accident
The Dublin City Corner has adjourned an inquest into the death of a Dublin man who died in a work-related accident pending the completion of an investigation by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).
John Geraghty (57) of Sheepmore Close, Blanchardstown, died from a fracture of his spine at National Linen Ltd, Clondalkin, on May 17th last, an inquest heard.
Inspector Sheena Notley of the HSA said the incident was under investigation and requested an adjournment for three months.