More news in brief
The Department of Agriculture has criticised the European Commission's stance in world talks on the reform of agriculture, writes Paul Cullen.
Assistant secretary Tony Burke told an Oireachtas committee that the com- mission had been too con- ciliatory and and offered too many concessions in the talks.
He singled out EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson for criticism, saying Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan spent all her time trying to "restrain" Mr Mandelson at the talks. Mr Mandelson would have done even more damage if it hadn't been for the efforts of Ms Coughlan and her French counterpart, Mr Burke told the committee on agriculture and food.
He said Mr Mandelson was extremely clever in manipulating and massaging facts to show he hadn't broken his mandate.
Call for forum to aid immigrants
A national forum should be established to help address the problems experienced by growing numbers of immigrants coming here who are inadequately prepared to find work or accommodation, a charity for the homeless has urged.
Alice Leahy, of Trust, said the country needed to do much more to help integrate new immigrants, especially those from new EU member states who do not have a proper social security safety net as a result of welfare restrictions. Significant numbers of these jobseekers are experiencing severe hardship and homelessness, she said.
'Metro Éireann' to publish weekly
Multicultural newspaper Metro Éireann is to become a weekly national paper from next week.
Metro Éireann, which is edited by Chinedu Onyejelem, was launched in April 2000 on a monthly basis, but is being relaunched as a weekly to better serve Ireland's burgeoning multicultural community.
Mr Onyejelem said it was always his intention for Metro Éireann to be a weekly paper but it had only become possible now that it had developed the strong support of the various ethnic minorities and multicultural communities in Ireland, as well as the business community.
The newspaper, which will be officially relaunched next Thursday in Dublin, will have a minimum of 32 pages and will be on sale on Thursdays at €1.
Metro Éireann will focus on business, politics and sports and have dedicated Polish, Romanian, Filipino and Indian sections. The newspaper is backed by businessman Denis O'Brien and The Irish Times.
Charged with manslaughter
A man in his 40s was yesterday remanded in custody after being charged with the manslaughter of a man in west Cork last Christmas.
Jim Bob O'Driscoll, of Marsh Road, Skibbereen, appeared at Macroom District Court charged with the unlawful killing of Philip 'Windy' O'Driscoll on December 26th, 2005.
Mr O'Driscoll is to appear again at Bandon District Court tomorrow.
Dundrum centre removes card fee
Dublin's Dundrum Town Centre has agreed to remove a controversial €3 fee that was applied to some of its gift voucher cards.
The centre had been criticised for a practice whereby customers who had a balance on their HQGiftFlex voucher card incurred a monthly €3 "maintenance fee".
In a statement, a spokesman said: "Dundrum Town Centre has negotiated for the removal of this recurring €3 fee on behalf of its customers and it will no longer be applicable to the card. This in no way affects the balance on the card and customers will be entitled the full value of card with no deductions."