1. Extra resources sought for Garda to control feud
The Cabinet will be told today substantial extra resources will be needed for extended overtime for An Garda Síochána as it seeks to tackle organised crime by so-called saturation policing. Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald is to update Ministers today on efforts to tackle criminal feuding in Dublin's north inner city after a spate of recent murders. The Government has been under pressure on a number of fronts in the justice area, following the publication of the O'Higgins report into alleged Garda malpractice, and the ongoing feud between the Kinahan and Hutch gangs in Dublin. The feud has claimed seven lives, the latest of which was Gareth Hutch, who was shot dead in the north inner city last week. A woman in her 40s is due in court this morning in connection with his killing.
2. Irish Water ‘plucked €100m abolition figure from the air’
Irish Water has been criticised for failing to produce any records to support its claim that abolishing the utility would cost €100 million. Freedom of Information documents released to Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty confirm the figure, which came in the wake of the general election, is an estimate given verbally to the media. Mr Doherty said the correspondence proved there was no basis to the utility's "back of the envelope calculation" of the costs. "This was an exercise in self-preservation by them and the least we would expect from Irish Water, " the Donegal TD said. "They have no email, no documents to underpin the €100 million figure. "This was an attempt to try to scare the public away from parties who suggested that Irish Water should be abolished."
3. UL under pressure to investigate expense claims
The University of Limerick is facing pressure to launch an independent investigation into a series of allegations relating to financial irregularities and human resources practices. An independent review commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) confirmed earlier this year that some staff at UL had filed irregular expense claims, including mileage payments for trips between home and the college. However, the review found all inappropriate claims were challenged and, ultimately, none were issued. A series of additional allegations relating to human resources practices were made to the independent review by Mazars which have also been brought to the attention of education authorities.
Student Hub focus: Make yourself employable with a postgrad as Gaeilge: Job prospects for Gaeilgeoirí boosted by Languages Act and EU recognition of Irish along with Government pledge on public service
4. Senator Billy Lawless can net nearly €30,000 in expenses
Chicago-based Billy Lawless will be entitled to a total of €29,565 in travel and accommodation expenses under current Oireachtas rules, despite the new Senator being based 5,000km from Dublin. The Galway-born businessman was one of Taoiseach Enda Kenny's nominees to the upper House last Friday, becoming in effect Ireland's first "diaspora" Senator. Mr Lawless said yesterday he had not worked out the logistics of how he would attend sittings, or what the expenses would be. However, under current rules, if Mr Lawless states his residence as Chicago, his expenses will be classified as band 12, which is for TDs and Senators who live more than 360km from Leinster House.
5. Former PSNI chief criticises Villiers over Border claims
Pledges by Northern Ireland secretary Theresa Villiers that a British vote to leave the EU will not lead to Border controls have been rejected as "untenable" by the former PSNI chief constable, Hugh Orde. In a sharply worded criticism, Mr Orde, who led the PSNI for seven years, said Ms Villiers "continues to keep her head firmly stuck in a peat bog". "If you shut the front door [to immigration into the UK], leaving the back door open would be stupid," Mr Orde writes in today's Irish Times. "Indeed, serious players such as Lord Nigel Lawson and UK justice minister Dominic Raab have acknowledged this fact." Dismissing the need for any changes if the UK votes to quit the European Union on June 23rd, Ms Villiers last month said that she could see "no reason" why the Irish/UK Common Travel Area, allowing free movement for Irish citizens, would not continue. Meanwhile, Irish republican socialist group Éirígí has started erecting Vote Leave posters in the North urging voters to support Britain and Northern Ireland exiting the European Union on June 23rd.
Misc:
'CSI 1916': how Rising martyr Thomas Kent mystery was solved: Story of how man's remains were exhumed and identified to be told at free UCC lecture
NUI Galway announces Masters scholarship scheme: Postgraduate students to benefit from new scholarship scheme
Fintan O'Toole: Garda corrupted by sloppiness, indiscipline and vindictiveness: If you read the O'Higgins report, you will find that at the bottom of so many of its case histories is sheer fecklessness
Canada didn't work out for me, but I'm glad I tried: Homesickness was overwhelming and my nursing degree was 'non comparable', but Vancouver has been fun
