A round up of today's other stories in brief.
Searchers advised to contact gardaí
The large number of volunteers now turning up at Doolin each day is putting a strain on the search effort to locate the body of an east Clare man missing off the Co Clare coast writes Gordon Deegan.
Yesterday and on Tuesday, more than 80 friends and work colleagues of Tulla man, Joe O'Callaghan (34) accompanied members from the Doolin Rescue Coastguard Unit and Garda in the extensive shoreline search.
However, after a meeting between the Coastguard Unit, gardaí and members of Mr O'Callaghan's family yesterday, would-be volunteers are now being asked to contact gardaí before travelling to Doolin.
Mattie Shannon of the Doolin Coastguard and Rescue Unit said yesterday: "While we are very thankful of the efforts being made, the number of volunteers is putting a strain on the search effort. We would also be concerned for the safety of the people searching along the shore in the difficult weather conditions."
Supt Eamon Dolan of Ennistymon Garda station asked volunteers to call 065-6831825 before going to Doolin.
Temporary water plan to cost €1m
The members of Ennis Town Council have been told that it may cost up to €1 million to put in place a temporary solution to solve the town's continuing public water supply problem, writes Gordon Deegan.
Over the last five months three separate boil notices, warning people not to drink water from the town supply without boiling first, have been issued.
Green Party councillor, Cllr Donal O'Bearra said at yesterday's council meeting that "Steps need to be taken immediately to put in place a temporary solution. The current situation cannot be allowed to go on for any longer." A permanent solution will not be in place until October 2007 when a new treatment plant is provided at a cost of €6.5 million.
Town Engineer, Tom Tiernan told members that a number of temporary solutions are being examined with urgency at the moment where the costs vary from €600,000 to €1 million.
Ennis town clerk, Edmund Power said a number of questions have to be answered before a temporary solution can be identified.
DPP to appeal fraud sentence
A three year jail sentence imposed on a 44-year-old stockbroker who admitted defrauding his clients of over €4 million is to be appealed by the DPP, The Irish Times has learned.
A Garda source has confirmed that the DPP is to appeal the sentence imposed on Stephen Pearson, Glanmire, Co Cork, who was sentenced to three years in jail with one year suspended for 47 counts of fraud, forgery and obtaining money under false pretences.
Pearson's fraudulent activity resulted in the closure in 2001 of a 114-year-old family stockbroking firm, W&R Morrogh, South Mall, Cork while none of the €4.6 million in defrauded money was ever recovered.
Pearson pleaded guilty to the offences at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced him to three years in jail but suspended one year on condition that he keep the peace and agree not to practise as a stockbroker again.
Garda appeal on 'cat' burglar
Gardaí in Kilkenny are seeking information from the public on a "cat" burglar, believed to have carried out at least 14 robberies in the last three weeks. Houses in the Clongowan, Waterford Road and the Kells Road areas of Kilkenny have been targetted.
The burglar gains access to houses through the smallest of windows at second and third storey level and leaves with cash, jewellery and other small valuable items.
Gardaí in Kilkenny have asked anyone with information to call them at (056) 7722222.
Ahern rejects cannabis inquiry calls
The Minister of State with responsibility for the national drugs strategy has rejected calls for an inquiry into whether cannabis should be legalised.
Noel Ahern told an Oireachtas committee yesterday: "We are not going to legalise. We are not going down that way at all. We are not going to even consider that."
He added that any move to license cannabis, or products containing the drug, for medicinal purposes would not be a "first step" towards legalising cannabis for recreational use, contrary to claims by some people "on the liberal wing".
Mr Ahern also questioned whether the courts could do more to help in the fight against drugs. While he said it was not for him to comment on judges, he added: "I think we would all like to see certainly more consistency of sentence."
He said Garda inspectors had reported a correlation between the severity of sentencing and the extent of the drug problems in particular towns in Leinster. It seemed some judges were "more easily taken in" by certain pleas for mitigation from defendants, he added.
Retired teacher dies aged 103
A 103-year-old retired primary teacher, Mary Ratuski, died on Tuesday at the District Hospital in Carlow town.
Mrs Ratuski taught at Stradbally Boys National School in Co Laois and is thought to have been the longest-pensioned teacher in the country, having lived 45 years after retirement.
Man remanded over Cork death
A 32-year-old carpenter has been remanded in custody with consent to bail after he appeared in Cork District Court yesterday charged following the death of a Lithuanian man in the city last month, writes Barry Roche.
Raimundas Berzinskas, a Lithuanian national, St Finbarr's Place, Proby's Quay, Cork, was charged with assault causing harm to father of one Gintaras Balcionas (38), at Rockgrove Terrace, Lower Glanmire Road, on October 9th.
The body of Mr Gintaras - who worked as a plasterer - was found with serious head and other injuries in the garden of Rockgrove Terrace at around 5pm by gardaí.
The court heard that gardaí were waiting for directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions and asked for an adjournment.
Berzinskas had earlier been charged at a special sitting of the court on Tuesday night and Judge David Riordan had remanded him in custody with consent to bail on a number of strict conditions.
Youth anti-waste website launched
Youth and sports clubs are the latest groups to be targeted by the Race Against Waste campaign which is encouraging teenagers to log on to a new website and take the "Challenge 360", writes Tim O'Brien.
Challenge 360 provides up-to-date information for school or club projects and lets young people test their knowledge about how much they are "waste aware".
The site, launched yesterday by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche, was developed in consultation with youth groups and includes an interactive section allowing young people to vote in polls and have a say on waste issues.
They can also "ask an expert" questions and enter in a monthly draw to win Race Against Waste paraphernalia. The site includes information on waste issues as well as advice on how to make changes in the home, school and community.
The Race Against Waste Campaign has so far this year held seminars for key managers representing 70,000 staff in the Garda, Defence Forces, the health services and county development boards as well as businesses throughout the country.
The website address is www.raceagainstwaste.ie/360