A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Two men killed in traffic collision on Kildare/Meath border
TWO MEN were killed following a road traffic collision on the Kildare/Meath border last night.
The accident occurred at Lally’s cross, Ballinakill, Broadford, on the Moyvalley to Longwood Rd, Co Kildare shortly after 8pm.
The two men, one in his 40s and the other in his 50s, were pronounced dead at the scene and were later removed to Navan Hospital.
Three people in a second vehicle were taken to Tallaght Hospital.
Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
Gardaí in Carbury have appealed for witnesses who can contact them on 01-666-7800 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 -666-111
Free cigarettes allegation raised
Anti-smoking group Ash Ireland has contacted the Office of Tobacco Control and Minister for Health Mary Harney regarding alleged illegal promotions of tobacco products at events in Dublin and Kildare.
The group said it received complaints that people attending a party at a venue in Temple Bar, which it said was organised by the tobacco industry, were given a wrist band that entitled them to a free 20 pack of cigarettes.
It said another complaint over the Oxegen festival, at Punchestown Racecourse last month, alleged hostesses gave out free cigarettes in the artists' area.
A spokesman for Oxegen promoter MCD said no free cigarettes were issued in any public area of the festival.
4,000 apply for 25 training places
More than 4,000 people have applied to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to train as air traffic controllers even though there are only 25 positions available on the two-year training programme.
The figure is almost three times greater than the number who applied when the IAA last held a recruitment drive in 2007 and 1,386 people sought to become controllers.
The IAA carries out its own training from its state-of-the-art training centre, at Ballycasey Cross, a short distance from Shannon airport. Applicants have to be at least 19 and have passed five subjects in the Leaving Certificate (including English and mathematics) with grade C in two higher level papers.
'Sudden Oak Death' to be investigated
The forestry service is to carry out an extensive national survey including aerial searches for outbreaks of "Sudden Oak Death" disease in Irish forests. The disease P.ramorum has been found for the first time in the State in Japanese larch trees in Tipperary and Waterford.
It has killed a large number of oak trees in the US and was found in Britain last year. Department of Agriculture officials are trying to establish if there are other outbreaks and how the disease arrived here. It said the transport of infected plant material on machinery and boots could spread infection.