A round-up of other home news in brief
Russia relaxes controls on Irish beef imports
Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith has welcomed Russia's decision to relax controls on the importation of Irish beef, writes Paul Cullen.
The Russian authorities have raised the age limit above which slaughtered cattle exported from Ireland must be tested for BSE from 30 months to 48 months.
This brings the BSE testing requirement for Irish exports to Russia into line with those for exports to EU member states.
Mr Smith said the change in Russian policy was the result of intensive political and diplomatic lobbying by his department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Bord Bia over the past 18 months.
The Department of Agriculture submitted a detailed assessment of the risk involved in raising the age limit for BSE testing to the Russian authorities, he said.
“This positive decision removes a technical barrier to the export of beef from Ireland to Russia and should help to stimulate the trade.”
Dublin conference on issue of suicide
The link between suicide and unemployment will be highlighted at a major conference in Dublin to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
More than 500 delegates from around the world are set to attend the event in the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, next Friday, September 10th.
Paul Kelly of Console, the support group organising the conference, said: "All studies show higher rates of ill health, both psychological and physical, in men and women who are insecure in work or are unemployed.
"A protracted period of unemployment seems to have a particularly deleterious effect on the mental health of young men, regardless of their social background."
Minister for Health Mary Harney will open the conference entitled "Suicide in a Changing Ireland – Let's Talk About It".
A number of experts are to give presentations.
Dún Laoghaire RNLI assists dinghy
Both lifeboats at Dún Laoghaire RNLI station were launched yesterday when a sailing dinghy with two people on board got into difficulty close to the rocky shoreline of Dublin Bay.
The incident occurred about 5pm when the Flying 15 became swamped in the area known as Scotsman's Bay between Dún Laoghaire and Sandycove.
Sea-angling boat the Brandon Lisa and a local rigid inflatable went to the assistance of the boat. Both crew were wearing buoyancy aids and were uninjured.
The RNLI's inshore lifeboat prepared the Flying 15 for towing while its all-weather lifeboat provided an escort to the shore.
London-Irish comic wins festival award
A show about teenage years spent in Co Kerry has won the Best Newcomer Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival,
writes Brian Boyd in Edinburgh
London-Irish comic Roisín Conaty picked up the award for her Hero, Warrior, Fireman, Liar show which details what happens when she asked to speak to new graduates at a convent school.
"It was like spitting bullets of truth at youth monkeys" she notes in her show.
Conaty, of Irish parents, but brought up in London, is one of the breakthrough acts of this year's festival.
She hopes to bring her award-winning show to Irish audiences before the end of the year.