In Short

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Holiday programme for over-55s sends record numbers to Spain

An off-peak holiday programme for the over-55s, sponsored by the Spanish government, is attracting record numbers of Irish holidaymakers, according to a Dublin travel agent, writes , Consumer Affairs Correspondent.

John Galligan of John Galligan Travel said the number of over-55s signing up for Travel Senior programmes this autumn is twice that recorded last year.

Prices for the state-subsidised programme start at €410 for a week and include flights, transfers, four-star accommodation, wine with meals and entertainment.

'Flexibility' in North budget cuts sought

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness travelled to London yesterday to make a united "special case" plea to British chancellor George Osborne over major spending cuts in Northern Ireland, writes Gerry Moriarty.

As Mr Osborne prepares for his predicted swingeing spending review to be announced on October 20th, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister called for “flexibility” in how those cuts were implemented in the North.

DUP finance Minister Sammy Wilson has already warned of more than £2 billion in cuts over the next four years, with one leading Northern economist suggesting this could lead to the loss of 40,000 jobs.

Priest stands down over claim

A Catholic priest has stood down from pastoral duties because of a "child safeguarding" allegation, writes Gerry Moriarty.

A statement from the diocese of Down and Connor yesterday said that Fr Peter Donnelly, from Drumaroad parish, near Ballynahinch, Co Down, was under investigation over a complaint going back to the 1980s.

“Fr Peter Donnelly denies this complaint,” the statement added. It said he not yet been interviewed by the police.

Householders urged to check hot press

Householders have been urged to check their hot presses in case they are using a faulty water cylinder which could be a fire hazard, writes Paul Cullen.

Over 500 GeminoX Ebs immersion water cylinders remain untraced in the southern part of the State despite a number of warnings to the public, the National Consumer Agency said yesterday. Most are believed to be in Cork and Kerry.

The manufacturer has said there is a risk of overheating and even fire in some models.

New leadership for agri-food urged

New leadership is needed in the agri-food sector which is losing large numbers of educated young graduates, the author of a report on the sector has claimed, writes Seán Mac Connell. Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan, who prepared and presented the report on behalf of the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise Trade and Innovation, said the loss of these talented people would have to be addressed. The report stated there needed to be a greater emphasis on developing local and regional production to foster job creation.

More than 430 people turn up for 40 jobs at Shelbourne Hotel

Forty new jobs which are to be created in the Shelbourne Hotel attracted almost 11 times that number in applications yesterday during a recruitment day, writes . Some 435 people applied for openings in the five-star Dublin hotel which ranged from service jobs, accommodation assistants, chefs, to sales, marketing and management roles.

The hotel let 25 staff in middle management, supervisory and associate level positions go in 2009 and seven staff in late 2008, also in supervisory and associate level positions.

However, a spokeswoman for the Shelbourne Hotel said these new positions were different and she denied that the openings were “yellow pack” jobs.

City book honour for O'Connor novel

Joseph O'Connor's novel Ghost Lighthas been selected as Dublin city's book for 2011.

Dublin City Council yesterday announced the choice for its annual One City One Book campaign.

O’Connor’s novel is loosely based on the love affair between playwright John Millington Synge and Abbey Theatre actress Molly Allgood.

The event is in April each year and the council encourages everyone in the city to read the same book.