A round up of today's other home news in brief
Traffic warning over taxi protest
Motorists have been warned to expect congestion and parking restrictions at a number of Dublin locations at lunchtime today due to a taxi drivers' protest.
Drivers plan to congregate in three locations - the Airways Retail Park in Swords, the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and Stillorgan Shopping Centre – at midday before travelling in convoy to Merrion Square.
It is anticipated they will leave these locations at 12.30pm, and arrive in Merrion Square at 1.30pm for an hour-long protest.
Investigation into fatal collision
Gardaí in Co Cork have launched an investigation into a two-vehicle collision which claimed the life of a man as he was on his way to work yesterday morning.
Michael Moynihan (33), a lorry driver from Gortatray, Berrings, Co Cork, was travelling towards Blarney when his van collided with a car at Ballyshoneen, Berrings, at about 7.40am. The driver of the car, a man from Aghabullogue, Co Cork, was taken to hospital but his injuries are not life-threatening.
Shops selling minors tobacco
Almost half of all retailers and two-thirds of licensed premises were “willing to sell cigarettes to minors”, new research has found.
At the publication of the report, from the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) yesterday, the Minister of State for Health, Mary Wallace, said she would be recommending a “significant increase” in tax on a packet of cigarettes in the forthcoming mini-budget.
The study, commissioned by the OTC and carried out by TNS/mrbi, entailed using volunteers under 18 trying to purchase cigarettes. It is illegal to sell any tobacco-related product to anyone under 18.
The study found 40 per cent of shops were willing to sell cigarettes to minors.
US extradition request adjourned
The High Court has adjourned to May 6th an application by the US to extradite former Workers’ Party president Seán Garland over his alleged involvement in a large-scale operation to make high-quality counterfeit US dollars.
Bank staff identified notes
The trial of a financial adviser charged with laundering £3 million stolen in the Northern Bank robbery yesterday heard evidence from bank staff confirming they had handled certain notes found in the Republic by gardaí investigating the robbery.
Gary Rutherford, who worked at the cash centre of the Northern Bank at Donegall Square West in Belfast, examined sterling notes and identified his own handwriting on one £20 note.
Mr Cunningham denies 20 charges of money laundering.
Fellow Northern Bank staff members Janice Bennett identified three £20 notes with her handwriting, while Elizabeth Finlay and Caitríona Cunningham each identified notes with their handwriting.
‘Failed’ oil and gas explorations
Recent explorations for oil and gas off the Irish coast have been “failures” and gas supplies at Kinsale are close to expiration, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has said. New sources of indigenous oil and gas must be found if Ireland’s demands for fuel are to be met, department officials told an Oireachtas Energy Committee yesterday.
New ambassadors announced
The Government has nominated Philip McDonagh, currently Irish Ambassador to Finland, to be Ireland’s new Ambassador to the Russian Federation, where he succeeds Justin Harman, who is moving to Madrid as Ambassador to Spain.