More news in brief
Ireland East MEP Maireád McGuinness has accused EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson of being "economical with the truth" in a row in Strasbourg over the future of European agriculture in talks at the World Trade Organisation.
The accusation came as MEPs were told the EU budget required rebalancing as 40 per cent of EU funding was being used to support agriculture, although the sector accounted for only 2 per cent of jobs.
Ms McGuinness asked Mr Mandelson if he was aware of alarm in Ireland over concessions being made in agriculture at WTO negotiations. She said ground was being given "without any gains for the EU in non-agricultural market access and services".
Mr Mandelson said rumours of concessions were unfounded and were coming from within a small community of interests.
Warning of M50 traffic disruption
Motorists using the M50 at the Ballymount interchange have been warned that there may be some disruption to traffic flows overnight. The scheme will be repeated nightly until Friday, February 22nd.
M50 southbound traffic will be diverted via the off- on ramps at the Ballymount interchange. Roadworks at the Palmerstown interchange will continue for the next two weeks. Traffic will be diverted to the Liffey Valley junction via the N4 westbound carriageway.
Ahern visit to Timor goes ahead
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern goes ahead with a two-day official visit to Timor-Leste (East Timor) today, despite last week's attempted coup.
During his visit, Mr Ahern will outline a partnership agreement between Ireland and Timor-Leste aimed at stabilising the southeast Asian nation and assisting its development.
More crime victims contact agency
An agency offering assistance to the victims of crime has reported a 35 per cent increase in demand for its services last year. The National Crime Victims helpline said contacts from members of the public increased to almost 2,000 in 2007.
Recycling plant to create 35 jobs
Thirty-five new jobs have been announced for Castleblayney, Co Monaghan, with the opening of a new €3.7 million plastics recycling plant. The new jobs at Shabra Plastic and Packaging Ltd over the next two years will include a mixture of graduate positions, semi-skilled and administrative roles.
The company already employs 50 people.