New mental health guidelines for schools

The Government has published new national guidelines on mental health and suicide prevention in second level schools.

It is estimated that one in ten children and teenagers experience mental health problems.

The Government said schools have a unique role to play in supporting them.

Copies of the new guidelines will be sent to schools in the coming weeks.

They include ten "key strategic actions" that schools should undertake.

Among them is fostering a sense of belonging and connectedness in schools by developing and maintaining a safe and caring environment, as well as implementing well-planned social, personal and health education, and relationship and sexuality programmes.

The guidelines also say schools should encourage students to engage in extra-curricular activities.

Students should also have easy access to information on supports available to them both within and outside schools.

They say young people and their parents should be actively involved in developing and implementing schools' mental health policies.

The guidelines have been developed by the Department of Education, the HSE and the Department of Health.

In a statement, the director of the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention, Gerry Raleigh, said the guidelines presented the existing elements of good practice that schools should have in place in an integrated way.

However, the Institute for Guidance Counsellors has said budget cuts have led to a "totally disjointed" counselling service in Irish schools.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, IGC PRO Betty McLaughlin described the new guidelines as "a code for nobody's responsibility".

She said that while the institute welcomed the renewed commitment and the interdepartmental approach, the scheme is "a safety net and there are lots of holes in that net".

"When the children fall through the net there will be nobody there to pick them up," she said.

Speaking on the same programme, Minister of State at the Department of Health Kathleen Lynch said the guidelines require that everyone in a school be trained to help a child in distress.

She said: "What we want them to do is take a whole school approach.

"You know, the guidance counsellors, the great work that they did, but nevertheless one person in the school is just not good enough, it must be everyone in the school and not just the teaching staff.

"We're talking about the caretakers, the ladies and men who come in to clean the school. It's a whole of school approach."

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Committee hands over abortion hearing report

Minister for Health James Reilly has said he will bring a memo to Cabinet next week on the policy issues involved in legislation on abortion.

Mr Reilly said he still hopes to have the legislation passed by the Dáil's summer recess.

He was speaking at Leinster House, where he was formally presented with the report of the Oireachtas Health Committee on its hearings into the A, B and C cases.

The 1,000-page, two-volume report contains the written and oral submissions made to the committee.

It does not make any recommendations.

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'Legal hurdles' to adoption by genetic parents

The High Court has heard that the genetic parents of twins born to a surrogate mother could face possibly insurmountable legal hurdles if they were to try to adopt the children.

On the final day of the case, lawyers for the couple said because the twins were born to their aunt, who was married at the time, they could not be placed for adoption.

Senior Counsel Gerard Durkan said adoption as a proposed remedy was unsatisfactory.

It would require the couple to take a second case in another area of law without precedence.

Mr Durkan said they would have to show the children had been abandoned, which would be difficult to do.

He was responding to submissions made yesterday by counsel for the State Mary O'Toole, who said the couple could apply to adopt the twins.

The State is also opposing the application on the basis that only the birth mother can be viewed as the legal mother.

Ms O'Toole said yesterday the 1983 abortion amendment to the Constitution made it "absolutely clear" that the mother of a child was the woman who gave birth to the child.

She was defending the refusal of the State to allow the genetic mother of twins born to a surrogate mother to be listed as the children's mother on their birth certificates.

Mr Durcan said this was an incorrect interpretation of the Constitution.

Those who voted in the 1983 referendum were only addressing the issue of the baby in the womb and not after birth, he said.

Mr Durkan said the Supreme Court had established in the frozen embryo case that the protection of the embryo in the context of the right to life in the constitution only applied after implantation.

Just as it did not apply before implantation, it did not apply after birth in this particular context, he said.

Responding to the points made on adoption, Ms O'Toole said it was not the case that the twins would be considered part of a constitutional family of the surrogate mother and her husband as the husband had signed a declaration acknowledging the children were not his.

However, Mr Durkan said they would still face extensive legal hurdles because of the unusual nature of the case.

The case has now concluded.

It will be mentioned before the court on 22 February when Mr Justice Henry Abbott is expected to give a date for judgment.

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Hall to appeal as promissory note challenge fails

The High Court has dismissed a legal challenge to the Government's use of promissory notes, ruling that businessman David Hall did not have the legal standing to take the case.

Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns said Mr Hall was not entitled to bring this case as it would properly be brought by a member of Dáil Éireann.

He said that Mr Hall had not shown that he had suffered prejudice that put him in a different position from any other taxpayer.

Mr Justice Kearns pointed out that the three-year delay in bringing the case must be afforded particular weight.

Mr Hall said he was disappointed by the decision and he will go to the Supreme Court tomorrow to seek an early date for an appeal.

Independent TDs Stephen Donnelly and Shane Ross, who had supported Mr Hall's case, said they were considering whether to take their own action, but must first study the judgment.

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Shatter stands by garda station closures

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has said garda stations do not act as a deterrent to burglaries and that the 100 stations that are due to close this year will be shut down.

There are 95 stations closing today in what Mr Shatter said is essentially a paper exercise, which recognises the reality that Ireland does not require a garda station network devised in colonial times.

He reiterated that the objective in closing the stations was to maximise the operational time available to gardaí, increasing their mobility and visibility.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, the Justice Minister said the closure of garda stations is not a cost-saving measure.

The minister said the move was about freeing up members of the force to engage in frontline services, adding that the closures would result in 61,000 additional patrol hours being made available for community policing.

Mr Shatter insisted that Government policies in relation to policing were drafted with humanity.

He also appealed for anyone with information about the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe to come forward.

Det Garda Donohoe, 41, was shot dead during a robbery in Jenkinstown on Friday.

Mr Shatter said the five-man gang was not operating in a vacuum.

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Examiner appointed to DIY chain B&Q Ireland

B&Q Ireland Ltd has successfully filed a petition with the High Court in Dublin seeking the appointment of an examiner.

The court has granted protection for the company and has appointed Declan McDonald of PWC as interim examiner.

B&Q has nine stores around the country, including three in Dublin. It also has stores in Athlone, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Naas and Waterford and has a workforce of about 690 people.

The company has operated here since 2002 and is owned by UK company Kingfisher.

During examinership, the company will have 100 days to restructure the business and come up with a plan to rescue the business.

In a statement, the company said all nine stores were expected to continue trading and that all employees will be paid during this time.

It also said that all pre-paid goods and services, including kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and their installation, together with gift vouchers and credit notes will be honoured. The company added that suppliers will be paid for goods and services supplied during the process.

The company said that in order to have a ''reasonable prospect of survival'', it will have to consider closing uneconomic stores and to quitting property leases.

''Based on management's forecasts and the company's current trading performance, it is proposed that at least two stores, Athlone and Waterford, will be closed. In addition, most of the other stores will require the agreement, by individual landlords, of substantially improved terms. In light of the required change to terms, management consider it likely that a further two stores will be closed,'' today's statement added.

During examinership, the company will have 100 days to restructure the business and come up with a plan to rescue the business.

In a statement, the company said all nine stores were expected to continue trading and that all employees will be paid during this time.

It also said that all pre-paid goods and services, including kitchens, bathrooms and bedrooms and their installation, together with gift vouchers and credit notes will be honoured. The company added that suppliers will be paid for goods and services supplied during the process.

The company said that in order to have a ''reasonable prospect of survival'', it will have to consider closing uneconomic stores and quitting property leases.

''Based on management's forecasts and the company's current trading performance, it is proposed that at least two stores, Athlone and Waterford, will be closed. In addition, most of the other stores will require the agreement, by individual landlords, of substantially improved terms. In light of the required change to terms, management consider it likely that a further two stores will be closed,'' today's statement added.

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HIQA reports highly critical of several hospitals

A HIQA inspection of Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin has found that all clinical areas examined were generally unclean with the exception of the Emergency Department.

The Health Information and Quality Authority published 14 hygiene and infection prevention reports.

The findings are highly critical of four hospitals in Counties Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Tipperary. 

The reports were highly critical of the Mid-Western Regional Maternity Hospital in Limerick, South Tipperary General in Clonmel, Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe and of Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Crumlin.

Inspectors also reported problems at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown and the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise.

HIQA says that poor hand-washing practice in many Irish hospitals is potentially putting patients at risk of acquiring a hospital infection.

It also says some immediate serious risks to patients were found, with Emergency Department patients being accommodated with patients with communicable diseases.

At Connolly Hospital in Dublin, a patient with a transmissible disease was in an Emergency Department cubicle for 30 hours.

A similar problem was identified at South Tipperary General.

At the Mid Western Maternity Hospital in Limerick, unlocked and accessible clinical waste bins were on a thoroughfare for patients.

At Portiuncula Hospital, one of the three clinical areas was unclean.

At the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise, a clinical waste bin was not available in the dirty area.

The 12 unannounced and two announced inspections – at Connolly Hospital and the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise - found wide variations with regard to hospital cleanliness.

The reports identified problems such as dust and dirt on surfaces, soiled bedpans, worn and damaged furniture, black residue in shower areas, splash marks on equipment and blood stains in various locations.

In some cases linen and healthcare waste was not being properly managed.

HIQA says the failure to help reduce the spread of infection poses a clear and serious risk to patients.

These are the first HIQA hospital hygiene inspection reports since 2010.

The poorly performing hospitals will be revisited by inspectors within around six months.

Other hospitals can expect inspections over the coming months.

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Ban: End Syria conflict 'in name of humanity'

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed for an end to the violence in Syria and urged more aid to address a situation he said was catastrophic and worsening by the day.

He denounced the "unrelenting horrors" in the war, and said much remains to be done in securing humanitarian aid.

"How many more people will be killed if the current situation continues?," Mr Ban said, speaking at a conference of donors in Kuwait.

Donors have pledged over $1bn in aid for Syrians displaced by nearly two years of fighting.

Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah al-Mubarak al-Sabah told reporters he hoped the total pledges would reach the target of $1.5bn ((€1.1bn) set by the UN by the end of the meeting later in the day.

The United Nations has said over 60,000 people have been killed in the 22 months since the conflict began.

Mr Ban said: "I appeal to all sides and particularly the Syrian government, to stop the killing ... in the name of humanity, stop the killing, stop the violence".

Four million Syrians inside the country need food, shelter and other aid and over 700,000 more have escaped to neighbouring countries since the conflict began, according to the UN.

Jordan's King Abdullah told the gathering that Syrians had taken refuge in his country in their hundreds of thousands but Jordan's ability to help was at its limits.

"We have reached the end of the line, we have exhausted our resources," he said.

UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said farming was in crisis, hospitals and ambulances had been damaged and even painkillers were unavailable.

Harsh winter weather had made matters worse, and people were without winter clothes, blankets and fuel.

Women and children were particularly at risk, she said.

She added: "We are watching a human tragedy unfold before our eyes."

The aid would fund operations for the first half of this year, but the UN has so far received pledges covering just 18% of the target, unveiled last month as the scale of Syria's humanitarian crisis escalated sharply.

Even if pledges are made, aid groups have found in the past that converting promises into hard cash can take time.

Mr Ban said much more remained to be done.

"The situation in Syria is catastrophic and getting worse every day," he said. "Every day Syrians face unrelenting horrors," he said, adding this included sexual violence and detentions.

Aid officials hope the fact that the conference is being held in Kuwait will encourage other wealthy Gulf Arab states, who have led regional opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, to support the international aid effort.

Many Gulf states have sent assistance, but aid workers say their efforts have been haphazard and rarely coordinated with other aid agencies, hampering their ability to plan a sustained relief programme.

Syria's main opposition coalition has criticised the UN appeal and its arrangements for distributing aid inside Syria, saying the organisation has effectively ceded control to the Syrian government and failed to deliver all but a bare minimum of aid to areas controlled by Mr Assad's opponents.

Israeli jets attack convoy on Syrian-Lebanese border

Israeli forces attacked a convoy on the Syrian-Lebanese border overnight, a Western diplomat and regional security sources said

The sources, four in total, all of whom declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue, had no further information about what the vehicles may have been carrying, what forces were used or where precisely the attack happened.

In the run-up to the raid, Israeli officials have been warning very publicly of a threat of high-tech anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles reaching Israel's enemies in the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah from Syria.

They have also echoed US concerns about Syria's presumed chemical weapons arsenal.

The Lebanese army reported a heavy presence of Israeli jets over its territory throughout the night.

Syria 'breaking up before everyone's eyes'

Meanwhile, UN-Arab League mediator Lakhdar Brahimi has warned the UN Security Council that Syria is "breaking up before everyone's eyes," diplomats said.

He said that Mr Assad may be able to cling to power for now but that the regime's legitimacy has probably been "irreparably" damaged.

Mr Brahimi appealed to the 15-nation council to overcome its deadlock and take action to help put an end to the Syrian civil war.

However, it was not clear whether his latest report, which diplomats said was his bleakest since his appointment last year, would persuade Russia to agree to support concrete UN steps to try to halt the bloodshed.

Mr Brahimi suggested that attempts to end the conflict had not progressed in the past two months.

He said it was up to the Security Council to end its impasse.

He said the principles of a political transition in Syria, agreed to at talks among major world and regional powers in Geneva in June last year, could form the basis for a Security Council plan of action.

Russia has said that insisting on Mr Assad's departure as a condition for peace negotiations between the government and the opposition forces would prevent such talks from ever taking place.

The opposition, backed by the United States and much of Europe, has made plain that Mr Assad can play no role in a future Syrian government.

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VHI to increase premiums by average of 6%

Vhi Healthcare has announced that it will increase its prices by an average of 6% from next month.

For most plans the price increase will be effective from the beginning of March.

The company said its most popular plans - One + Plan and One Plan Choice - will see price increases of 4.5%.

VHI said the price increase is driven by a number of factors, including the increasing volume and cost of claims, an ageing membership and an ineffective risk equalisation scheme (RES).

It also said that ongoing medical innovations, which, while welcome, impact on the cost of care.

Vhi Healthcare has warned that the current RES scheme is insufficient to cover the healthcare costs of older customers and must be improved as this represents the biggest challenge for the market.

"We are aware of the enormous financial pressures facing our customers and have sought to keep the price increase as low as possible,'' said Vhi's chief executive John O'Dwyer in a statement today.

''We are totally focused on driving down costs in the organisation so that premiums remain affordable and we intend to build on the cost savings achieved to date,'' he added.

He pointed out that while Vhi Healthcare has 56% market share, it is paying nearly 80% of the country's healthcare claims.

''The vast majority of older and sicker customers in the market are Vhi Healthcare customers with 90%+ share of the over 80 year olds, 80% of the over 70's and 67% of the over 60's,'' the CEO said.

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Tesco drops Silvercrest over horse DNA controversy

Silvercrest Foods has lost its contract with Tesco for the supply of frozen beef burgers, in the wake of the horse meat controversy.

Earlier this month, a Tesco burger made by the Co Monaghan based company was shown to contain 29% horse meat.

Investigations showed the contamination originated in ingredients imported from Poland.

Tesco said today's decision relates only to frozen burgers and that it will continue to purchase fresh Irish beef worth more than €100m a year from other ABP companies.

The company said Silvercrest used meat in products that did not come from the list of approved suppliers it gave them.

It also said the meat did not come from the UK or Ireland, despite the instruction that only beef from those areas should be used in frozen beef burgers.

In a statement, Tesco said the "breach of trust" was too great.

It is now introducing a comprehensive system of DNA testing across its meat products.

The statement concluded: "These checks will set a new standard. It will be a significant investment for Tesco, borne by Tesco.

"We want to leave customers in no doubt that we will do whatever it takes to ensure the quality of their food and that the food they buy is exactly what the label says it is."

A Tesco source told RTÉ News the contract with Silvercrest was worth €15m annually and they will now seek another Irish supplier to supply Tesco branded frozen burgers.

The move is another blow for Silvercrest Foods, which is the largest employer in the Ballybay area.

Last week, the company also lost its contract to supply the Burger King chain with beef burgers, a contract reportedly worth €30m.

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Man charged with manslaughter of Jason McGovern

A 21-year-old man has been charged with the manslaughter of Jason McGovern.

The Co Monaghan teenager was found dead on New Years' Eve, hours after he was assaulted while on a night out in Omagh, Co Tyrone.

The 19-year-old from Tydavnet was assaulted twice outside a bar and a nightclub and was found dead at a friend's house near Emyvale.

Mark Donnelly of Greencastle Road in Omagh appeared at Dungannon Magistates' Court and was charged with manslaughter.

A PSNI officer said he could connect Mr Donnelly with the manslaughter charge but no other details were revealed.

Mr Donnelly was remanded on bail totalling £11,000, banned from entering Omagh and ordered not to consume alcohol.

He is to appear in court again in March.

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State funeral of Det Garda Donohoe taking place

The State funeral of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe is taking place in Dundalk, Co Louth.

Chief celebrant Fr Michael Cusack told the congregation that no one could adequately put into words the pain suffered by Det Garda Donohoe's wife and children.

The married father-of-two was killed while on escort duty at Bellurgan, Jenkinstown, last Friday night.

The 41-year-old was shot dead by a gang as they robbed the Lordship Credit Union.

The President, Taoiseach and members of the Cabinet attended the funeral mass at St Joseph's Redemptorist Church.

The Dáil and the Seanad adjourned for several hours as a mark of respect and to allow members to attend the service.

Detective Garda Joe Ryan, who was on duty with Det Donohoe when he was killed, was among pall bearers who carried his Tricolour-draped coffin, with his garda cap and gloves atop, into the church.

Uniformed colleagues formed a guard of honour as the cortege arrived to be met by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.

It is estimated that around 2,500 uniformed gardaí, and up to 1,000 plain-clothes officers, attended the mass.

Many businesses in Dundalk closed as the garda's cortege passed through the town on its way to his final resting place in Lordship, close to where he died.

Fr Cusack said Adrian was a loyal, honest, virtuous and faithful man who laid down his life for his community.

"The whole country is gutted by what has happened," he said.

Donohoe was the 'perfect role model'

Fr Cusack said the murdered detective was the perfect role model for everybody and the callous mowing down of his innocent life was a reminder that there was good and evil.

"So many people today no longer offer their services freely to the community but Adrian always did," he said.

He told Det Garda Donohoe's wife there were no words that could bring her husband and the father of her children back, but he hoped the support of her family, friends as well as colleagues and the GAA would give her some comfort.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan spoke towards the end of the mass and reassured mourners that the killers will be found.

"No words can adequately express the great sense of loss and revulsion felt by the Donohoe family, the family of An Garda Síochána and indeed the wider public in learning about the cold blooded murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe last Friday night," he said.

"We, Adrian's colleagues, are committed to ensuring that we bring the perpetrators responsible for this callous crime to justice.

"Our resolve is strengthened by the overwhelming support from the President of Ireland, the Government and members of the public."

The Commissioner praised the public for the outpouring of solidarity across the country with messages of sympathy and support being sent to police in stations in every county and online.

"To the local community in the Dundalk and Cooley peninsula, we are forever in your debt for the outstanding generosity you have shown to the Donohoe family and An Garda Síochána at this most difficult time," he said.

"Adrian, Detective Garda, husband, father, son, brother, colleague, community leader, GAA man, friend, we will never forget you."

Before the mass, Fr Cusack said that Det Garda Donohoe's wife Caroline made all the arrangements.

Fr Cusack said: "Her grief cannot be overridden by pomp and ceremony. We have deferred to her on all decisions.

"She has prepared the mass herself. I was with her until 11.30pm last night.

"We just prepared our building here for accommodating those who have to be accommodated.

"But beyond that it is about Caroline, her children, Adrian's parents, both of the families and all the garda colleagues."

Garda Donohoe is the first garda shot dead for 17 years since Garda Jerry McCabe was killed by an IRA gang in a post office raid.

Mr McCabe's wife, Ann, joined mourners in Dundalk today.

Meanwhile, the Irish League of Credit Unions has offered a reward of €50,000 for information leading to the capture of Det Garda Donohoe's killers.

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Education Dept to strengthen bullying guidelines

The Department of Education is to revise and strengthen anti-bullying guidelines for schools by next September.

A new 'Action Plan on Bullying', published today, says the new guidelines should aim to prevent and tackle homophobic and trans-phobic bullying in particular.

It says anti-bullying policies should define what bullying is, and should include cyber bullying in that definition.

The Action Plan recommends that schools should create a system for recording bullying incidents.

It also recommends that Boards of Management should play a more active role in reviewing policy and its implementation.

The plan says school policies should list all nine grounds of harassment outlined in equality legislation.

They include sexual orientation, religion, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community.

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn said he broadly accepted the recommendations of the working group on bullying.

Wider recommendations include the establishment of an anti-bullying website, and a media campaign focussing specifically on the issue of cyber bullying.

The report also recommends training for Boards of Management and parents.

It says more evidence should be gathered and research done on the prevalence and impact of bullying as well as the effectiveness of anti-bullying measures.

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65 people found executed in Aleppo - activists

Activists say that at least 65 people, apparently shot in the head, have been found dead in a neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the men were found with their hands bound.

The death toll could rise as high as 80, it warned, in what it called a "new massacre".

It was not clear who carried out the killings.

The conflict in Syria, a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad, has lasted for almost two years.

Rebels have pushed into major cities such as Aleppo and Damascus and taken territory in the north and east, while government forces have bombarded rebel-held areas with artillery and air strikes.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has said that more than 700,000 Syrian refugees have fled to other countries in the region and aid workers are struggling to keep up with the exodus.

The number of refugees passed the 500,000 mark on 11 December, meaning more than 200,000 have fled the war-torn country in the past seven weeks.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees spokeswoman Sybella Wilkes said: "We have seen an unrelenting flow of refugees across all borders. We are running double shifts to register people."

Jordan has 171,033 registered Syrian refugees, as well as 51,729 who await processing, many of who fled fighting around the southern Syrian town of Deraa this month.

Lebanon has 158,973 Syrian refugees, and 69,963 awaiting processing.

Turkey has 163,161 Syrian refugees in its 15 camps, while Iraq hosts 77,415, the UNHCR said.

There are 14,375 in Egypt and 5,417 registered across the rest of North Africa.

The UN warned yesterday that it would not be able to help millions of Syrians affected by the fighting without more money.

Read Ray Colgan's special report from Jordan's Za'atari refugee camp, now home to over 65,000 people.

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Car used by Det Donohoe killers stolen in Louth

Gardaí believe the car used by the killers of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was stolen in Clogherhead, Co Louth, and remained in the area days before the armed robbery.

The burnt-out Volkswagen Passat found in woods in south Armagh is being forensically examined by the PSNI, who are working closely with gardaí in the investigation.

Gardaí have issued an appeal for anyone who may have seen such a car either parked up or being driven around the area to contact the incident room in Dundalk.

It has also emerged that Garda Donohoe was not due to be on duty last Friday night, but was filling in for a colleague.

The killing and robbery took place at the Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Jenkinstown in Co Louth on Friday night.

Detectives say the gunman did not hesitate before shooting the 41-year-old in the head and believe they are close to identifying the five members of the gang involved.

The investigation into the murder is focusing in on a cross-border gang.

Gardaí say they are grateful for the response they have received from the public to their appeal for information and they are checking every report.

They will make a national televised appeal this evening on Crimecall, which begins at 10.15pm on RTÉ One.

Detectives are examining CCTV footage taken from local businesses, petrol stations and the Lordship Credit Union.

Detective Garda Joe Ryan, who was held at gunpoint during the robbery, remains deeply traumatised.

The Cabinet is being briefed on the garda investigation and the incident is also expected to be raised in the Dáil.

Meanwhile, books of condolences remain open in several garda stations around the country and at the Mansion House in Dublin.

The remains of the father-of-two are reposing at his home this afternoon ahead of his State funeral tomorrow at St Joseph's Redemptorist Church in Dundalk.

Fianna Fáil to proceed with motion on garda resources

Fianna Fáil Justice Spokesperson Niall Collins has said his party will go ahead with its motion on garda resources this evening in the Dáil.

The Government had asked for the motion to be postponed until after the funeral of Det Garda Donohoe.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr Collins defended the decision to go ahead with the motion, saying that it had been tabled last Friday morning.

He said the two subjects should not be linked and there is no desire within Fianna Fáil for the line between both to become blurred.

"The minister is to close 95 garda stations this week. That is what we're discussing in Dáil Éireann and I think it would be a farcical situation if we were to let the awful murder of Detective Donohoe and indeed the thugs who murdered Garda Donohoe to dictate what we are to discuss."

Mr Collins said maintaining a presence in local communities is key to allowing gardaí to do their job effectively.

"It is about having the presence. Many people also avail of the services of An Garda Síochána, other than reporting crimes. The minister is taking an approach which is the wrong direction."

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Surrogacy twins 'denied right to family'

Twins born to a surrogate mother are deprived of their right to be part of a constitutional family while the law fails to recognise their biological mother, the High Court has heard.

The submission was made by lawyers for a woman who has taken legal action to be registered as the mother of children born to her sister using her embryos.

Gerard Durkan SC said the State's failure to recognise the genetic mother who provided the embryo with her husband was a failure to protect and vindicate their constitutional rights to form a legal family.

The children were entitled to the protection and security of a legal family, regardless of how they were conceived and born, Mr Durkan added.

He said the genetic mother in this case had provided the egg and fulfilled the role of mother in every aspect since birth.

For registration purposes parentage for males turned solely on genetic factors, but for females it did not and that created a discrimination.

He added there was no justification for this discrimination.

Mr Durkan said under the Status of Children Act any child may go to court to seek a declaration of parentage and the test for this is a DNA test.

The legal basis on which the Oireachtas had decided parentage to be established was based on inheritable characteristics established by DNA testing.

That was the test, regardless of whether it was a mother or father or the circumstances of conception and birth, he said.

Mr Durkan said the Oireachtas could have chosen a different regime and excluded mothers from a simple DNA test.

It could have said only women who gave birth could be declared a mother but it had chosen not to.

That, he said, was the regime in force in this country.

He said were the tests to be applied to the family at the centre of this case the sister would be excluded as the mother, yet she was the legal mother according to the register of births.

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Funeral of former footballer Kevin Heffernan held

The funeral of Dublin footballer and manager Kevin Heffernan has taken place.

Huge crowds attended the funeral mass of the 83-year-old in the St Vincent De Paul Church in Marino, Dublin.

Representatives of President Michael D Higgins and Taoiseach Enda Kenny attended, along with ministers Richard Bruton and Leo Varadkar, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Dublin Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí.

GAA President Liam Ó Néill, broadcaster Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh and former Dublin football managers Pat Gilroy and Tony Hanahoe were also present.

In his homily, Monsignor John Fitzpatrick spoke of Mr Heffernan's leadership and personal integrity.

Three flags were erected at the side of the altar - the Dublin flag, the St Vincent's GAA club flag and a flag presented to Mr Heffernan when he was given the Freedom of Dublin in 2005.

Mr Heffernan was to be laid to rest in Sutton cemetery.

Last night, a huge crowd turned out to pay their respects to Mr Heffernan, who passed away last week after a lengthy illness.

A giant of the GAA, he captained the Dublin footballers to All-Ireland victory in 1958.

He also won 21 county titles with his club, St Vincent's.

Mr Heffernan leaves behind a lasting legacy as manager of the great Dublin teams of the 1970s and 80s.

He is credited with breathing new life into football in Dublin and rescuing and reviving GAA in the capital.

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Five injured in Longford garden centre accident

Two people are reported to have been seriously hurt after a wall collapsed at a premises in Longford.

Three other people were also injured when the internal wall fell in the Connacht Gold DIY and Garden Centre on the Athlone Road.

The centre has been sealed off and emergency services are at the scene.

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Galway woman guilty of 2011 manslaughter

A jury at the Central Criminal Court has found a 31-year-old woman guilty of the manslaughter of a man in 2011.

Maura Thornton, from Inverin in Connemara, had denied the murder of 59-year-old Kevin Joyce at an apartment in Upper Salthill in July 2011.

The jury of three women and nine men, sitting in Galway, returned their verdict after deliberating for three hours and eight minutes.

Thornton will be sentenced in March.

She has been remanded on continuing bail until the sentencing hearing.

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Hogan says FF 'trying to undermine' new facility

Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan has accused Fianna Fáil of "trying to undermine" a new facility at St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny.

His comments follow controversy after hospital projects in Kilkenny and Wexford were fast-tracked by Health Minister James Reilly.

Yesterday, RTÉ's This Week programme revealed how hospital projects in the constituencies of two senior Cabinet ministers were fast-tracked.

Documents show Mr Reilly told the HSE to accelerate the projects at Wexford General Hospital and St Luke's in Kilkenny, and that announcements about the work were made by local ministers Brendan Howlin and Mr Hogan before the HSE Board became aware of the change.

Department of Health sources insist the projects were long planned and were progressed on the basis of need, while a spokesperson for Mr Howlin said details for the announcement came from the HSE.

Mr Hogan accused Fianna Fáil of trying to undermine the Kilkenny development, which was going ahead after the HSE identified savings and efficiencies to pay for it.

Meanwhile, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn told reporters that Mr Reilly will update the Cabinet tomorrow on the details so his colleagues can see "exactly what happened".

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Film-maker Éamon de Buitléar dies aged 83

The death has taken place of wildlife film-maker and former senator Éamon de Buitléar.

Mr de Buitléar, who was 83, died at his home in Delgany, Co Wicklow, last night.

He was Ireland's best known independent wildlife film-maker since the 1960s.

He was also known for promoting the Irish language and traditional music.

A founder member of Seán Ó Riada's Ceoltóirí Chualann, Mr de Buitléar was an accomplished musician, playing the mouth organ and button accordion.

He was also the author of several books, including schoolbooks on Ireland's natural history and a recent memoir, A Life in the Wild.

He was appointed to Seanad Éireann in 1987 in recognition of his work with environmental issues and to the Heritage Council and the Central Fisheries Board.

In November last year, Mr de Buitléar donated his entire archive of film, music and writings to the National University of Ireland, Galway.

He is survived by his wife, Lailli, and five children, Aoife, Éanna, Róisín, Cian and Doireann, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters and brothers.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, broadcaster and botanist Éanna Ní Lamhna paid tribute to Mr de Buitléar.

She said: "He was in and out of our programme occasionally and of course he wasn't just a man with a film, he could actually speak about wildlife on a radio programme and produce wonderful word pictures.

"You could see what he was talking about and then he would whip out his mouth organ and give us a little tune."

RTÉ Director General Noel Curran said programmes like Amuigh Faoin Spéir, Ireland's first wildlife series, had a profound influence on attitudes to our environment.

He said: "In November 2012, Éamon donated his entire collection of film, music and writings to the National University of Ireland, Galway, and RTÉ was delighted to partner with NUIG to preserve the programme collection.

"It is fitting that the work of one of Ireland's most unique film-makers should be preserved in this way, in tribute to Éamon de Buitléar's outstanding contribution to education, to film-making, and to Irish life."

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Two arrested after Limerick taxi hijacking

Two men in their 20s have been arrested after a taxi was hijacked and the driver threatened at knifepoint in Limerick city over the weekend.

The taxi was hailed by two men in the Dooradoyle area after 10pm on Saturday night.

They asked the driver to go to a number of destinations in Limerick city and county. 

They produced a knife at Cratloe Woods, threatened the driver and demanded to be taken back to the city. 

The men left the taxi driver at Dooradoyle and then drove off in the direction of Garryowen Rugby Club. 

The taxi driver was traumatised but otherwise not physically hurt.

The men are being held at Roxboro Garda Station.

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Gang that murdered detective left €40,000 behind

The gang that shot dead Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe did not succeed in stealing all the money from the Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth.

As much as €40,000 in cash and cheques was left behind after the gang fled the scene with just €4,000.

The money was part of a cash collection from four credit unions in the area, which Det Garda Donohoe and his colleague were escorting to be deposited in a bank in Dundalk.

Gardaí now say that at least five men were involved in the robbery.

The gang were armed with a shotgun, handgun and hammer; they had their faces covered and were wearing tracksuits.

They blocked the exit of the credit union car park and shot Garda Donohoe, 41, in the head when he got out of his car to see what was going on.

Detective Garda Joe Ryan was held at gunpoint while the robbery took place.

Detectives are waiting to conduct detailed interviews with credit union staff and Det Ryan, who witnessed the murder.

Gardaí believe a cross-border gang suspected of carrying out a previous armed robbery on the credit union 18 months ago could have been involved in the murder.

They are liaising with the PSNI to determine whether a car found burnt-out in south Armagh is connected to the killing.

The funeral of Det Garda Donohoe will take place in Dundalk on Wednesday.

He will be reposing at his home tomorrow afternoon before his funeral mass at St Joseph's Redemptorist Church in Dundalk on Wednesday afternoon.

Dublin Lord Mayor Naoise Ó Muirí has said a book of condolences will be opened in the Mansion House for people to sign to convey their sympathies to Det Garda Donohoe's family.

Tributes

A friend paid tribute to him as a fine role model, who had died protecting his neighbours.

Speaking to RTÉ's Morning Edition, St Patrick's Gaelic Football Club Chairman Alan Duffy said the death was a big shock for the wider community in Dundalk.

He said as well as being a senior player, Det Donohoe had been a coach for Under 7s and Under 16s, and had been due to take up a coaching course on Saturday.

He said: "He's been a very visible figure in our community.

"He's been admired by everybody for years for being a fine role model, a member of Garda Síochána, a mentor to children, and a role model to teenagers.

"We are all going to miss Adrian, and it's a void that's been created in our community."

The Parish Priest of Lordship and Ballymascanlon has said the community is finding it hard to come to terms with what has happened.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Fr Padraig Murphy said: "I think people just don't know what to think.

"It's just like a dark cloud has descended upon us all and they're sickened by what has happened."

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Three killed in separate road crashes

Three people have died in separate road crashes around the country.

An 80-year-old woman died in a two-car collision on the northbound section of the M50 motorway in Dublin.

The crash happened near the Red Cow Inn at 10.30pm last night.

The injured woman was taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown where she was pronounced dead. 

The male driver of the second car was injured, but the extent of his injuries is not yet known.

A 27-year-old woman was killed in a single vehicle crash in the village of Donoughmore, Co Cork.

The crash happened at 1am and the woman was taken to Cork University Hospital where she was pronounced dead. 

Gardaí have appealed for any witnesses to the accidents to contact them.

Elsewhere, a 19-year-old man died as a result of a road crash in Co Down.

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Man killed in Kildare road crash

A man in his 20s has been killed in a road crash in Co Kildare.

The crash, in which a garda car was involved, happened on the Naas to Newbridge road at 3.20am this morning.

The man was taken to Naas General Hospital, but he died a short time later.

The road is closed for a technical examination and diversions are in place.

Gardaí have said the crash has been referred to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Elsewhere, a man has been injured in a collision on the M1 in Co Louth.

Two cars collided on the motorway south of Monasterboice at around 8.30am this morning.

One of the cars overturned and the driver was taken to hospital. His injuries are not thought to be serious.

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Urgent need for deal on Irish bank debt - Gilmore

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore is to tell EU and Latin American leaders that there is an urgent need for an appropriate deal with the European Central Bank on Ireland's bank debt.

Mr Gilmore will make his comments in an address to the EU-Latin America Summit in the Chilean capital Santiago later today.

He will say: "Failure to conclude negotiations on the promissory note would have a potentially catastrophic effect on Ireland."

Among those attending the summit are German Chancellor Angela Merkel, EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso and President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy.

Mr Gilmore will hold bilateral meetings with the prime ministers of France and Austria later today.

He has also discussed improving trade links during talks with the presidents of Chile and Colombia.

Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has confirmed that Ireland's attempt to secure a deal on the annual €3bn payment in promissory notes has run into difficulty with the ECB.

Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, Mr Vardakar said the Government remained hopeful that a deal will be concluded.

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Upgrades to ministers' local hospitals accelerated

Hospital upgrades in the constituencies of two Cabinet colleagues were accelerated in the HSE Capital Plan at the behest of the Minister for Health, RTÉ's This Week programme has learned under documents released under the Freedom of Information Act.

The documents also show that the improvements to the emergency departments in Wexford General Hospital and St Luke's Hospital Kilkenny were announced by ministers Brendan Howlin and Phil Hogan before the HSE Board were aware of the proposed changes.

The improvements involved changes to the HSE Capital Plan.

Mr Howlin and Mr Hogan announced the commencement of work on their local hospitals in early June 2011, a number of days before a HSE board meeting on 9 June.

Board minutes show the ministerial announcements about the hospitals were queried.

They also show that a written confirmation of the changes to timelines in the capital plan was sought by HSE Director of Estates Brian Gilroy, who was unaware of the new timelines for the proposed hospital upgrades.

Following the board meeting, Mr Gilroy wrote to the Department of Health.

This Week has seen the letter, which informs Principal Officer Jim Breslin of the need for extra money if the upgrades to the emergency departments in the two hospitals are to be completed on the timelines announced by Ministers Howlin and Hogan.

In the case of Wexford General Hospital, the HSE informed the Dept of Health that an extra €20m would be needed for the building works, while just over €14m would be needed for Kilkenny.

Approval of this funding had to be sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

An exchange of emails between the HSE Director of Estates and the Department of Health reveals an additional €12m was ultimately approved for Wexford General Hospital by Mr Howlin's department, while improvements in Kilkenny were to be financed by "efficiencies" in other hospital equipment budgets.

At a subsequent board meeting on 14 July 2011, HSE Chief Executive Cathal Magee received a letter from the Department of Health's then Secretary General Michael Scanlan confirming that the Minister for Health requested that these two projects be "accelerated in the HSE's capital programme".

Howlin's department sanctioned expenditure

The letter also noted that Mr Howlin's department had sanctioned this expenditure.

This Week asked the Department of Health why the Kilkenny and Wexford Hospitals were chosen for acceleration in the HSE Capital Plan.

A spokesman for Minister for Health James Reilly said: "The Emergency Department in Wexford Hospital was of very poor condition and it was considered appropriate to expedite its replacement.

"Among the problems in Kilkenny, the Medical Assessment Unit has been housed in a portakabin, and again it was considered appropriate to ensure completion of the project there.

"The decision was made in July of 2011 and was made at the board meeting of the HSE. The minutes of the board meeting showed this decision clearly at the time."

When questioned as to why announcements were made by Mr Hogan and Mr Howlin about the projects in early June before capital sanction was acquired, the Minister for Health's spokesperson directed such queries to the relevant ministers' offices.

This Week contacted the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to inquire what contacts had taken place between Mr Howlin and Mr Reilly about Wexford General Hospital.

The programme also inquired why Wexford General Hospital received an extra €12m in capital allocations.

Mr Howlin's department sent the following statement: "The proposed extension to Wexford General Hospital features in the HSE Regional Service Plan for 2011 and preceding years.

"Planning permission for the project was lodged by the HSE in 2010 and granted by Wexford Borough Council in 2011. Design and planning work commenced as far back as 2009."

In separate letter from the HSE South's Director of Operations Pat Healy to Mr Hogan concerning St Luke's in Kilkenny, which has been seen by This Week, Mr Healy wrote: "As you will be aware, while the project has been included in the overall capital plan for the HSE for some time, we had only been able to bring the project to design stage and had not secured sufficient funding to enable the project to be approved to commence to full development.

"With your own support and that of the Minister for Health, the project was fully approved for development in the HSE Capital Plan 2011-2015 and authorised to the CEO of the HSE on July 14, 2011 by the Secretary General of the Department of Health."

In his letter, Mr Healy gives a completion date of late 2013 for the St Luke's upgrade.

In a statement the Minister for Health's spokesperson also said: "Wexford and Kilkenny were on the Capital Plan in advance of the July 2011 decision. Significant work had already been carried out in terms of planning design etc."

However, email correspondence between the HSE's Director of Estates and an official in the capital section of the Department of Health shows that design work in Kilkenny was not complete and that some of the money approved to accelerate the project was for the completion of this design work.

While the Wexford and Kilkenny hospitals were included in the HSE Capital Plan for 2010-2015, both projects were at design stage, with no completion dates are assigned to them.

Completion dates for the both projects do not appear until the amended HSE Capital Plan 2011-2015, which was approved at the 14 July HSE Board Meeting.

Roscommon TD Denis Naughten, whose local hospital's emergency department was downgraded in June 2011, said: "At the time when we had a Government that was ignoring clear commitments given by the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, the Minister for Health to retain services at Roscommon County Hospital, they were downgrading the hospital at the same time as clearly ensuring that investment was going into Wexford and Kilkenny hospitals, which had not been on the previous priority list."

Mr Naughten also expressed surprise at Mr Hogan and Mr Howlin announcing the hospital projects prior to being approved by the HSE Board.

He said: "Yes, I am surprised in relation to it and that approval had not been given prior to it, because the Minister (for Health) was saying to me about Roscommon that the decision was outside his control, that the HSE and HIQA had made the decisions.

"Clearly in relation to other A&E's the ministers could go and make the announcements and get the approval afterwards."

Fianna Fáil Health Spokesperson Billy Kelleher has accused the Minister for Health and other ministers of seeing the HSE capital budget as a slush fund for electoral gain.

Speaking to This Week, Mr Kelleher said that one would be left with a clear conclusion that there was political interference in deciding and prioritising hospitals.

He said health services should be prioritised based on need.

Mr Kelleher said the issue should be investigated further and that Fianna Fáil would be raising the matter.

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Irish food industry 'vindicated' over horse DNA

The Minister for Agriculture has said that the Irish food industry has been vindicated after ingredients imported from Poland were confirmed as the source of the horse DNA found in burgers manufactured at the Silvercrest plant in Ballybay, Co Monaghan.

Asked about the impact of the controversy on consumer confidence on RTÉ's This Week, Simon Coveney said he would not belittle this and the situation should not have happened.

He said his department was working with the ABP Food Group to try and reassure customers.

He said he had also been speaking to Tesco and Burger King about the situation.

Mr Coveney said he had secured a commitment from ABP to change the management at the Silvercrest plant.

He said all existing product there would be destroyed and there would be permanent supervision by the Department of Agriculture in the plant until consumer reassurance could be given.

Yesterday it was confirmed that the results of testing into the source of horse DNA in burgers found that it came from ingredients imported from Poland.

Asked about initial suggestions earlier this month that products from the Netherlands and Spain were the source of the horse DNA contamination, Mr Coveney denied that he had pointed the finger at those countries.

He said in an initial Food Safety Authority of Ireland press statement it was stated that some of the foreign-sourced ingredients had tested positive for trace-elements of horse DNA.

He said the authority had acted appropriately at all times and had been absolutely transparent.

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245 killed in Brazil nightclub fire

At least 245 people have been killed in a fire at a nightclub in southern Brazil after a band's pyrotechnics show set the building ablaze, local police said.

Bodies are still being removed from the Kiss nightclub in the southern city of Santa Maria, said Major Gerson da Rosa Ferreira, who is leading rescue efforts at the scene for the military police.

He said the victims died of asphyxiation or from being trampled. There were as many as 500 people inside the club when the fire broke out.

Luiza Sousa, a civil police official in Santa Maria, said the blaze started when a member of the band or its production team ignited a flare, which then set fire to the ceiling.

The fire spread "in seconds", Ms Sousa said.

Rio Grande do Sul state Health Secretary Ciro Simoni said emergency teams from all over the state have been sent to the scene.

Santa Maria is 300km west of the state capital of Porto Alegre.

Rio Grande do Sul Governor Tarso Genro said it was "a sad Sunday" and that "all possible measures" are being taken in response.

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Gardaí renew appeal to find detective's killers

Gardaí investigating the killing of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe have renewed their appeal for information.

The scene at the Lordship Credit Union in Co Louth where the shooting and armed robbery took place on Friday night remains sealed off for searches and further examination.

It is believed that the armed gang that shot and killed Det Garda Donohoe got away with around €4,000.

Detectives in Dundalk also believe it is likely that a criminal gang was involved rather than dissident republicans.

More than 100 gardaí are now working on the investigation into the killing of the 41-year-old father-of-two at Bellurgan, Jenkinstown.

Officers in Dundalk have cancelled holidays and come in on their days off as the investigation makes progress.

The garda escort was part of a routine patrol for years on a number of credit unions in the area.

Detectives believe the gang would have known that the two garda officers were on duty on Friday night.

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has stressed that now is the time for those with information to come forward because other people know the men involved.

The post mortem on the body of Det Garda Donohoe has been completed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.

He will be returned to his wife Caroline, also a garda in Dundalk, his children and extended family for burial later this week.

Politicians condemns killing

Minister for Cummincations Pat Rabbitte has condemned the killing of Det Garda Donohoe, calling it an "appalling cowardly murder".

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, the minister said the shooting did not happen because of the closure of garda stations or cuts in the Budget.

Mr Rabbitte said the shooting was a "cold-blooded assassination" that demonstrated how gardaí put their lives at risk every day.

He said the criminal underworld in Ireland has reached "a new low" when a garda with no weapon tries to make an inquiry and the response is to shoot him dead.

Sinn Féin leader and Louth TD Gerry Adams has said that anybody who has information relating to the shooting of Det Garda Donohoe should bring it to gardaí.

Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Mr Adams said if there was a Northern Irish element to the killing, then anyone with any information should go to the PSNI.

Mr Adams extended his condolences to Mr Donohoe's colleagues, wife, family and friends.

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Three held over Dublin assault

Three men have been arrested as part of an investigation into a serious assault in Dublin in the early hours of this morning.

A 40-year-old man suffered stab wounds in the attack in Kimmage at about 2.45am.

The man was discovered outside a house at Ravensdale Park and taken to St James's Hospital.

His injuries are said to be serious, but are not believed to be life-threatening.

Three men in their 40s have been arrested and are currently detained at Crumlin, Sundrive Road and Terenure garda stations.

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Egypt army to deploy after Port Said riot

An Egyptian court has sentenced to death 21 people accused of involvement in the Port Said football stadium disaster in which 74 people were killed last year.

The ruling sparked off an attempted jailbreak and a riot that killed another eight in the Mediterranean port city that is home to most of the defendants.

The verdict follows deadly clashes between police and demonstrators yesterday, the second anniversary of the uprising that overthrew former leader Hosni Mubarak.

Die-hard football fans from both teams, Al-Ahly and Al-Masry, hold the police at least partially responsible for the Port Said deaths.

They have also criticised Egypt's President Mohammed Mursi for doing little to reform the force.

Immediately after the verdict, two police were shot dead outside Port Said's main prison when angry relatives tried to storm the facility to free the defendants.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets, as well as live rounds, at the crowd outside the prison, killing six.

Security officials said the military is being deployed to Port Said, the second such deployment in less than 24 hours.

The army was widely used to keep order by top generals who took over after Mr Mubarak, but the military has kept a much lower profile since Mr Mursi was elected as president in June.

The military was also deployed overnight in the city of Suez after eight people died in clashes between security forces and protesters opposed to Mr Mursi.

Another protester was killed in Ismailiya, and security officials told the state news agency MENA that two policemen were killed in yesterday's protests, bringing the death toll on the second anniversary of Egypt's uprising to 11.

Judge Sobhi Abdel-Maguid read out the death sentences related to the 1 February riot in Port Said that killed 74 fans of the Cairo-based Al-Ahly team.

Defendants' lawyers said all those sentenced were fans of the Port Said team, Al-Masry. Executions in Egypt are usually carried out by hanging.

The judge said in his statement, which was read live on state television, that he would announce the verdict for the remaining 52 defendants on 9 March.

As is customary in Egypt, the death sentences will be sent to the nation's top religious authority, the Grand Mufti, for approval, although the court has final say on the matter.

All of the defendants, who were not present in the courtroom for security reasons, have the right to appeal the verdict.

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Man arrested over Wicklow murder

Gardaí investigating the murder of Philip O'Toole in Co Wicklow have arrested a man in his 40s.

The man was arrested in Bray, Co Wicklow this morning and is being held at Bray Garda Station.

He can be questioned for up to seven days.

Mr O'Toole was last seen at his home in Arklow on 7 January and his body was found at Trooperstown Wood, Rathdrum yesterday.

Gardaí said he was shot dead.

They have appealed for anybody who may have seen anything suspicious in the area to contact them in Bray on 01-6665300.

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Convention discusses reducing Presidential term

The first working meeting of the Constitutional Convention is under way, with discussions on proposals to lower the voting age and to reduce the Presidential term of office to five years.

The convention opened with condolences to the family of Garda Adrian Donohoe, followed by a minute's silence.

Chairman Tom Arnold said the convention will be run on "first-name terms" and all titles, including Minister, Deputy, Senator, Mr and Mrs, will be left at the door.

The 100-member panel is made up of 66 citizens, chosen randomly from the Electoral Register, 33 politicians, including four from the Northern Ireland Assembly, and Mr Arnold.

Dr Theresa Reidy of UCC provided information to the delegates to inform them on issues surrounding the lowering of the voting age to 17.

Members then heard from representatives from the National Youth Council of Ireland and the Irish Association of Social Care Workers, as they put forward their views and offered arguments on both sides of the debate.

After round-table discussions, the afternoon session will focus on the reduction of the Presidential term of office from seven years to five years.

Delegates will be offered expert analysis from DCU Professor Robert Elgie.

Both private and plenary sessions are taking place throughout the weekend.

Voting will take place tomorrow and results are due to be announced at midday.

The Government is committed to an Oireachtas debate on the recommendations within four months and to set a date for a referendum if it agrees with the recommendation.

The proceedings are being steamed live on the Convention's website www.constitution.ie

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Detective Donohoe killed 'without warning'

Gardaí have said Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was killed without warning and did not produce his weapon before he was shot.

Detective Garda Donohoe, who was married with two children, was fired on by raiders outside a credit union in Bellurgan, Jenkinstown, Co Louth at around 9.30pm last night.

The 41-year-old was originally from Kilnaleck in Co Cavan, but was stationed at Dundalk Garda Station.

Specialists from the Garda Forensic and Technical Bureau are examining the scene at the Lordship Credit Union.

The credit union stays open late on Friday nights and Detective Garda Donohoe and Detective Garda Joe Ryan were on escort duty.

It is believed four armed men were waiting in the car park outside to rob the credit union.

They moved to hold up staff at gunpoint as they were leaving to deposit money in Dundalk.

The two gardaí got out of their car, but as Det Garda Donohoe approached he was shot in the head without warning and had not drawn his garda-issue weapon.

Det Garda Ryan has been traumatised, but is otherwise unhurt.

The raiders then fled the scene in what is believed to have been a dark-coloured car.

Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information to contact them at Dundalk Garda Station on 042-938840 or 1800-666111.

Det Garda Donohoe is survived by his wife Caroline, who is also a garda stationed in Dundalk, and their two young children, a boy and a girl.

Two of his brothers are also gardaí stationed in Swords and Navan.

Det Garda Donohoe joined the force in 1994 and was stationed in Dundalk for all his service.

He comes from a family of six, two girls and four boys, three of whom joined gardaí.

Det Garda Donohue is the first member of the force to be shot dead while on cash escort duty since the murder of Det Garda Jerry McCabe in Adare, Co Limerick in 1996.

Mr McCabe's widow Anne said: "I have to sympathise with the family and the shock they are going through."

President 'shocked' by murder

President Michael D Higgins said he was deeply shocked to learn that Det Garda Donohoe had been shot dead.

Mr Higgins described the killing as "a dreadful crime" and said all Irish people "will be truly appalled by it".

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he learnt of the fatal shooting with deep shock and great sadness.

Mr Kenny said it was an outrageous act of cold-blooded violence that has left a family without a husband and father, and gardaí without a brave and valued member.

Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has condemned last night's killing.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Shatter said it was a "brutal, callous murder" that was carried out in cold blood and there was no excuse for what happened.

He said gardaí had the full support of the Government and all right-thinking people in bringing those responsible to justice.

Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said he was appalled by the killing and said it was "unacceptable crime".

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said this afternoon that he had been deeply saddened to hear of his colleague's death.

Commissioner Callinan said: "He was a very popular member of An Garda Síochána, a very efficient member, someone who was revered both by his peers and members of the community where he served."

Commissioner Callinan said gardaí would find "out precisely who was behind this robbery" and assured the slain detective's family that everything would be done "bring the perpetrators of this terrible murder to justice".

Gardaí are still investigating whether subversive elements, such as dissident republicans, were involved or whether a criminal gang was responsible.

Commissioner Callinan said it was too early to "speculate whether there is a subversive element in relation to" the killing, or whether those behind it are "ordinary criminals".

"We will put all our energy towards finding out precisely who was behind this robbery," he said.

The Garda Representative Association said the killing highlighted the dangers gardaí face in the course of their duties and it must be condemned.

GRA President John Parker said: "This dreadful news is what every police family fears.

"At this time the wider garda family will be doing everything possible to support the late garda's relatives and loved ones, friends and colleagues. There is a deep shock across An Garda Síochána - and Irish society."

There has been cross-party condemnation of the shooting.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said the killing was a "direct assault on our society".

He said: "No stone should be left unturned and no resource denied to the gardaí in their pursuit and prosecution of those responsible and all associated with them."

Sinn Féin's Pádraig Mac Lochlainn said: "This is a yet another tragic reminder of the immense risks our gardaí take every day to protect our communities.

"We can only hope that those responsible are speedily brought to justice."

The Cavan County Board has also expressed its sympathy to Det Garda Donohoe's family, as he was former minor and U-21 player with the county.

Fine Gael TD for Louth Peter Fitzpatrick said the "senseless murder" had shocked the community and people who knew Det Garda Donohoe.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: "I have known Detective Donohoe for many years. I played football with him and managed his local GAA team.

"He was a gentle giant whose wife and children meant the world to him. As a volunteer in his local community, he was loved and respected by all who knew him."

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French forces seize key targets in Mali

French forces in Mali have seized the airport and the bridge over the Niger River at the rebel-held stronghold of Gao, the French Defence Ministry said.

French and Malian troops have advanced rapidly against al-Qaeda-allied Islamist militant fighters holding the Saharan state after France intervened earlier this month at the request of the Malian government.

The announcement from Paris showed that the French and Malian units were making quick progress in their northeastwards offensive against a coalition of Islamist groups that includes al-Qaeda's North African wing, AQIM.

For two weeks, French jets and helicopter gunships have been harrying the retreating Islamists, destroying their vehicles, command posts and weapons depots.

The French action had already halted a sudden Islamist offensive launched in early January that had threatened Mali's southern capital Bamako.

The French defence ministry statement quoted minister Jean-Yves Le Drian as saying that many of the Islamist fighters' vehicles and logistics bases had been destroyed.

News that the French forces were at Gao came as African states struggled to deploy a planned 6,000-strong African intervention force in Mali under a UN mandate.

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British retailer takes burgers off shelves

British supermarket chain Waitrose has become the latest retailer to pull beefburgers from its shelves because of the horsemeat controversy.

The company said it took frozen burgers made by Dalepak, one of the firms at the centre of the investigation, off sale "as a precaution" when it had its accreditation suspended.

Ten million burgers have been taken off supermarket shelves across Ireland and the UK.

They were removed after it was revealed some lines sold by Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Aldi, Lidl and Iceland were discovered to have contained traces of horsemeat.

The ABP Food Group, one of Europe's biggest suppliers and processors, stopped work at its Silvercrest Foods plant in Co Monaghan after tests last week revealed contamination in frozen burgers.

Tests had already shown that Silvercrest Foods and another of the company's subsidiaries, Dalepak Hambleton in Yorkshire, supplied beefburgers with traces of equine DNA to supermarkets, including one product classed as 29% horse.

Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney this afternoon confirmed that he has received test results on 24 samples from Silvercrest Foods.

However, the results are not being made public yet.

The samples are instead being sent to an Irish laboratory for further confirmation.

In a statement this afternoon, Mr Coveney said 130 samples had been taken from meat and other products in the factory and sent to a laboratory in Germany during the past week.

He described the investigation as "complex" and said he would not be drawing any conclusion until he got the full results.

Further test results are expected tonight and over the weekend.

Reputation of Irish meat 'not affected'

Meanwhile, Bord Bia Chief Executive Aidan Cotter this afternoon said the horse meat controversy has been confined to Britain and Ireland.

Speaking on RTÉ's News At One, Mr Cotter said research carried out in Ireland and Britain has found that among consumers, the reputation of Irish meat has not been affected.

"For consumers this is an issue of trust, an undermining of confidence in their ingredients and in the labelling of food," he said.

"It is also very deeply rooted in the perception of low value cheap meat products. And I think one of the redeeming facts about this is that consumers have very much rinfenced the issue around these low value meat products.

"They have not extended or generalised those perceptions beyond that into the wider industry."

He said there was very low awareness of the controversy in the rest of the world, and buyers have reported no concerns from any markets.

"We have been having morning conference calls with all of our ten international offices around the world. We have been monitoring the media coverage.

"There has been very limited media coverage in terms of the conventional print and broadcast media. There's quite a lot of coverage online.

"But the awareness is in fact very low, and buyers have reported no concerns whatever to us for any markets around the world."

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AGSI to withdraw from Croke Park talks

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has said it is pulling out of talks on the extension of the Croke Park Agreement.

The decision was taken at a special meeting of the national executive in Dublin today.

AGSI General Secretary John Redmond warned that his members would resist attempts to cut pay.

Mr Redmond said he did not think there would ever be a chance of the AGSI re-entering the process.

Premium payments were recognition of the frontline nature of the 24/7 role played by gardaí and he said the AGSI would not be involved in a process that reduces that pay.

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Two held in human trafficking probe

A man and a woman are being questioned by gardaí as part of an investigation into human trafficking.

Planned searches in Dublin, Dundalk and Athlone took place as part of Operation Quest yesterday.

A man in his 20s and a woman in her early 30s are being held in Clondalkin Garda Station. Another man was detained at Athlone Garda Station, but has been released without charge.

A number of items of evidence have been seized, including mobile phones, electronic devices and documentation.

Operation Quest was launched with the aim of identifying potential victims of human trafficking.

The investigation team is liaising with Europol, Interpol, the PSNI, the Human Trafficking Centre Central Investigations Bureau in Poland and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in the UK.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Store Street Garda Station on 01-6668074/6668000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800-666-111 or any garda station.

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Body discovered during search for missing man

Gardaí investigating the disappearance of a 33-year-old man have discovered a body in Co Wicklow.

Father-of-one Philip O'Toole has been missing for more than two weeks.

He was last seen leaving a house in Arklow on 7 January and his car was later found on Dargle Road in Bray.

Gardaí discovered a man's body just before 11am in a ravine at Trooperstown Wood, Rathdrum.

Mr O'Toole was a convicted criminal and known to gardaí for his connections to drug gangs and involvement in serious crime.

He was shot two years ago and was aware his life was in danger.

Gardaí, acting on confidential information, began searching the woods this morning and found a fully-clothed body.

There were indications that the victim sustained serious injuries and may have been shot.

The area has now been sealed-off pending the arrival of the Garda Technical Bureau and the Deputy State Pathologist.

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NI man gets 25 years in jail for toddler's murder

A man has been ordered to serve at least 25 years for murdering the 15-month-old daughter of his former partner.

Barry McCarney, 33, from Trillick, Co Tyrone, was found guilty last month of Millie Martin's murder in Enniskillen in 2009.

Mr Justice Ben Stephens said at Belfast Crown Court that McCarney was a "deeply manipulative man" who had carried out a "sadistic sexual assault" on the child.

During a ten-week trial the court heard that, in addition to a fatal blow to the back of her head, the victim suffered a multitude of other injuries.

McCarney was also found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and sexual assault of Millie.

Justice Stephens told him he must serve at least six and two years for those crimes respectively, but those terms will run concurrently with his murder sentence.

Millie's mother Rachael Martin looked on from the public gallery.

At the same trial last year, she was acquitted of charges of allowing her daughter's death and cruelty through wilful neglect.

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No new prosecutions in Martin O'Hagan murder case

Eight people investigated over the murder of a Northern Ireland journalist more than a decade ago will not be prosecuted because of concerns about evidence from a key witness.

Sunday World reporter Martin O'Hagan, 51, was shot dead by loyalists in Lurgan, Co Armagh, in September 2001.

Neil Hyde gave an account to police which could not be independently verified, Northern Ireland's Director of Public Prosecution said.

DPP Barra McGrory said: "The prosecution of any of the accused in this case would depend on the evidence of Neil Hyde.

"Having regard to all the circumstances, it has been concluded that, in the absence of any corroboration, the available evidence is insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction against any individual."

Mr O'Hagan worked for the Sunday World, and built a reputation for covering paramilitary and drugs-related stories.

He was the first journalist believed to have been murdered in the line of work in the history of The Troubles, killed as he returned from a pub in his home town.

A car pulled alongside and a gunman shot him. Marie O'Hagan escaped death when her husband pushed her into a hedge to protect her.

During the police investigation a suspect, Hyde, indicated that he was willing to assist the authorities.

He was interviewed at length by detectives about his knowledge of the killing and his own involvement.

The Public Prosecution Service prosecuted him for a range of offences including conspiring to carry a firearm with intent to wound in connection with the murder, which had been claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) and Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

Hyde was jailed for three years last February.

Sentencing judge Patrick Lynch QC told him if he had not agreed to identify the alleged culprits in Mr O'Hagan's murder and give evidence about the activities of the outlawed LVF, he would have been imprisoned for 18 years.

The PPS is considering whether Hyde should be referred back to court so his sentence can be reviewed and that decision hinges on whether he gave an untruthful account.

Mr McGrory said: "I know this decision will be disappointing to Mr O'Hagan's widow, family, friends and colleagues but the evidence that can be given by an assisting offender must be carefully evaluated and the test for prosecution applied on a case by case basis.

"Every case is different and the question whether the test for prosecution is met can only be determined on the merits of each individual case."

He said his approach had been assisted by detailed consideration given by Mr Justice John Gillen, who highlighted the dangers of convicting on the uncorroborated evidence of an accomplice after an Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) supergrass trial last year.

Twelve of the 13 men were acquitted of all charges following one of the longest trials in Northern Ireland's legal history.

The judge in that case said the supergrasses confused the roles of those they alleged were present.

Sunday World northern editor Jim McDowell said he was disappointed, annoyed and angry.

"Myself and the staff have worked hard since that black Friday in September 2001 to try to get justice for Martin O'Hagan.

"It now seems, that old adage, while there may be a law in this country, where is the justice?"

He added that today's announcement had come as a complete shock to him and the dead man's family.

"This will not diminish in any way our resolve to continue to try to get justice for Martin," he said.

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Kenny defends Ireland's 12.5% corporation tax

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said that Ireland's 12.5% corporate tax rate is "transparent across the entire spectrum".

Mr Kenny said the tax regime in Europe in general "may lead companies to make decisions about their tax rates", but that Ireland is not a tax haven for unorthodox practices.

He told a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that Ireland's tax regime is "very clear, very transparent".

"Our tax regime is a national competence, and it's not changing."

He was responding to a question from the moderator about the prospect of treaty change at EU level, which might affect Ireland's corporate tax rate.

Earlier, British Prime Minister David Cameron told an audience of business leaders that the world needed "a fairer tax system".

He said: "Some companies navigate their way around legitimate tax systems and even low tax rates with an army of clever accountants."

It was not clear, however, if he was referring to Ireland on the issue.

Mr Cameron added that some businesses "aren't seen to pay their taxes that is corrosive to the public trust".

He said there needed to be debate about tax evasion and tax avoidance, an issue he said had attracted popular and political interest across the world.

He also said the Group of Eight industrialised countries should focus on countering corporate tax evasion and aggressive tax avoidance.

He said: "Any businesses who think that they can carry on dodging that fair share or that they can keep on selling to the UK and setting up ever-more complex tax arrangements abroad to squeeze their tax bill right down, well, they need to wake up and smell the coffee because the public who buy from them have had enough."

He also warned European leaders that any attempt to shoehorn countries into ever deeper political union was a mistake that Britain would not be a part of.

"Countries in Europe have their histories, their traditions, their institutions, want their own sovereignty, their ability to make their own choices, and to try and shoehorn countries into a centralised political union would be a great mistake for Europe," Mr Cameron said.

In a speech yesterday, Mr Cameron said a referendum on EU membership would be held by the end of 2017, provided he wins a second term.

He said that while Britain did not want to retreat from the world, public disillusionment with the bloc was at "an all-time high".

Mr Kenny was invited to open European stock markets by banging the gong at the CNBC tent in Davos this morning.

In an interview carried live on CNBC shortly afterwards, he said he was continuing to press the case for Ireland to win concessions on bank debt.

He also said that he wanted to see Britain as a driver of the European single market and that it was central to the future of the EU.

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Judge revokes bail of sex offender Patrick O'Brien

Mr Justice Paul Carney has revoked the bail of convicted sex offender Patrick O'Brien, who admitted the rape and indecent assault of his daughter over a ten-year period.

The judge apologised to O'Brien's victim, Fiona Doyle, and expressed his profound regret for the stress he caused in this case.

On Monday, Mr Justice Carney sentenced the 72-year-old, from Bray in Co Wicklow, to 12 years in prison but suspended nine years and granted him continuing bail pending an appeal.

Today, he said he accepted that the procedure he adopted in the sentencing was inappropriate and something he should not have done, and said he had no difficulty in saying that.

In explaining his decision to originally grant O'Brien bail, the judge said that having designed the sentence he was concerned that he might be giving too much weight to the health of the accused.

He added that in certifying the case for appeal he was not canvassing for any reduction in the sentence but was looking for "immediate assistance from other judges".

"I frankly did not want to take the responsibility of the case entirely on my own," he said. "I wanted to share the burden with others."

He said he wanted the assistance of the appeal court, which he referred to as "experienced minds", as soon as possible and it was his intention that bail would be a "short-term matter".

He said he did not want anyone to say that O'Brien had walked, however, people were able to say that.

He said the way is now clear for the Director of Public Prosecutions to appeal the leniency of the sentence or for the accused to appeal the severity of the sentence.

Speaking to reporters outside the court today, Ms Doyle said: "Justice has been served today and I have been vindicated and I accept Judge Carney's regret in what happened.

"I'm just overwhelmed by the support, the media support, the support of the people of Bray, Facebook, it's just been amazing, they picked me up and carried me the past four days."

She is to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny next Wednesday, and says she "looks forward to putting her case across" and detailing the problems she found with the system.

Elsewhere, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said that while he could not comment on the case, he could understand why people were "disturbed" by it.

He said no child or woman should be subjected to the type of abuse that Ms Doyle endured.

However, he said he had to be cautious in his comments as the case was still before the courts.

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Republican Dolours Price dies aged 61

The death has taken place of Dolours Price, who was jailed for her part in the IRA bombing of the Old Bailey in March 1973.

The 61-year-old was originally from Belfast, but had been living in Malahide in Dublin.

A post mortem on the circumstances of her death will be carried out, but gardaí say at this stage there is no indication that foul play was involved.

Ms Price was a centre of controversy in recent months after she gave a number of press interviews in which she claimed she drove Belfast mother-of-ten Jean McConville to the place where she was murdered by the IRA.

She also alleged that Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams personally ordered the abduction of several people the IRA considered to be traitors in the 1970s.

Mr Adams has always denied ever being a member of the IRA.

Ms Price was part of an IRA team that blew up a number of buildings in London, including the Old Bailey, 40 years ago next March.

Her sister, Marian, was part of that group.

Gerry Kelly, now a prominent Sinn Féin member at Stormont and a representative on Northern Ireland's Policing Board, was also a member of the group. He was 19 at the time.

All were arrested attempting to board a plane at Heathrow and were given lengthy prison terms after a trial.

During a campaign to be transferred to prison in Northern Ireland, the Price sisters went on hunger strike and were force fed.

Eventually they were repatriated and in 1981 they were released from Armagh prison on humanitarian grounds.

Marian Price is currently in prison in Northern Ireland after she was arrested following a dissident republican event in Derry in 2011.

Mr Adams has offered his condolences to the Price family.

"I want to express my profound sadness at the news of the death of Dolours Price," he said.

"I want to extend my sincere condolences to her family and especially to her two sons, Danny and Oscar, and her sister Marian.

"Marian should be released from detention," he added.

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'Do not resuscitate' notes at nursing home queried

A new inspection report into the private Mullross Nursing Home in Kilclare, Co Leitrim, has revealed that "do not resuscitate" directions were in some residents' files.

The report says there was no evidence available that the home had ensured this had been discussed with the residents, or their relatives, or the multidisciplinary team.

The HIQA inspections in December and earlier this month found that there was no evidence that any communication had occurred with regard to resuscitation orders to ensure the residents had been involved in the decision.

It was confirmed today that the home, which was taken over by the HSE in early January, has closed and all residents have been moved out.

Hopes locally that the home could be kept open under new management have faded.

Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority published the final inspection report, which led to the HSE taking control of the facility, which could cater for 30 residents and employed 32 staff.

HIQA says the system in place at Mullross increased the risk of medical errors occurring.

Some medicines that were not suitable for crushing were crushed by staff and no maximum dose was identified for some pain killers, some of which were controlled drugs.

No temperature gauge was available in the medication fridge to control the temperature of certain drugs.

The report cites persistent failings of the Health Act 2007 and found:

- There had been no person in charge of the home from September 2011 until May 2012

- Poor wound management, nutritional assessment and pain management

-A photograph of wounds could not be taken to monitor care due to a dead battery in the camera.

- A resident had a serious pressure sore that was not receiving suitable care

- Many residents had not been weighed recently even though they had been losing weight

- An incident of bruising to a resident was recorded in the care file but not documented in an incident report and was not investigated

- A failure to monitor a resident after they had an epileptic seizure

- A resident who had deteriorated from 13 December to 18 December 2013 without an apparent medical review

- It found that the person in charge had resigned from her post in late December, the third person in charge since the home had been registered.

During the inspection, the provider told HIQA that seven residents were medically reviewed each Monday but there was no documentation in the medical file to support this.

The Health Service Executive took control of the home in Leitrim on 4 January last.

Following the concerns raised by HIQA, a meeting was held with the registered provider of the home, who agreed to the authority's decision to cancel his registration.

The HSE made alternative arrangements for the management of the home, but it has now closed.

Mullross Nursing Home wrote to residents at the end of December saying it was to close and alternative accommodation would have to be found.

The home had operated since 1987.

At the start of this month, Stephen Buckley, the registered provider, said that the home would not be able to meet the requirements of the 2009 Health Act by January 2014 and had to give notice to residents and staff.

He said that the physical structure and room sizes were issues and the building would not be compliant with regulations.

The home was leased from owner Patricia Foley.

Ms Foley had insisted that the physical structure issues could be dealt with by 2014 and she had hoped to be possibly in a position to take it over.

A HIQA inspection report on the home in May 2012 found that some actions required since the last inspection had not been implemented.

Among the issues of concern then were the management of medicines, staffing and recruitment, maintenance of records, notification of incidents and the complaints procedure.

A HSE inspection in 2007 found the home was not complying with certain regulations, including the prevention of infection.

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IFA accuses FSAI over burger statements

Irish Farmers' Association President John Bryan has said the Food Safety Authority of Ireland had handled the horse DNA controversy badly.

He said its initial statement on the matter was misleading.

Mr Bryan said he wants the pace of the investigation into beef burgers to quicken and he compared it with the pork dioxin crisis which he said was sorted out in three to four days.

He said there has already been a big recall of burgers from Silvercrest and it was time to sort out the crisis as we can not afford to damage Irish jobs.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Pat Kenny, Mr Bryan said the traces of horse DNA found in all but one of the burger tests were negligible.

The IFA president said it would have been more accurate to say that just one of the burgers tested - the one in which horse DNA made up 29% of the meat content - had come back positive.

"The initial statement from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland was misleading, it highlighted trace elements that nowhere else in Ireland would have been mentioned and even mentioned there might be a problem with some religious minorities with this.

"So they were exceptionally broad in the statement, without proper facts.

"I think that they should have re-checked their samples, they should have used as all scientific people do a base line in other countries to see what the view in other countries was, without issuing a statement," he said.

Mr Bryan said he is concerned about jobs, adding that the controversy had already cost Silvercrest its Burger King contract.

Earlier, Fianna Fáil's Éamon Ó Cuív said Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney should go before the Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture to explain what he does know about horse meet ending up in beef burgers produced in Ireland.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, he said: "If there are certain facts that have not yet been established, well we need to know what they are, why they are not established and when they'll be established.

Mr Ó Cuív said the minister should tell them what he does know.

He said despite earlier claims that the source of the horse meat was abroad, that is not clear anymore.

Meanwhile, Mr Coveney has said he will not be releasing further test results on Irish produced beef products until they have been quantified.

He defended the testing process and said his team has been working 16-18 hour days on the matter.

Speaking on Today with Pat Kenny, he said: "I've put them under huge pressure because there is a real need to get this issue over with as soon as possible so that we can get back to rebuilding the reputation of a fantastic food industry."

He also said he can see why Burger King has cancelled its orders for burgers produced here.

"One, because the factory is now closed, so they couldn't get product from the factory even if they wanted to, but also they want to make sure that we get to the bottom, and they get to the bottom, of this investigation before they start supplying again.

"But can I also say, Burger King, and people have ignored this, in their statement said, that they do want to source beef from Britain and Ireland if they can because they recognise the standards here."

Investigators are currently piecing together results from tests carried out on ingredients used in burgers produced between 4 and 16 January, in an effort to trace the source of horse DNA found in beef burgers.

The minister said the results are being quantified at laboratories in Germany and Ireland and "that takes time".

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