- NEWS
Martin wades into abortion debateAs the Dáil committee hearings continue on the abortion bill, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has waded into the debate saying it is important that Christian believers "be, and seen to be, on the side of life, especially when life is most vulnerable".
Payment cuts see families pay rent shortfallLimits on rent supplement payments set by the Government are forcing thousands of families to make undeclared top-up payments to landlords to secure places to live.
- WORLD
Anger as North Korea launches another missileNorth Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast, a day after launching three more of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said.
How Star Trek predicted the futureWHEN Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first dreamed up the concept of a television show based in the unexplored universe of Outer Space in 1964, the world was a very different place.
- BUSINESS
Warnings over future of eurozoneThe eurozone is heading towards a break up unless there are moves towards much closer political and fiscal union, according to chief economist with State Street Global Advisers, Chris Probyn.
Bruton defends corporate tax rateIreland will be able to maintain its current corporation tax code in the face of international pressure to prevent multinational corporations avoid paying their fare share of tax, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said yesterday.
- SPORT
Mayo’s statement of intentGalway 0-11 Mayo 4-16 Five minutes to go in Salthill yesterday and James Horan was still cajoling his men to sew it into Galway.
Wilkinson inspires Toulon to gloryASM Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16 Not for the first time this season, a matchday performance and the result have made a mockery of the statistics.
- LIFESTYLE
What Lenny Abrahamson did nextLENNY Abrahamson has directed three feature films: Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did.
Why do women love to dress up?Trying on clothes, said Ewart, produced "sensations which bring deep peace and perfect contentment" to the female mind.
15-18C
Breaking stories
Unholy row in council chamber as move to scrap prayer defeated
By Eoin English
A proposal to scrap a prayer at the start of a local authority meeting sparked an unholy row last night.
Cork’s city councillors voted overwhelmingly against the move after a heated debate.Socialist Party councillor Mick Barry, an atheist, called for the deletion of a rule governing the order of council business which states that the start of the council’s public meetings should include the recitation of an opening prayer, followed by a brief period of silent reflection.
The prayer reads: “Direct, we beseech thee, O Lord, our actions by thy holy inspirations and carry them on by thy gracious assistance; that every word and work of ours may
always begin from thee, and by thee be happily ended; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Quoting James Connolly’s position, Mr Barry said: “You should have separation of Church and State. When I come into this council chamber, I report for work.
“A bus driver who reports for work isn’t faced with saying a prayer.
“The State should not interfere with a person’s practice of religion in a genuine republican democracy.”
He was backed by Cllr Ted Tynan, Workers Party, and Fine Gael councillor Laura McGonigle.
“We don’t come in here to practise religion,” she said. “A short period of silent reflection is done in Dublin City Council, the Stormont Assembly, the Welsh Assembly and the Scottish Parliament.
“We should consider this as a pluralist and inclusive alternative.”
But several councillors said it was open to individuals to either stand or sit during the prayer.
Labour councillor Michael Ahern pointed out that Connolly signed the proclamation “in the name of God”.
Cllr Joe O’Callaghan (FG) said: “If it was good enough for Connolly, then it’s good enough for me.
“With all its faults, I’m a Catholic and I’m proud of that. And it’s still a Christian country and long may that continue.”
Sinn Féin’s Tom Gould urged caution against Mr Barry’s proposal.
“I respect his position, but we need to be careful about where we’re going,” he said. “I mean, are we going to end up calling Christmas ‘happy holidays’?”
Cllr Kenneth O’Flynn said it wouldn’t do any harm for councillors to aspire to follow the teachings of the bible.
A vote was called and Mr Barry’s proposal was shot down by 20 votes.