Labour ministers have backed their ministerial colleague Dara Murphy but said that his use of a garda car to travel from Cork to Dublin Airport was not an “appropriate use of resources”.

The HSE has ordered almost 30 hospitals and clinics to stop paying top-ups to senior managers.

Representatives from Irish Water are to appear before TDs next week to take questions about its spending on consultants.

A Fine Gael TD has claimed the Government thinks the Public Accounts Committee chairman has “crossed the line” and that is why information has been leaked to force him from his position.

THE majority of TDs questioned for an Irish Examiner survey said they never sought nor had penalty points cancelled from their driving records.

Public servants could see their pay and allowances cut when the Croke Park agreement ends and its successor is negotiated, Fine Gael’s Europe Minister Lucinda Creighton has said.

The acting chief of the Dublin Docklands Authority acknowledged a “flawed process” was used to buy the Irish Glass Bottle site for €412m — the most expensive property purchase ever by the State — amid claims a “golden circle” sealed the deal.

BIRMINGHAM defender Alex Bruce has opted to make himself available for the Republic rather than Northern Ireland.

Republic of Ireland Under-21 Manager Don Givens has had to make some personnel changes to his squad travelling to Madeira on February 13 next for the Madeira Tournament.

BRIAN Kerr stressed last night how invaluable a good start against Germany would be for his Republic of Ireland U17’s tonight as they head into one of the most challenging groups imaginable in the Euro Championship qualifiers.

Brian Kerr has named a squad of 22 players for the first qualifying phase of the European 2003 Under-17 Championships in Cork from October 21 to October 25, 2002.

Bar workers from the MANDATE trade union have threatened to go on strike during the World Cup after accusing the Licensed Vintners Association of withdrawing its recognition of the union.