An umbrella group of victims’ organisations has warned Ireland is to breach this November’s deadline for full implementation of an EU directive on the rights of victims of crime.

THE long-promised reform of Irish politics appears to have been put on ice, judging by the jaded tenor of the familiar knock-em-down-and-drag-em-out battle for the hearts and minds of the Irish electorate which got underway in earnest at the Fine Gael convention in Castlebar over the weekend.

Justice Minister Alan Shatter has warned he will drag the legal profession into the 21st century with the Legal Services Bill which aims to reduce legal fees, the Fine Gael convention was told.

SEVEN candidates are to contest the Fine Gael Convention in Cork South West on December 10.