A public health emergency has been declared to combat the spread of a potentially lethal superbug detected in 306 patients to the end of September.

University Hospital Limerick has apologised after a Limerick pensioner had to endure the trauma of “hearing the saw that cut the bone in his leg” during an amputation.

CORK lighting firm Nualight has raised more than €9 million from investors which will be used towards the growth of the company.

Nualight Ltd, an LED lighting company based in Cork, has received €9.1m in funding following its latest investment round.

FRENCH students staged a fresh day of wildcat protests yesterday, vowing to keep up the pressure on the government and calling for further concessions despite the scrapping of a contested jobs contract.

FRENCH students vowed yesterday to step up their protests against a new youth work contract after mass marches and a general strike planned for tomorrow if the government does not withdraw the law.

FRENCH unions and Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin agreed to meet today over a contested jobs law as protesters clashed with police in Paris and other cities.

FRANCE’S powerful interior minister yesterday distanced himself from prime minister Dominique de Villepin over a controversial jobs law that last weekend brought 1.5 million protesters nationwide onto the streets.

FRENCH President Jacques Chirac yesterday called for swift talks between the government and unions over a youth employment law after Paris protests against the measure ended in violence and arrests.