MINISTER for Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, Richard Bruton, said the Government would stand firm against any attempt by Europe to insist on a change in the 12.5% corporation profit tax as a condition for easing the terms of the €85 billion bailout.

THERE are calls for a full Dáil debate on the findings of a European inspection report which highlighted “inhumane” conditions in Irish prisons and for a high-level group to take responsibility for implementing its recommendations.

PEOPLE are being “chemically restrained” in psychiatric hospitals in order to control behaviour, despite there being no regulation around such treatment.

THE Prison Service has contradicted dramatic claims in the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) report that staff at Mountjoy Prison were not subjected to the same strict drug security measures as visitors.

A new international report has found that the majority of Irish prisons are dangerously overcrowded.

A new report has found that violence amongst patients is on the increase in our psychiatric hospitals - with St Brendan's and St. Ita's hospitals in Dublin worst effected.

PRISONERS using bottles and plastic bags to urinate and defecate in front of each other in cramped cells are among the “degrading” and “debasing” conditions exposed by an international torture committee.

JAILING people for less than six months doesn’t seem to work and community options should be used to ease worsening overcrowding levels in prisons, according to an international inspection committee.

THE EU is not seeking to interfere with Ireland’s corporate tax rate, officials of Dublin Chamber said yesterday.

TAX defaulters have paid €17.1 million in settlements and fines to the Revenue Commissioners.

LAST summer, the Prison Service issued a stark warning that Mountjoy was liable to erupt.

Concluding our series on the prison system, Cormac O’Keeffe examines government penal policy and finds rehabilitation is possible.

In part one of a three-day investigation Cormac O’Keeffe unveils new figures which reveal a worrying and growing crisis behind Ireland’s prison walls

IRISH prisons are outdated, underfunded and understaffed, according to prison officers who say a report by an international human rights agency backs their concerns about their dangerous working conditions.

Europe’s human rights watchdog today urged the Irish authorities to crack down on ill-treatment in prisons and impose “severe sanctions” on prison staff using unnecessary violence to deal with inmates.

VIOLENCE in Irish prisons is on the increase with growing numbers of prisoners seeking protection from fellow inmates, a report from an international human rights watchdog has found.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has today called on the Government to release a new report on conditions in Garda stations by the Council of Europe’s anti-torture watchdog organisation.

A POWERFUL European torture watchdog has made initial observations to the Government following a 12-day visit to Ireland.

IF one is given to airing opinions on something as important as society’s treatment of the mentally ill, then it is only proper one is familiar with the real facts of the situation, as well as overall intent and trend.

The UK authorities promised Norman Kember’s family and his church that they would not attempt a rescue unless they could be reasonably confident that no-one would be killed, it was claimed today.

Peace activist Norman Kember was back on British soil today after a 119-day hostage ordeal in Iraq.

US and British troops yesterday freed three Christian peace activists in rural Iraq without firing a shot.

While the Christian Peacemakers Teams expressed joy at their colleagues’ sudden rescue from captivity in Iraq today, the peace activists took the opportunity to also call for an end to the US-led occupation of Iraq.

CONTROVERSIAL Government plans to move the Central Mental Hospital to a new ‘super prison’ complex were dealt a blow yesterday after the State’s human rights watchdog came out strongly against the proposal.

A EUROPEAN human rights body has more powers to enter garda stations than the new Garda Ombudsman, a State-appointed watchdog said yesterday.

A TOP-LEVEL human rights committee is to be set up in the Garda Síochána to combat racism within the force as well as abuses against civilians by gardaí.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell yesterday told prison officers he would go ahead with slashing the €60 million overtime bill.

INMATES made almost 50 complaints of ill-treatment at the hands of prison officers in the last two years.

CLAIMS of people being mistreated and beaten by gardaí have credibility, according to evidence gathered by a European rights’ watchdog.

THE continuing use of padded cells for prisoners with psychiatric problems amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment, a European human rights body said yesterday.

TAX returns for the 11 months to the end of November show a far healthier position than many had forecast.

The Government is expected to announce plans to establish an independent Garda Complaints Board this week.