Ireland has dropped from first to third place on an annual, overfishing “shame” list compiled by a British non-governmental organisation.

THE fishermen’s blockades of Cork and Waterford ports were called off yesterday after Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Brendan Smith agreed to meet the Federation of Irish Fishermen (FIF) tomorrow. But the fishermen were quick to point out they have not called off their protest, just suspended that aspect of it.

PLANNING rules that restrict building permission to those who speak Irish, are from the locality or work on the land, are to be challenged by the European Commission.