The LÉ Eithne is expected to be given the order to deploy in the Mediterranean after next Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, at which Minister for Defence Simon Coveney will almost certainly get approval from colleagues to send it on a humanitarian mission to save drowning refugees.

A FORMER Guantanamo detainee is to press justice and foreign officials about EU countries accepting more former prisoners and the efforts being made to close the controversial detention camp.

The Cabinet is likely to back proposals by the Justice Minister to grant more cases of asylum to refugees.

Bertie Ahern today said there were “serious matters” in the report his Government has received from Canadian Judge Peter Cory on allegations of collusion between the security forces and paramilitary organisations on both sides of the Irish border.