Former GAA PRO Danny Lynch is concerned the criteria set out to appoint the new director general indicates the association remain intent on maximising revenue.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has agreed to examine claims that construction firms are encouraging welfare fraud and underpaying workers on State building projects.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Phil Hogan has confirmed that planning and development regulations which he is putting through the Oireachtas will reduce the exempted development threshold for drainage of wetlands, from 20 hectares to one tenth of a hectare (about quarter of an acre), and reduce the threshold for a mandatory environmental impact assessment (EIA) of drainage of wetlands from 20 to two hectares.

Two men have been arrested following the stabbing of a garda from the Longford-Westmeath drugs unit in Athlone.