Ireland is to increase its funding in the worldwide battle against polio by €500,000, it emerged today.

Red Cross officials in India’s remote Andaman islands accused the government of ”hijacking” their relief materials today, as squabbles over aid continued in the archipelago devastated by the tsunami.

Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson has donated £50,000 (€70,000) to the relief effort for areas ravaged by the Indian Ocean tsunami.

I REFER to the letter in the Irish Examiner (October 10) entitled “Polio programme a Rotary project”.

ON September 25, the Irish Examiner ran an article by Ian O’Sullivan titled: “Samantha kicks off battle against polio.”