A volunteer who is the powerhouse behind Cork’s Penny Dinners first developed the helping gene when she realised that when her father went “missing” on Christmas morning he was actually out feeding the city’s elderly.

Today marks the beginning of National Volunteering Week. Ellie O’Byrne pays tribute to our unpaid heroes.

A soup kitchen charity has called for an increase in the national minimum wage after seeing people with jobs turning to it for help.

Inner city residents have objected to plans by the Cork Penny Dinners charity to develop a new day-centre, writes Eoin English.

Musgrave Retail Partners have given quite the Christmas present to Cork Penny Dinners.

A major family fun-day which was due to take place in Cork's newest public park has been cancelled at the last minute.

A soup kitchen charity in Cork believes its free first communion clothes initiative for families struggling to meet the costs of the big day should be replicated across the country.

A Cork soup kitchen is feeding 1,400 people a week — a 55% rise in demand in a year. Cork Penny Dinners, which was started by the Quakers during famine times, says 2013 has been its busiest ever.

The former Aer Rianta chief who spent €45,000 euro of company money on gifts for his colleagues tonight announced he would pay for them himself.

The new Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) is beginning its first day of business today after formally replacing Aer Rianta at midnight last night.

The new Shannon Airport Authority is due to hold its inaugural meeting today.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan has urged the new Dublin Airport Authority to reduce its dependence on British routes and seek to attract more business from the rest of Europe.

The State Airports Bill has been passed in the Seanad without a vote.

The Government has come under attack in the Dáil over the speed with which legislation to break up Aer Rianta was introduced in the House.

The board of Aer Rianta will take legal and financial advice about the break up of the company by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan.

Tánaiste Mary Harney has faced strong criticism from Labour leader Pat Rabbitte over plans to break Aer Rianta into three separate companies.

The board of Aer Rianta is due to discuss the Government’s plan to break up the company when it meets later today.

Fine Gael has criticised the The State Airports Bill for 2004 which paves the way for the break up of Aer Rianta, claiming it is pointless.

Aer Rianta will be split up into three separate companies, under legislation published today by Transport Minister Seamus Brennan.

Budget airline Ryanair has welcomed plans which could lead to the break up of Aer Rianta.

Legislation paving the way for the break-up of Aer Rianta is due to be published today.

The Government and trade unions have reached agreement on a deal to facilitate the break-up of Aer Rianta, according to SIPTU.

The Dublin Chamber of Commerce has asked the Government to clarify its plans in relation to Dublin Airport.

Ryanair has called on the Government to proceed with the planned break-up of Aer Rianta after it was revealed that €7m has been written off by the company over the proposed Pier D extension to Dublin airport.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is reportedly planning to press ahead with the break-up of Aer Rianta today, despite assurances to trade unions that he would consult them fully beforehand.

Visitors planning to travel to Ireland to celebrate St Patrick’s Day face transport chaos tonight after airport staff voted to join bus and rail workers in strike action on the day after the national holiday.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan has unveiled the group that will take over the running of Dublin Airport from Aer Rianta.

SIPTU has given Transport Minister Seamus Brennan until March 18 to declare his financial plans for Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports following the proposed break up of Aer Rianta.

The Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, has said that a European Commission decision, which may result in Ryanair having to repay millions of euro, has no bearing on his plans to privatise Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has welcomed SIPTU’s decision to call off a planned two-hour work stoppage at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports this morning.

The union representing workers at CIE has vowed to organise widespread industrial action if it is unhappy with the outcome of talks with Transport Minister Seamus Brennan next week.

The two-hour stoppage by SIPTU workers at the country's three main airports due to take place tomorrow has been called off.

SIPTU is due to make a decision today on whether to press ahead with a planned two-hour work stoppage at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports tomorrow morning.

The Taoiseach has said he strongly believes dialogue and consultation can resolve any dispute over change and reform with Aer Rianta workers.

SIPTU officials are due to meet later today to discuss Transport Minister Seamus Brennan’s latest effort to prevent strike action at Aer Rianta.

Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary has called on the army to implement a contingency plan to keep the airports open on Thursday ahead of threatened industrial action by SIPTU members.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is reportedly planning to provide detailed assurances to SIPTU today in an effort to avert planned strike action by the union’s members in Aer Rianta.

The Government is being told it should penalise any Aer Rianta union that seeks to disrupt Ireland's Presidency of the EU.

The Government could face embarrassment next week after airport staff today threatened industrial action during the six-month EU Presidency.

SIPTU has decided not to withdraw its threat of industrial action in protest at the Government’s plans to dismantle Aer Rianta and establish Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports as independent, competing entities.

20 million people passed through the country’s three biggest airports last year. Dublin, Cork and Shannon all recorded growth in passenger traffic, with business at Cork airport showing the biggest boost with a 17% increase in customers.

Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is to meet a group of unions representing airport workers in the hope of staving off the threat of industrial action at Aer Rianta.