AS this is the first time funds from the EGF have been approved to help workers who have lost their jobs in this country, co-ordination manager of the fund David Smith is very conscious of the need to ensure that everything is done in strict accordance with EGF’s rules and criteria.

AS Ann Corcoran’s partially burnt body lay wrapped in bin bags buried under a mound of earth in a woods in Garrettstown, Co Cork, her murderer, Oliver Hayes, was using her money to fund a skiing trip in Austria with his girlfriend.

AS Enid O’Dowd says (‘Why ice victims are getting a bad break from the Government — twice’, Letters, January 16), the Government in its wisdom prioritised the artists’ tax exemption for a “needy” pensioner for a ghostwritten book over the needs of ice victims having to pay privately for physio sessions.

AS President Mary McAleese concluded her Boston trip, spending much of her visit with Irish emigrants and organisations concerned with the cause of the thousands of undocumented Irish there, Tánaiste Mary Coughlan made changes to the work permit system here which will effectively force many immigrants into undocumented situations.

AS the family of the Tipperary man accused of plotting to murder the President of Bolivia prepare to bury him later today, it has emerged two more men have been arrested in the south American country in relation to the alleged plot.

AS John Duddy still nurses the stitches above his eyes and applies a cold compress to what must undoubtedly be a severely bruised ego, he should offer thanks to the boxing gods that he still has a world middleweight title fight to aim for this year.

AS a recently-returned emigrant who was educated in the US, I was shocked that my application for a nursing licence was refused.

AS Justice Minister Michael McDowell admitted a claim he made two years ago that the threat of gangland murders had been snuffed out, new figures reveal prosecutions have been taken in just one-in-six gun murders since the coalition came to power nine years ago.

Paul Keane

AS two of the many people who suffered small financial loss through the recent failure of Jetmagic in Cork, can we say how heartened we were to receive a cheque in the mail reimbursing us for the cost of our tickets.

Booker Prize-winner AS Byatt has taken a swipe at the Harry Potter books, saying they are for readers whose imaginations stretch to “soaps, reality TV and celebrity gossip”.

Arsenal 1 Sheffield United 0

Dave Billings has revealed the extent of his feelings for St Vincent's ­ despite landing a crushing blow on them as UCD boss in Sunday's Dublin SFC decider.

One of Osama bin Laden’s wives believes the world’s most wanted man is still alive and would never abandon his base in Afghanistan.