A family who removed their child from the Hide and Seek creche service at the centre of an RTÉ exposé raised concerns about the facility with politicians and child protection services more than a year ago.

Ireland is second in drawing down rural development (RDP) programme funds — with only Finland drawing down more, stated Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine assistant secretary general Colm Hayes.

Ireland is losing out on billions of euro every year because eight of the 100 most lucrative Irish-based multinationals pay no corporation tax and five more have a tax bill of less than 1%.

The cost to the State of funding Irish Water as its ‘sole customer’ would amount to some €1.2bn this year, a committee examining the future of water services heard.

Teachers could lose their licence to teach under recommendations by the Ombudsman for Children.

A state body specifically tasked with giving technical financial advice to the Government was locked out of discussions with ministers on the night of the bank guarantee, and had just “90 seconds” to raise concerns.

Cuts introduced in the budget could result in the loss of up to 30,000 jobs, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions has estimated.

Newcastle United’s sponsorship deal with loan company Wonga could prove contentious with the club’s Muslim players, a religious organisation has warned.

Newcastle United's sponsorship deal with loan company Wonga could prove contentious with the club's Muslim players, a religious organisation has warned.

The Irish aid boat the MV Rachel Corrie has called on the UN to help ensure its safe passage to Gaza after Monday's deadly Israeli raid on a flotilla of six ships.

ANXIOUS peace activists aboard an Irish-owned ship bound for Gaza have vowed not to give up their humanitarian aid cargo to Israel but have said they are prepared to surrender peacefully if Israeli commandos decide to board their boat.

THE HSE and the Minister for Health must police new consultants’ contracts properly to ensure the taxpayer gets good value for money.

PLANS to close or limit accident and emergency departments across the country are being considered by the Health Service Executive.

The United Nations has opened top-level talks with North Korea for the first time in six years, the world body’s political chief said today.

MORE than 100 gardaí, backed by a similar number of private security personnel, were last night involved in a standoff with protesters opposed to Shell’s attempt to lay a pipeline connecting north Mayo to the Corrib gas field.

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney said the €140 million for pay increases under the new consultants’ contract next year would not be released until there was real change in the way patient services were delivered.

IF YOU are looking for a 100% recession-proof job, then you might want to consider upcoming openings at the local dole office.

HOSPITALS will forfeit a slice of their annual funding for failing to tackle the A&E crisis and to maintain acceptable hygiene standards, it was learned yesterday.

Two medical organisations have withdrawn from talks due to take place today with health service bosses to negotiate a new contract for hospital consultants.

HOSPITAL consultants last night accused the Government of trying to bring the health service to its knees.

Phil Flynn acted as negotiator with Herrema kidnappers, writes Ryle Dwyer.

MORE THAN 80 operations and other scheduled procedures are cancelled every day in hospitals around the country because of shortages of beds and staff, according to health experts.

The Dublin born former Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations has told a jury that he holds the UN responsible for killing many thousands of people, including children, in Iraq through the imposition of sanctions.

THE termination of a long-standing deal whereby consultants collectively negotiated their fees with health insurance providers will mean lower costs for two-million subscribers, according to the Competition Authority.

BADLY managed hospitals where patients’ health is not improved by high treatment costs have been fined €7.5 million.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has promised to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure patients are fully covered for past compensation claims.

THE National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) which has paid out millions of euro to private hospitals for treating patients on public waiting lists is refusing to reveal which hospitals are getting the money.

IRISH neutrality was not founded out of cowardice, nor a denial of international obligation.

The Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin will host a major meeting on the Iraqi crisis in Dublin tomorrow.

THE new Show Jumping Association of Ireland (SJAI) executive are to get an exclusive briefing on plans for the modernisation of the Equestrian Federation of Ireland (EFI).

AMERICAN President George W Bush may not be taking much notice of either the United Nations or anyone else these days, but Irish schoolchildren are hoping their own political leaders will be different.

POWERS given to the State by education laws may be unconstitutional, a legal expert has warned.