AS a symbol of the effort required by the nation to get us through dire economic times, the Dublin City Marathon is a fitting metaphor.

Government enterprise chiefs were tonight urged to fight for a new investor at a business site which is to close its doors for a second time.

The worst suspicions of Ireland’s “forgotten county” were realised today as it emerged Donegal does not exist on the maps of the Government‘s crisis response headquarters.

Bomb disposal experts today carried out a controlled explosion on a pipebomb left outside a so-called head shop.

I AM vice-president of the Council of Europe Committee on Youth and Sport and at the end of this month I will chair an important meeting on the “mosquito device” — a tool which transmits a high-pitch noise audible only to young people.

There are calls today for the Government to appoint a regulator from outside Ireland to monitor the Irish banking sector.

A DUP assembly member has told Senator Cecilia Keaveney to drop any plans for an interpretive centre at a British Army base in his constituency.

FIANNA FÁIL took three of the first five Seanad Éireann seats filled last night, as the counting of votes continues.

THE coalition deal worked out between Fianna Fáil and the Greens may extend to the Seanad elections, with both parties seriously considering an electoral pact.

Sinn Fein were grasping on to hope late into the night that a gain in Donegal North East might lessen the pain of the collapse of their ambitious plans for a major breakthrough.

WATERFORD’S illegal drugs trade is worth up to €6.6 million a year to dealers in the city, a new report reveals.

ALL State agencies will be expected to provide pre-recorded voice messages, stationery and signage in Irish or both English and Irish under new draft regulations.

THE deployment of sniffer dogs at ports to help prevent diseases being imported that could damage the agri industry is being considered by the Department of Agriculture and Food.

FIANNA Fáil TD Jim McDaid yesterday said “Donald Duck” could win a Dáil seat if based in his stronghold of Letterkenny.

SENIOR Fianna Fáil sources yesterday firmly dismissed suggestions that the party wants former junior minister Jim McDaid to stand as a candidate in Donegal North East.

BACKBENCH TDs and senators spent €500,000 last year on foreign travel, including a number of fact-finding trips to exotic long-haul destinations.

THE Government is to establish a body to capitalise on the opportunities offered by the Olympics in London in 2012.

A SPECIAL garda traffic unit which was set up on Donegal’s Inishowen peninsula last October in response to a high number of road fatalities in the area has now been extended until March.

Ireland must begin preparing now for the Olympics in London in 2012 to prevent the fiasco of Athens last year, it was claimed tonight.

Barbara Clinton

EIGHT politicians have flown to the Philippines to attend a global conference this week, costing the taxpayer €31,384.

The Oireachtas committee on the arts, sports and tourism has announced its intention to investigate Ireland’s poor Olympic performance.

FIANNA FÁIL backbenchers yesterday backed John O’Donoghue’s call for Michael McDowell to change the controversial ban on children being in pubs after 9pm.

THE difficulties caused by the 9pm ban on children in pubs were predicted by the opposition when the law was introduced last year, Fine Gael tourism spokesman Jimmy Deenihan said yesterday.

A member of the Dáil has complained that British Army helicopter activity along the Northern Ireland border is threatening the lambing season for local farmers.

The Government has rejected accusations that it was to blame for the failure of Ireland and Scotland's joint bid to host the European Championships in 2008.

Cecilia Keaveney, chairperson of the Government Sports Committee, said despite today's unsuccessful Euro 2008 bid the Government remained committed to promoting Ireland as a country capable of hosting major sporting events.

Fianna Fail's Jim McDaid has been elected on the first count in Donegal North East.

FF looks set to take two seats in Donegal North East.

An MRBI opinion poll in Donegal north-east has predicted that Fianna Fail will retain its two seats in the constituency in the upcoming general election.