Germany has said it will push ahead with a growth compact now that Irish citizens have adopted the fiscal treaty, despite cuts and hardships which they said deserved special recognition and respect.

RETIRED politicians, judges and other senior public servants will not be forced to take a cut in their gold-plated pensions in next week’s budget.

A REVOLUTION in the way Europe manages its fishing industry has been unveiled in Brussels, with the warning that the choice is between a near wipe-out of fish stocks or an increase of 70% with a tripling of profits over the next decade.

THE Government has denied that there has been an unreasonable delay in holding a by-election in Donegal South West, the High Court heard yesterday.

A High Court case which aims to force the Government to hold the Donegal South West by-election will open today.

THREE Fianna Fáil politicians who are clinging onto their ministerial pensions will come under further pressure today when the opposition raises the issue in the Dáil.

BULGARIA’S foreign minister, Rumiana Jeleva, withdraw her nomination to the European Commission after a week of criticism and pressure from members of the European Parliament.

A FRESH assault against the Government’s second attempt to pass the Lisbon treaty has been launched by an alliance of no campaigners.

THE resignation of two Fianna Fáil TDs from the Parliamentary Party has brought Taoiseach Brian Cowen within a vote of having to dissolve the Dáil.

THE lifting of the Pere Charles marked the culmination of a struggle which began on January 10 for the families of crewmen Andriy Dyrin, 32, Billy O’Connor, 52, Tom Hennessy, 30, Pat Hennessy, 48, and Pat Coady, 27, when the trawler sank while on its way back from a successful day’s fishing in the Celtic Sea.

IRISH RAIL has ruled out the reopening of the Crusheen railway station, within the planned Western Rail Corridor, as the population of the area does not support such a move.

THE Government last night issued a lengthy memo to defend the annual exodus of ministers to far-flung destinations for St Patrick’s Day.

A PILOT scheme to bus residents of rural Ireland to and from pubs and social events may on the road in time for this year’s general election.

Junior Minister Pat the Cope Gallagher has arrived in Morocco to assist two Donegal trawler owners embroiled in a legal dispute.

NEARLY one-in-three emergency calls to the Irish Coast Guard is from the rapidly increasing pleasure craft sector.

THE debate on the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Bill has been characterised to date by the quality of scrutiny by the Oireachtas Joint Committee.

JUNIOR Minister at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources Pat The Cope Gallagher is expected to be moved to the Department of Transport as controversy continues over proposals to toughen laws on commercial fishing.

The leniency of a fine for a fisherman whose boat sank with the loss of five lives has shocked local people, a TD said today.

A PARLIAMENTARY committee has urged the Government to reverse its policy on salmon conservation by introducing a voluntary buyout scheme for fishermen.

MONEY promised for harbour development in Baltimore has dried up.

OUR cities and towns are losing the battle against the litter lout, according to the first results of the Anti-Litter League 2003 published today.

IRELAND has one of the worst records in the EU for implementing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997.