The Government is to carry out the first major study of Irish prisoners overseas, it was confirmed today.

Ireland is ready to pledge more money to victims of the Pakistan earthquake disaster, a Government minister said today.

The Government is expected to increase its aid for yesterday’s earthquake in Pakistan as the death toll mounts.

The Government has pledged €1m in aid to Pakistan and surrounding regions which were hit by today’s earthquake.

International governments need to give emergency aid to southern Africa which is facing the biggest famine in the world, it was claimed today.

The Government has once again insisted that no behind-the-scenes deal was done with the Columbia Three relating to their surprise return to Ireland.

ROCK star Bono called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern yesterday to honour his personal commitment to give 0.7% of Ireland’s national wealth to developing countries when he attends the EU leaders’ meeting in Brussels this week.

The Irish Government has no plans to follow the British Government and match public donations for the Asian tsunami disaster with Exchequer funding, it emerged tonight.

The Government has announced that Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Conor Lenihan will attend the inauguration of Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko this Sunday.

THE Government has pledged up to €1 million in response to yesterday morning’s earthquake and tidal waves in southern Asia.

FORMER UN high commissioner for human rights and former president Mary Robinson launched a scathing attack on the Government yesterday for reneging on its "solemn" pledge to give 0.7% of Ireland's national wealth to developing countries.

OPPOSITION parties and aid agencies yesterday called on Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Conor Lenihan to apologise for suggesting aid agencies use substantial portions of their budgets for lobbying activities.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern travels to Leeds Castle in Kent today, determined the latest effort to restore devolved government to the North will succeed.

THE taxpayer is going to put up the cash to bail out the Colombia Three.

THE Progressive Democrats yesterday rejected Fine Gael’s suggestion that Liz O’Donnell’s outspoken behaviour was a stunt paving the way for her to run in the European elections.

THE historic meeting between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Ian Paisley yesterday was hailed as a success as both sides made it clear it was time for paramilitaries to get rid of the guns.

AID agency GOAL has criticised the Government’s continuing funding of Uganda because of its involvement in the Congolese war and human rights violations.

Progressive Democrat TD, Liz O'Donnell has expressed concern about the slow pace of decommissioning by the IRA, and it's failure to respond to demands in the peace process for acts of completion.

THERE were mounting fears last night that the Earth Summit in Johannesburg would fail to reach agreement before world leaders arrive for the climax of the meeting next week.

Richard Haas, the special adviser to President Bush, is to meet the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern this afternoon.

A senior Co Donegal priest has described as "blind bigotry" Junior Foreign Affairs Minister Liz O'Donnell's remarks, in which she said the Catholic Church was telling the Taoiseach how he should live his life.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has advised people travelling to Prague to be vigilant in the wake of the death of a Kilkennyman in the city last month.