The Garda Commissioner yesterday said she has written to the Government calling for the “immediate appointment” of 46 senior officers — saying that the continuing vacancies posed “profound risks” to policing and security services.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said the board members of the new Policing Authority were of the “highest calibre”, after claims they were political appointees.

Women over 60 are having a ‘moment’ and it’s not a senior one. More confidence, more energy and they couldn’t care less what you think. 

The new Child and Family Agency to be set up next year will incorporate a range of services, including public health nurses and truancy officers, although its budget has yet to be decided.

A new report will provide the foundation for a “revolution in child protection and family services”, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said today.

A STATE group tasked with overseeing child protection in Ireland has been set up — a year after former HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm said the health service should not have responsibility for the sector.

THE Public Accounts Committee is to question the HSE on the amount it spends on external public relations and consultants.

THE man who headed up the National Hospitals Office has been replaced by a team of four people to help integrate hospital services.

Hospital consultants who don’t refer patients to the National Treatment Purchase Fund must be outed, Minister for Health Mary Harney warned today.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern said he was appalled to hear last year of patients waiting on trolleys in hospital corridors or unable to get blankets at a time when the Government annual health budget was €13 billion.

HEALTH professionals and opposition TDs have described the payment of a €32,000 bonus on top of a €400,000 salary to health service chief Professor Brendan Drumm as premature and incomprehensible.

THE chief executive of the Health Services Executive has said his organisation must find an effective and lasting solution to the A&E problems in the North-East which led to the death of 76-year-old man last week.

TÁNAISTE and Health Minister Mary Harney rounded on consultants yesterday for attacking the Government’s performance in cutting hospital waiting lists.

There are almost 5,000 patients on surgery waiting lists at seven of the country’s major hospitals, it emerged today.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche yesterday pledged the State would deliver more affordable homes of high quality and do so at "a faster pace" than before.

A new Government think-tank will fast-track affordable housing in the greater Dublin area, it was claimed today.

A GOVERNMENT decision not to release any more waiting list figures, in favour of a new system to be introduced in a year’s time, was last night branded a political stroke of the worst kind.

The Catholic Church has agreed to greater accountability in its handling of child sex abuse cases, it emerged tonight.

Members of the Catholic Church's steering group on child protection policy have held talks today with consultant Maureen Lynott.

SOME months back I was on Vincent Browne’s radio programme discussing a new report, A Time to Listen - Confronting Child Sexual Abuse by Catholic Clergy, commissioned by Irish bishops.

STRICT new guidelines to protect against child abuse within the Catholic Church, which are expected to become policy later this year, have met with broad support.

THE head of the National Treatment Purchase Fund has urged an end to the hospital consultants dispute which threatens to block the only escape route long-suffering public patients have from excessive hospital waiting lists.

IN a bid to cut the backlog of patients waiting two years or more for surgery, hospitals are writing directly to them offering the option of being treated under the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

A GOVERNMENT initiative to clear the backlog of patients stuck on public hospital waiting lists is on target to clear those waiting more than 12 months for treatment this year.

FRESH safeguards are planned by the Catholic Church to ensure procedures for the protection of children from sex abuse come up to national standards and are not restricted by canon law.

EXPECTANT mothers in Co Monaghan are making plans to spend the last weeks of pregnancy close to hospitals in Cavan and Drogheda because of fears of a repeat of the baby Bronagh Livingstone tragedy.

“MY daughter is devastated. She sat yesterday with her dead baby in her arms all day.She still had it in her arms this morning.

HOSPITAL consultants have been accused of deliberately failing to tell patients stuck on waiting lists that they are entitled to free treatment elsewhere.

MICHEÁL MARTIN has promised money will be available to continue cutting hospital waiting lists next year despite recent budget cutbacks.