The Department of Foreign Affairs was extremely concerned in the late 1980s that its staff would get dragged into a libel action taken by a colourful councillor from Cork against a Sunday newspaper

Security worker Michael Dwyer went to Bolivia with two colleagues to better his career prospects, his inquest heard today.

FINE Gael TD Jimmy Deenihan has urged Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to use US President George Bush’s visit to Ireland this weekend to seek regularisation of the status of at least 50,000 Irish nationals living illegally in America.

A loyalist group has threatened to review its position on the peace process if the Irish Government takes any greater role in the North's affairs.