The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that an independent review into the overspend at the new national children's hospital will now allow for individuals to be held responsible.

Mistakes in quantifying mechanical and electrical systems are largely to blame for the escalating costs of the new National Children’s Hospital, the health committee will hear today.

Seven food businesses were ordered to close in December, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

Three little pigs tucked into a pile of grain dumped by protesting farmers outside the EU Commission’s offices in Dublin yesterday.

The taxpayer has no way of clawing back almost €72m in money spent on the national children’s hospital if the project falls at the planning permission hurdle again.

Construction work on the long-delayed new national children’s hospital will finally start early next year — provided the project overcomes an expected An Bord Pleanála grilling this autumn.

The legendary Fergie Sutherland, best known as the trainer of the 1996 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Imperial Call, died yesterday in Marymount Hospice, Cork following a long illness. He was 81.

THE National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) should be used to re-energise the country’s property market by providing “adequate working capital and finance” given the continuing absence of bank lending, according to the Construction Industry Federation (CIF).

CONSTRUCTION group John Sisk & Son Ltd has announced profits of more than €13.3 million for 2009, down from profits of nearly €22m the previous year, but still a creditable performance given the broader economic challenges facing the Irish building sector.

WITHIN 10 years Ireland will not be capable of building major infrastructural projects like the newly completed Aviva Stadium because our skilled professionals, with no projects on which to work here, will be forced to look elsewhere for employment.

Andrew Thornton was quick to pay tribute to Robert and Sally Alner after news of their retirement from the training ranks emerged.

Enda Bolger and owner JP McManus must never have thought they would find a horse to replace Spot Thedifference but Garde Champetre edged closer to surpassing his achievements at Cheltenham today.

CONSTRUCTION giant John Sisk & Son paid out a dividend of more than €90 million last year as pre-tax profits fell by €2.5m.

ANOTHER remarkable year for Irish National Hunt Racing was celebrated at the annual National Hunt Awards dinner which was held in Adare, Co Limerick, on Sunday night.

WHAT do the Irish search for most online and what key words are our internetters clicking on?

BUILDING chiefs want the first-time buyers’ grant reintroduced and stamp duty on homes temporarily suspended as incentives to restart house buying.

Big Fella Thanks, carrying the famous colours of Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Denman, chose the valuable Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster to open his account over fences.

BIG BUCK’S became an unlikely contender for the World Hurdle at the Festival when scoring on his debut over timber for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh at Cheltenham yesterday.

Big Buck’s became an unlikely contender for the World Hurdle at the Festival when scoring on his debut over timber for Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh at Cheltenham.

THE world’s latest and, its owners claim, biggest search engine has been named after the Irish word for knowledge.

Cedrus Libani remains unbeaten over fences following his third victory but he was made to work a little harder than his odds suggested at Catterick.

John Sisk & Son has won the contract to build the new Lansdowne Road Stadium.

Sisk, Ireland’s largest construction company, has been appointed main contractor on the New Stadium at Lansdowne Road.

SCHINDLERS HUNT looked a very smart novice chaser when he defeated what looked an above-average field in the Beginners Chase at Punchestown yesterday.

Martin Broughton can dream of a possible trip to the Cheltenham Festival with Cruising River after the Henrietta Knight-trained gelding claimed victory in the Weatherbys Printing Handicap at Huntingdon.

British Horseracing Board chairman Martin Broughton might have a few pressing business matters on his mind at the moment but he found the time to go to Huntingdon and watch Cruising River take the day’s biggest prize at odds of 25-1.

CHAMPIONS IT Sligo face a difficult opening defence of their Datapac Sigerson Cup title with a second-round game away to Dundalk IT this afternoon (2pm).

BEST MATE’S story started on January 28, 1995 near Trim in County Meath, when the mare Katday produced a bay-coloured foal.

Best Mate’s story started on January 28, 1995 near Trim in County Meath, Ireland when the mare Katday produced a bay-coloured foal.

CONSTRUCTION giant John Sisk & Son saw its pre-tax profits rise by almost 17% last year.

TED WALSH has a possible star of the future on his hands in Southern Vic, who landed a major gamble in the Mongey Communications’ Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown yesterday.

TWO teachers elected to their local Vocational Education Committees (VECs) have been told they cannot take their places because they hold managerial jobs.

Sue Smith was leading trainer at Wetherby last season and she was on the mark again at the West Yorkshire track this afternoon with Noshinannikin.

Tipperary hurling boss Ken Hogan has made one change to his side ahead of Sunday's National League clash with Limerick.

“DIFFERENT CLASS,” was Jim Culloty’s summation after his mount, Best Mate, toyed with the opposition in yesterday’s Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown.

WHEN Cork hurling manager Donal O’Grady was interviewed shortly after the All-Ireland final he offered a number of excuses for their defeat by holders Kilkenny.

Crocked Tipperary defender Tom Costello is in line for a recall to the Tipperary hurling team against Offaly on Sunday despite picking up a rib injury last time out against Galway.

DESPITE the comprehensive win nature of their side’s victory over Offaly in the opening round, the Tipperary selectors have made six changes for next Saturday’s meeting with Munster rivals Limerick in the Allianz NHL at Thurles.

JUST where is Tom Costello, managing director, John Sisk & Son, coming from when he takes a swipe at the Building and Allied Trades Union (Irish Examiner, Oct 4).

THE head of one of the country’s top five construction companies says excessive union action has the potential to be a disaster for the industry.