The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has warned that Ireland's education system will suffer long-term damage if the implementation of the new "Junior Cycle" is rushed through.

The Government has had to put an extra €3m into an emergency fund to help cash-strapped students — many of whom are being forced to turn to colleges for food and rent money.

SOUTH AFRICAN rugby has reversed its policy of refusing to play against the New Zealand Maori, paving the way for match-ups between the two sides.

A gunman wanted for murdering eight people in a house then firing at a police helicopter surrendered today after a huge manhunt.

A massive manhunt involving more than 100 police and helicopters with thermal imaging was under way today for a gunman who killed eight people in Virginia.

MORE than 5,000 students took to the streets yesterday to hammer home their bitter opposition to the reintroduction of third-level fees.

Almost 6,000 students from Munster gathered in Cork today to voice their united opposition to a re-introduction of third-level fees.

Gardaí were today investigating possible links between a serious assault on a 19-year-old woman in Athlone and three similar attacks.

Fears of “enormous economic consequences” for the livestock industry have been raised as tests indicate the virus strain in the latest foot-and-mouth outbreak is the same as that which infected two herds last month.

An export ban prompted by the foot and mouth outbreak will cost the British red meat industry around £10m (€14m) per week, it was estimated today.

Busta Rhymes and actress Gabrielle Union are set to become the new Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie in the rapper's new video.

The State’s biggest trade union, Siptu, today voted to enter talks on a new national partnership deal.

RAGWEEK celebrations in Waterford have been scaled back to three days in a bid to curb binge drinking by students. But its campus bar has been allowed to stay open this year.

The Government was today urged to intervene in the industrial dispute at Irish Ferries before more jobs are lost.

Students from colleges across Dublin have occupied Fianna Fáil's party headquarters in Dublin today.

Those gun-totin’ cops (Lawrence and Smith) are back and this time they’re out to smash a Miami drugs cartel.

Plans to suspend the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive will be “deeply damaging” to the North's farming industry, Stormont Agriculture Minister Brid Rodgers warned today.

The Kerry Mountain Rescue Unit is this morning attempting to recover the bodies of two hill climbers, including that of the General Secretary of the Soldiers Union, John Lucey.

The foot-and-mouth epidemic is likely to persist for several months, British Agriculture Minister Nick Brown has warned.