Raiders armed with knives threatened to chop off a woman’s fingers in front of her son and told her they would do the same to the boy during a traumatic burglary, a court has heard.

A major information campaign is to get underway after Christmas to inform the public what needs to be done in the event of a national emergency.

The Minister for Finance Brian Cowen is calling on Fine Gael and Labour to put up or shut up when it comes to preaching on the economy.

The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said that it will be a tough local election campaign next year, and Fianna Fáil candidates are already out on doorsteps.