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National News Briefs

Government needs to spend on capital projects - CIF

The Construction Industry Federation is warning of further job losses in the sector, if the government continues to cut capital spending.

The CIF says the industry is on its knees and cutting capital construction projects such as new schools and hospitals is having a crippling effect.

At a conference today the group will call on the government to invest in the sector for economic growth.

Tom Parlon Director General with the CIF says spending is needed to revive the sector: "A thriving economy needs a healthy construction industry.

"We need to be able to give jobs to the vast amount of young people that are unemployed who may not have the skills to work in IT and the pharmaceutical industry but certainly have skills to work in construction.

"If the economy is to grow we have to have some economic activity and means the government have to spend on some capital projects."
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Government to remove Shannon restrictions

The government has agreed new draft legislation which will remove restrictions on the IDA and Enterprise Ireland from operating in the Shannon Free Zone.

The new legislation, which will be published by the end of the year, is part of a series of reforms announced by the government earlier this year which aim to create a new world-class aviation industry in Shannon.

The Jobs and Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton and the Transport Minister Leo Varadkar plan to merge Shannon Airport and Shannon Development, and transfer their functions, when it comes to enterprise and Foreign Direct Investment, to Enterprise Ireland and the IDA respectively.
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Meath collision leaves man in serious condition

A man is in a serious condition in hospital, after a Co Meath crash in the early hours of this morning.

The single vehicle collision happened at Cooksland on the Dunshaughlin to Navan Rd, or the N3, at about 4.45am, about a kilometre outside Dunshaughlin.

The driver of the car, a 23-year-old woman, and her passanger a 24-year-old man, were taken to hospitals in Navan and Blanchardstown for treatment.

The woman's injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The road is closed for a forensic collision examination and diversions are in place.
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Man in court on concert stab charge

A 22-year-old man accused of stabbing an Isle of Man tourist at a concert in the Phoenix Park in Dublin is due back in court.

Raymond Donnan, of Greenfort Crescent, Clondalkin, is accused of several offences including assault causing harm to 28-year-old Andrew England on July 7 last.

He is on bail and is due to appear at Dublin District Court where he may be sent forward for trial.
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New Google centre opens in Dublin

Google will today open its new data centre in Clondalkin, West Dublin.

The location won out over the competition thanks to the Irish climate, as the internet giant believes it is best for housing computers.

The centre will process a multitude of information for many of Google's high profile services.
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New iPhone goes on sale

The new iPhone goes on sale in the Republic of Ireland today.

The iPhone 5 has been available in the North and Britain since last Friday.

Apple's newest device has been breaking sales records for the company since its launch.

In Ireland, 3, Vodafone and O2 are all carrying the iPhone 5.
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PAC chief calls for civil servants to be 'named and shamed'

The head of the Public Accounts Committee is calling for civil servants to be ''named and shamed'' when it comes to the poor management of public money.

It comes after the Comptroller and Auditor General published its annual report yesterday.

The government spending watchdog revealed a number of instances of state bodies wasting public money, including one instance where five thousand teachers were overpaid by €1.2m euro last year.

Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness, who chairs the Public Accounts Committee, says there needs to be greater accountability within the civil service: "The Public Accounts Committee can only examine the accounts and highlight the problems.

"We make recommendations to government then. Until such a time people are named and shamed in relation to the poor management of taxpayers money and have sanctions faced against them, this will continue."
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