MAYBE we have always had celebrity politicians and it's not just a 21^st century phenomena, but it seems that you just can’t get away from them (and no I don’t mean George Lee).

The end of Britain's New Labour in government has heralded a flurry of publishing launches from our nearest neighbour as several former party insiders have rushed texts into print.

Former Director of... Free article

“BEAN COUNTERS” in the Health Service Executive have been blamed by Limerick City Councillor Maurice Quinlivan for calls by the HSE for the public to try and avoid Limerick Regional Hospital A&E because it is over-stretched after the closure of A&E units in Nenagh and Ennis.

The INMO nurses’ and midwives’ union has called for health safety body HIQA to carry out an urgent... Free article

SINN FÉIN spokesperson on Education Senator Pearse Doherty has called on Minister for Education and Skills Mary Coughlan to act immediately to alleviate what is likely to be another grants crisis.

The senator said that, in the Donegal County Council area alone, of the 650 first-time applicants the vast majority have not yet been processed, meaning that the majority of new... Free article

SPEAKING at the opening of a GUE/NGL conference on the European Citizens' Initiative* with Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, Irish MEP Bairbre de Brún said that mobilising people to engage in decision-making should be at the heart of the Citizens' Initiative.

She said:

It is extremely important that the Citizens' Initiative is as accessible as possible.... Free article

BASQUE FESTIVAL & CONCERT

This Saturday 18^th September 13:00 to 23:30

Institiúd na hÉireann, Teach An Phiarsaigh,

27 Sráid An Phiarsaigh, Baile Átha Cliath 2.

Organised by the Dublin Basque Solidarity Committee. Email [email protected]

To promote understanding of Basque culture and struggle. Basque food, music, exhibition short videos and feature films. Irish and Basque music... Free article

COMMENTING after today's publication of the IMC report into the murder of Shankill loyalist Bobby Moffett, which blamed the UVF for the killing, Sinn Féin Assembly member for West Belfast Paul Maskey said:

While the murder of Bobby Moffett was clearly a tragedy for his family and friends, the IMC today, after spending weeks inquiring into the murder, told us what... Free article

OVER 46,400 adults and children are waiting for hospital treatment, according to new figures from the Health Service Executive.

RTÉ report: http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0914/health.html

THE report of the inquiry into the killing in Long Kesh in 1997 by INLA prisoners of Billy Wright, leader of the Loyalist Volunteer Force unionist death squad, was published today. Sinn Féin Assembly member John O’Dowd said afterwards:

“It must be remembered that this inquiry in the main came about through lobbying by the Ulster Unionist Party and the Democratic Unionist... Free article

IT’S ‘budget billions’ time again.

With less than three months to Budget Day, Fianna Fáil used the first day of their annual ‘think in’ to upscale their summer campaign of ‘more cuts are coming’.

With the Irish news media primed to cover the two-day event, they fell mostly into the trap of parroting the day’s message from Brian Lenihan that €3billion budget cuts are the minimum... Free article

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen has denied being drunk or hungover during an interview on RTÉ's Morning Ireland but Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said the issue was not the Taoiseach’s physical state but the state of the nation as a result of disastrous Fianna Fáil policies which caused the crash and are now deepening the recession.

The Sinn Féin Dáil leader said:

“The physical... Free article