Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

GOOD MORNING

The 9 at 9 Nine things to know this morning…

EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know as you start into your day.

1.#DOG ATTACK A two-year-old boy is in hospital after being mauled by a family dog, the Irish Times reports. Reece O’Leary was thrown into the air by the husky dog, according to witnesses. The dog was stopped from attacking O’Leary by a neighbour, Jonathan Curtin. The boy is said to be in a serious but stable condition in Cork University Hospital.

2.#FUNDING A women’s refuge in Kildare cannot open because of a lack of funding, the Irish Times reports today. Teach Tearmainn, which is based in Newbridge, has built four self-contained apartments but needs €400,000 to fund their opening. The HSE has said it can only provide a quarter of the money needed.

3.#LOWRY It has been confirmed that Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan met with TD Michael Lowry following the release of the Moriarty report and following calls from Taoiseach Enda Kenny for Lowry to step down. The story was first reported in the Irish Examiner by Juno McEnroe, with RTE reporting that Hogan’s spokesman said the meeting was about farm waste and it was assumed to have been scheduled prior to the report’s release.

4.#EDUCATION Students have slated the refusal of senior academics to take pay cuts. Union of Students in Ireland president Gary Redmond told Newstalk this morning that they are calling on the highest paid staff to take a pay cut, “and if they don’t then the minister [Ruairí Quinn] will have to step in and force them to”. It emerged in September that 100 staff at Irish universities are paid more than €200,000.

5.#PENSIONS A conference organised by ICTU today will discuss the impact of changes to the State pension. RTE reports that David Begg, the General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions will speak on the issue. He is questioning why the age is being raised from 67 to 68 and says the changes will impact on those solely depending on the State pension. Also speaking will be Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton.

6.#9/11 TRIAL Five people are to stand trial shortly accused of planning the 9/11 terrorist attacks. They face a number of charges and the trial will take place in Guantanamo Bay. One of those charged is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has acknowledged being the “mastermind” of the terror attacks.

7.#WELFARE TOURISM Social Welfare inspectors will hold checks at airports to try and catch welfare tourists who are flying into Ireland every month to claim state benefits, the Irish Daily Mail says today. It reports that a Department of Social Protection probe found that in 2011, out of 3,764 cases reviewed, 421 were bogus.

8.#CYBERCRIME Gardaí were told yesterday that online child abusers and fraudsters are becoming more sophisticated in hiding their crimes. The Irish Examiner reports that Detective Inspector Paul Gillen told the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors that advances in technoloogy were leading to huge challenges for police worldwide.

9.#ACTA The European Commission has moved a step closer to referring the controversial ACTA treaty to the European Court of Justice after yesterday agreeing the legal submission to be made. The EU and most of its member states, including Ireland, signed the treaty in January.

Your Voice
Readers Comments
21
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.