HOSPITAL consultants have voted to re-enter talks over a new contract with the HSE. The discussions have been deadlocked since February. The softening of positions between the sides comes after a decision to resume talks under an independent chairman, made at this weekend's Irish Hospital Consultants' Association (IHCA) annual conference.

They are expected to restart talks on 16 October. Secretary general of the ICHA Finbar Fitzpatrick said he hopes most of the negotiations can be completed between now and the end of the year.

Youth conference hopes to send out 'right message'

OVER 200 young people gathered in Dublin yesterday for the National Youth Conference. Opened by the Taoiseach, the theme was "active citizenship". One of its main aims was to canvass young people's opinions on national and local issues. Junior minister for education Sile deValera said: "The fact that young people come to these particular conferences knowing that they have a direct input by way of policy I think sends the right message."

Police in Armagh seize 8,000 litres of suspect fuel

POLICE and customs officers in Northern Ireland have seized 8,000 litres of suspected illegal fuel during raids at premises in Co Armagh. Customs officials accompanied police during the operation in the Ahorey area on Friday. Cash and two vehicles were also recovered.

Inquiries are continuing into the latest in a series of swoops against launderers who are selling agricultural fuel for domestic use on the border.

Clarification: Courts Service Cancer survivors gather for Relay for Life event

THE Courts Service has asked us to point out that in a Sunday Tribune story last weekend . . . headlined 'Adoptive couple in Baby Ann case hired detectives to undermine natural parents' . . . the court's judgment was made public in court and the summary, the full judgment and the judge's ruling in the case were made available to all parties involved and to the media present in court to report on the case. We are happy to make this clarification.

OVER 1,000 cancer survivors along with family and friends gathered in Dublin yesterday evening for the first overnight Relay for Life event to be held in Ireland.

The North Wall Women's Centre in Sheriff Street hosted the event to coincide with their 21st anniversary and all funds raised will go to the Irish Cancer Society. The overnight community celebration started at 6pm yesterday evening and runs until 8am this morning.