ENDA Kenny yesterday became the first ever Fine Gael leader to address a major trade union conference when he spoke at the annual Technical Engineering and Electrical Union conference in Dundalk. Telling delegates that his party had moved away from the days when there was "too big a difference between a blue collar and a blue shirt", Kenny reaffirmed Fine Gael's commitment to the partnership process. He called on "structural and regulatory reform of the electricity market to attract higher levels of private investment".

Rape crisis slams DPP over secrecy

RAPE Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) has criticised the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for operating behind "a veil of secrecy" and has called on the government to appoint an independent body to scutinise decisions made by the office. At its AGM in Sligo this weekend, the RCNI criticised the lack of transparency in the decision on whether to prosecute people arrested by gardai. The organisation also passed a motion calling on the age of consent to remain at 17 and for sex education classes to be standardised in schools.

Teenager killed in Limerick crash

A TEENAGE girl was killed in a car crash in Limerick early yesterday.

The girl was driving the car that crashed into a tree at Glenstal near the village of Murroe shortly after 6.30am. Two passengers in the vehicle, a male and a female, both received minor injuries and are being treated at Limerick Mid Western Regional Hospital. Gardai at Cappamore are investigating.