Social Affairs - Children's services under threat

FUNDING for children's services cannot be fully protected in the forthcoming budget, the Minister for Children has warned.

Barry Andrews made his comments yesterday in a podcast to mark the 21st anniversary of the UN's adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

He said resources were limited and that his department – no more than any other – would not be able to avoid the imposition of spending cuts.

Economics - Ireland should leave euro, says UK?party

THE UK Independence Party has called on Ireland to withdraw from the euro and said the arrival of the IMF was "tragic".

Nigel Farage, the party's leader who also campaigned against the Lisbon treaty, said the country had been "systematically" lied to by the EU. Farage said Britain should offer financial aid to Ireland on condition that Ireland withdraws from the euro and restores its own currency.

"Without its own currency, the long-term prospects for Ireland are dire," he said.

Sport - GAA founder to have plaque in his honour

A plaque commemorating important events at No 4 Gardiner Place in Dublin while GAA founder Michael Cusack had his academy there will be unveiled on Thursday at the Dergvale Hotel now situated on the site. Br Sean MacNamara, who has campaigned for greater recognition for his fellow Clareman's role in founding the GAA over 125 years ago, will unveil the plaque.

The plaque reveals, among other things, that Cusack founded a rugby team in 1879 and played 12 games and that Cusack founded the famous Metropolitan Hurling club in 1883 from which the GAA sprang.