Environment - Climate change deal clinched in Mexico

A UN climate change deal reached in the early hours of Friday morning in Cancún, Mexico represents a "modest step forward", according to the Green Party.

Minister of state Ciaran Cuffe, who has responsibility for climate change, also warned that time was "running out" for a binding international deal, which must be reached by the next round of talks in South Africa in 2011. "There are positives to take from the Cancún talks," he said. "But our window of opportunity is closing."

National news - Gardaí find €1m worth of stolen tools

GardaÍ have recovered plant material worth an estimated €1m which is believed to have been stolen in England earlier this year.

A team of officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation stolen motor vehicle unit made the discovery at around 8pm on Friday during a search of lands and warehouses near Laytown, Co Meath. A total of 15 plant machinery units were discovered including tractors, excavators and telehandlers. The garda investigation is continuing and no arrests have been made.

National news - O'Keeffe launches O'Hara foundation

Minister for Enterprise Batt O'Keeffe yesterday launched a new foundation named after the Hollywood legend Maureen O'Hara in Glengarriff, Co Cork. The initiative includes a new "Maureen O'Hara Legacy centre", which will be open all year around, and which will be the largest display of Hollywood memorabilia in the country.