Human Rights - Support for abuse inquiry welcomed

A decision by the government to support a UN inquiry into human rights abuses in Burma has been welcomed by campaigners here.

Describing the move as a "positive development", Keith Donald, chairman of Burma Action Ireland, said this country was joining others such as the UK, France, Australia, Canada and New Zealand in backing the investigation.

"We urge the Irish government to work within the European Union to include support for a UN Commission of Inquiry in the annual Burma resolution of the upcoming session of the UN General Assembly," he said.

Lisbon treaty - 'Yes' voters want economic link to EU

Most Irish people who voted in favour of the Lisbon treaty did so in part because they believe this country's economic wellbeing is linked to our membership of the EU, according to a new report.

Irish people voted by a margin of two to one in favour of ratifying the Lisbon treaty one year ago, despite having rejected it in June 2008.

The report also suggests that the reasons for the differing outcomes were complex, although most Irish people believe the EU is good for Ireland.

Garda Appeal - Information sought over man in roadway

Gardaí have issued an appeal for information after a 27-year-old man was found lying on the roadway in a north Dublin industrial estate in the early hours of yesterday morning. Gardaí were notified at around 5am that the man, believed to be Polish, had been found. He was taken to Beaumont hospital where he is believed to be in a critical condition. Gardaí would like to speak to delivery persons, taxi drivers or anyone who had business in the industrial estate early that morning.

Home Affairs - Schoolgirl stable after arson attack

An 11-year-old girl was in a stable condition in Crumlin children's hospital yesterday after an arson attack in Longford left her with serious burns to her face, chest and hands.

Three men have been held in relation to the attack which occurred in the Padraic Colum Heights area.

Meanwhile, a man is in a critical condition in hospital after he fell off Howth Head in Co Dublin on Friday evening. The alarm was raised at about 5.30pm after the man failed to return to the car park.

Healthcare - Consultants discuss hospital cutbacks

Hospital consultants gathered in Co Limerick yesterday to discuss how recent government cutbacks will affect the provision of healthcare services in the coming years.

The annual conference of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association at the Dunraven Arms Hotel also heard concerns expressed about the role of small and local hospitals in the future in the wake of the closure of many small hospital units around the country.

Social Affairs - Scully launches new book for charity

A new book combining reflective stories from Goal fundraiser Ronan Scully with accompanying images from Galway photographer Andrew Downes and published by Blackwater Press was launched last night by Taoiseach Brian Cowen. "Many of the pieces in the book came from ideas that came to me during periods of quiet reflection and I would jot them down. It has grown from there and I'm delighted to see them combined with Andrew's photographs in the book which I hope people will find thought-provoking," said Scully. All royalties from the book will go to charity.