More news from Ireland

NEWS SNAPS FROM IRELAND
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RYANAIR ATTEMPTS TO TAKE OVER AER LINGUS

Low-cast airline Ryanair has made a dramatic bid
to take over its arch rival Aer Lingus by buying
a 19.2% stake in the company, just days after the
former State airline floated on the stock
exchange. The Irish Government still holds a
28.3% stake in Aer Lingus with the Employees
owning a further 9.85%. Union opposition to the
takeover is very strong however and despite the
possibility of a big payoff to employees should
they accept the Ryanair deal it appears that they
may yet scupper Michael O'Learys audacious plan.

IRISH GOVERNMENT COALITION SURVIVES

The ruling Fianna Fail and PD coalition looked
to be on the brink of collapse recently as
revelations about personal payments to Taoiseach
Bertie Ahearn were made public. Fianna Fail were
already making plans to form a minority
Government before the new PD leader, Michael
McDowell, agreed to see out the government term
of office, which means that the general election
will not be held until next Spring.

Despite the financial scandal the popularity of
Bertie Ahearn remains high, much to the
bewilderment of Fine Gael and Labour leaders who
are hoping to oust the current Government in the
next poll.

SELLAFIELD OPERATORS FINED

The long-running campaign by the Irish Government
to have the Sellafield nuclear reactor in Cumbria
closed down was again highlighted with the news
that the operators of the controversial energy
plant have been fined EURO 750,000. The fine was
levied because of a radioactive leak that occurred
at the plant in 2005.

GOVERNMENT TO PRESS AHEAD WITH INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN

The 70 B.illion Euro National Development Plan
will not be scaled back by the Government despite
warnings from economists that it should be scaled
back by 11 B.illion. The Economic and Social
Research Institute advised that the construction
industry is not best prepared to handle such a
massive injection of capital.

The Development Plan includes such huge projects
as the widening of the M50 Dublin Ring Road, the
creation of the new Metro line from Dublin City
Centre to Dublin Airport and the provision of a
second Terminal art the airport itself.

IRELAND TOPS FREEDOM OF THE PRESS LEAGUE TABLE

A report by Reporters Sans Fontieres, the
organisation that promotes press freedom and
campaigns against censorship and torture, has
declared Ireland as being among the most liberal
of press societies in the world. Along with
Finland, Iceland and The Netherlands, Ireland
recorded a record of zero censorship or press
intimidation.

Those countries which were rated worst include
Turkmenistan, Eritrea and North Korea. The
United Kingdom was ranked 28th out of 168
surveyed countries. The United States has
steadily fallen down the index in recent years
to 53rd place, a big drop from its position
of 17th in 2002.

DISASTER FOR IRISH SOCCER TEAM

An appalling 5-2 defeat away to Cyprus has left
Ireland's European Championship qualifying
campaign in tatters and has raised serious
questions about rookie-manager Steve Staunton.
Despite an improved performance in the 1-1 draw
at home to the Czech Republic a few days later,
the chances of the Irish team qualifying for the
finals look remote and any further embarrassment
will surely bring an end to Stauntons brief
tenure as Irish team manager.

HARRINGTON IS TOP EUROPEAN GOLFER

Despite a mediocre Ryder Cup there can be no
denying that Padraig Harrington is Europe's top
golfer. A second-place finish in the final
tournament of the European tour was enough to
secure him the European Tour Order of Merit
and set him up for an assault on next seasons
'majors'.


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