A new proposal could allow concerned members of the public to bring court proceedings to have children put in the care system.
It is one of a series of recommendations in the latest report by the government special rapporteur on child protection.
At present only the HSE can bring cases over children at risk but under the proposal any person could take District Court proceedings in ‘exceptional circumstances’.
The government special rapporteur on child protection Dr. Geoffrey Shannon explains his reasoning behind the plan.
“Lets say there’s alcohol abuse or drug abuse and the HSE haven’t intervened, and let’s say for example a grand-parent expresses concerns (and) those concerns remain unaddressed – it’s in that context that a proposal like this I think would be enormously beneficial and would ensure the safety of a child in that context” he said.
The European Commission has ruled that that the Government here must abolish its State guarantee to the VHI.
Because the VHI is a State body, it cannot be liquidated, wound up or declared bankrupt.
The EU has ruled that position gives it an unfair commercial advantage over its competitors.
The Health Minister says he welcomes the announcement.
In a statement Dr. James Reilly says that while the state has consistently argued that such a guarantee did not exist the development today represents an acceptance by the European Commission of Irish proposals.
It will see the incorporation of the VHI business under the Companies Act by the end of 2013.
In the meantime both the State and the VHI will provide written commitments regarding the insurers’ financial affairs.
The National Asset Management Agency (NAMA) made a profit after tax of €247 million last year.
It compares to a loss of over €1 billion in 2010.
However the NAMA annual report shows it recorded an impairment charge of €1.27 billion in 2011.
The agency acquired a further €2.8 billion worth of loans last year bringing the total to €74 billion which NAMA paid the banks €35 billion for.
This represents a discount of 57%.
Gardaí are investigating the death of a woman in a single vehicle road crash in Co. Galway.
The accident happened in the Ballinasloe area on the Kiltormer to Lawrencetown Road at about 8.30am this morning.
The road remains sealed off this afternoon.
The body of the woman who was the sole occupant of the car was removed to Galway University Hospital.
Gardaí at Ballinasloe are appealing for information about the crash.
The Education Minister has announced the patronage of 14 new secondary schools around the country.
8 of the schools will fall solely under the control of VECs.
But Educate Together will have one secondary school of its own and joint patronage with a VEC in another.
A Catholic ethos patron – Le Cheile Schools Trust – will control one new school as will the Church of Ireland.
There will also be two gael-choiláistaí.
Minister Ruairi Quinn says these patrons demonstrate his commitment to diversity of ethos when it comes to new schools:
“In making the decisions on the patronage of these new schools, I was particularly conscious of taking into account the clear parental demand for plurality and diversity of patronage” he said.
“For the first time in a generation a new Catholic and a new Church of Ireland voluntary secondary school are to open; this demonstrates clearly that I and the Department are committed to the diversity of ethos and respect for parental choice” he added.
