The investigation team will comprise of a number of experts in a range of medicines as well as an independent patient representative.

It will be headed up by Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran a UK expert in obsterics and gynaecology.

He"s the deputy head of Clinical Sciences at St Georges University in London, and says he will begin his inquiry immediately.

Ulster Bank has been hit with one of the highest ever fines meted out to a financial institution by the Central Bank. 

Its emerged that last year Ulster Bank broke Central Bank rules by failing to hold sufficient levels of cash and capital reserves.

The bank"s Chief Executive Jim Brown says while the breaches were unacceptable customers were not affected in any way.

Our Business Editor Ian Guider says the almost €2 million  settlement reached is significant. 

Egyptian officials say there are "encouraging signs" in attempts to secure a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict.

Israel has widened its assault on the Gaza Strip targeting homes of Hamas activists.

Hamas fighters have reportedly fired 75 rockets into Israel today.

Since the latest offensive started, 96 Palestinians and three Israelis are reported to have been killed.

A young Irish man"s died in Australia, after apparently falling out of a moving taxi.

The 25-year-old died in the Belmont area of Perth yesterday, following a row over his fare with the driver of the cab.

The 26-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, and is due in court next month. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it"s providing consular assistance to the family of a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland.

A new study shows that 37% of offenders who were given an alternative to prison by the courts had re-offended.

The study carried out by the probation service, shows that re-offending was higher among males than females, and those convicted of public order offences were the most likely to commit another crime.

This is the first major study into the rates of reoffending by people under the management of the probation service.

It shows that offenders who were given an alternative to prison reoffended in 37% of cases.

Reoffending was higher among males who make up more than four fifths of the prison population.

And people convicted of public order offences were the most likely to find themselves before the courts again, followed by theft and drugs offences.

The justice minister Alan Shatter welcomed the study saying it was the first time  there"s been an assessment of the impact of non custodial measures on the rates of reoffending.