The largest farmers demonstration in more than fifteen years has taken place in Dublin.
Up to 20,000 people marched to the Dail to protest against reforms of the Common Agriculture Policy and proposed Budget cuts in December.
Farmers are calling on the Government to work to maintain the current CAP allocation for Ireland of €1.6 billion a year.
The Irish Farmers Association President John Bryan who addressed the crowd on Kildare Street says farm families must also be spared from Budget cuts in December:
The Taoiseach says he won’t direct AIB not to increase mortgage rates because he says the bank must return to profitability.
AIB announced a half a percent hike in its variable rates last week, the second in a matter of months.
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin says the Government’s refusal to act shows they have abandoned mortgage holders.
But Enda Kenny says the bank needs to be able to stand on its own two feet:
The Government says the announcement of 900 new jobs by Kerry group in County Kildare is a major vote of confidence in the Irish economy.
Kerry is building a new global technology and innovation centre in Naas, with new jobs coming on stream over the next four years for highly skilled graduates.
The building phase will also support a further 400 construction jobs.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney says it’s a ‘phenomenal’ development:
The Dáil’s technical group has told Mick Wallace he is not welcome to be a member.
The Indepdent TD stood down from the group earlier this year after making a settlement with Revenue for his businesses under payment of VAT.
The Wexford TD became embroiled in further controversy over the weeken after admitting threatening to hire a hitman for someone who hadn’t paid a bill.
Today the technical group refused a request from Deputy Wallace to rejoin, which also means he will no longer get Dáil speaking time.
The late children’s television presenter Jimmy Savile may have sexually assaulted more than 20 girls over a 40-year period.
London’s Metropolitan Police has received eight criminal allegations against Savile, including two of rape and six of indecent assault primarily against girls aged 13 to 16.
Commander Peter Spindler believes the investigation will find at least “20 to 30″ victims.
