Other News In Brief

Gardaí Seize €200k Worth Of Cannabis In Longford

Gardaí have seized a haul of drugs worth €200,000 in County Longford.

As part on an intelligence-led operation targeting a west Dublin organised crime gang, officers stopped a vehicle in Edgeworthstown on Thursday 07 February and discovered the significant amount of cannabis.

A man in his 50's was arrested at the scene and is being held at Granard Garda Station.

No Timeline For New Garda Station In Sligo

Fianna Fáil has expressed disappointment that no timeline has been provided as yet for a new Garda Station in Sligo, despite the purchase of a site and "chronic" conditions at the current headquarters.

TD Marc MacSharry, for Sligo-Leitrim, said: "The need for additional capacity at Tubbercurry is also being ignored despite accommodation adjacent to the current South Sligo Station being available. This location is already surveyed by the Office of Public Works and could provide an ideal base of the much needed Armed Support Unit for the region.

"The situation is totally unacceptable. As per usual, Fine Gael are all about the photo calls and the high profile announcements, but when the media leave, there is no follow on action and no real progress. I am calling on the Minister and Fine Gael to prioritise these critical projects in the interests of our community. We know Minister Ross manages to prioritise his voters in Stepaside which Gardaí admitted was not a priority at the Public Accounts Committee, but the people of County Sligo are ignored by his Fine Gael colleagues."

Talks Underway To Avoid Second Week Of Nursing Strikes

Talks are taking place at the Labour Court in a bid to avert a further week of nationwide strike action by nurses.

Nursing unions, the Health Service Executive and government officials were invited to outline their current position on the pay crisis, 11 days since the involved parties last met.

Approximately 37,000 members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), and 6,000 psychiatric nurses from the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) will stage three consecutive days of industrial action next Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The action means that over 80,000 patients could have medical appointments cancelled.



(JG/CM)