The Government’s taken the first significant steps in returning to the long term bond markets in almost two years.
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/> The National Treasury Management Agency has auctioned 8 year state bonds, and offered previous investors an option to extend the maturity date on their bonds.

It follows the successful sale of 6 month bonds two weeks ago – an offering which was oversubscribed.

The NTMA is expected to announce the result of today’s sale later this evening.

Group Business Editor with the Irish Independent Brendan Keenan says today’s auction is far more significant than the short term exercise earlier this month.

The Board of the Aid Agency Goal, says its founder John O’Shea will retire as CEO next month.
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/> It comes after Mr. O’Shea reached a settlement with the charity in the High Court today -following allegations of bullying.

Newstalk’s Courts Correspondent Francesca Comyn reports:

CARI is expressing concern about the 42 per cent rise in the number of reports of the sexual abuse of children – by someone outside of their family.

It’s helpline received 342 calls about extrafamilial abuse last year – compared to 200 in 2010.

There was also a 57 per cent rise in the number of calls from parents expressing concern about the sexualisation of their young child.

Clinical Director Niall Muldoon say children nearly always know their abuser – and the concept of “stranger danger” is a myth:

/> The husband of a Fine Gael Senator has been ordered to pay over 12 thousand euro to a tradesman for work carried out at his Galway home.
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/> However a Judge ruled that Senator Fidelma Healy-Eames had no case to answer as she wasn’t even “peripherally involved”.

Tradesman Michael Allen had brought a civil case against the Galway Senator and her husband Michael Eames for non-payment for the work. He had been seeking 23 thousand euro, but will receive 12,400.

Senator Healy-Eames told Galway Bay FM that she was pleased with the outcome of the case.

Army bomb disposal experts have made safe a viable improvised device in Cork City.

The device was found at a house at Kilnap Place in Farranree earlier today.

Gardai evacuated a number of nearby residents from their homes while a controlled explosion was carried out.