Deal on extension to the Croke Park Agreement is close to being done
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin has arrived at the talks aimed at securing an extension to the Croke Park Agreement - indicating a deal is imminent.
Negotiations on cutting a further one billion euro from the public sector pay bill continued through the night - after four unions walked out - namely the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the Irish Medical Organisation, the Civil and Public Services Union, and Unite.
On their way out, they warned that they would "mobilise" their members if the Government attempted to legislate for pay cuts.
But SIPTU, IMPACT and the Irish National Teachers Organisation remain at the talks table.
Meat labelling discussion to take place in Brussels this morning
Decisions on compulsory labeling of all meat products will be the main topic of discussion at the Farm Council meeting in Brussels this morning.
Ministers will also discuss tighter regulations in relation to meat processing.
IFA President John Bryan, who will attend the meeting today, said Irish farmers have repeatedly called for compulsory labeling, which is long overdue.
The meeting takes place as an investigation continues at B&F meats in Carrick-on-Suir, Co. Tipperary after it was found to be exporting horsemeat, labelled as beef, to the Czech Republic.
1,600 jobs to be created by Irish Water's domestic water metering programme
Skilled workers will be given an opportunity to re-enter the workforce through Irish Water's domestic water metering programme.
More than a quarter of the 1,600 jobs created will go to graduates, the long term unemployed and people from small, local businesses.
The metering programme starts in July and will run until September 2016, during which time over one million meters will be installed in homes across the country.
The Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan, says the metering programme is an ambitious plan by international standards and he explained how the jobs would be given out.
Man to be sentenced later for Catherine Gowing murder
A man who has pleaded guilty to killing Co. Offaly vet Catherine Gowing in Wales last year will be sentenced later.
46-year-old Clive Sharp could be given life in prison when he appears before Mold Crown Court later this morning (10.30), according to the Irish Independent.
He has accepted responsibility for the 36-year-old's murder - her remains were found in two locations close to where she went missing from the town of Mold.
Daniel Day-Lewis makes Oscar history by winning Best Actor Oscar for 3rd time
He's won Best Actor for the third time, this time for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln.
Best Actress went to Jennifer Lawrence for her role in Silver Linings Playbook while Ang Lee picked up Best Director.
The evening's big award - Best Picture - went to Argo, a film about the Iranian hostage crisis which was directed by Ben Affleck.
Adele won Best Original Song for Skyfall and Anne Hathaway's performance in Les Miserables earned her the Best Supporting Actress.
Quentin Tarantino accepted the Academy Award for Original Screenplay for Django Unchained.
There was disappointment for Irish Oscar contenders Seamus McGarvey and Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly last night.
Mr Mc Garvey had been nominated in the cinematography category but lost out to the Life of Pi.
While in the animated film section Fodhla Cronin O'Reilly lost out to Paperman by John Kahrs.
The full list of winners:
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR - Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained
- SHORT FILM (ANIMATED) - Paperman - John Kahrs
- ANIMATED FEATURE FILM - Brave
- CINEMATOGRAPHY - Life of Pi - Claudio Miranda
- VISUAL EFFECTS - Life of Pi: Bill Westenhofer, Guillaume Rocheron, Erik-Jan De Boer and Donald R.
- COSTUME DESIGN - Anna Karenina - Jacqueline Durran
- MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING - Les Misérables - Lisa Westcott and Julie Dartnell
- SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION) - Curfew - Shawn Christensen
- DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT - Inocente - Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine
- DOCUMENTARY FEATURE - Searching for Sugar Man
- FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM - Amour
- BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Anne Hathaway - Les Miserables
- BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - Skyfall - from Skyfall - Music and Lyric by Adele Adkins and Paul Epworth
- BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - Chris Terrio - Argo
- BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Django Unchained - Quentin Tarantino
- BEST DIRECTOR - Life of Pi - Ang Lee
- BEST ACTRESS - Jennifer Lawrence - Silver Linings Playbook
- BEST ACTOR - Daniel Day-Lewis - Lincoln
- BEST PICTURE - Argo
