Minister for Justice urges GRA to return to Croke Park extension talks
Talks on the extension of the Croke Park agreement get underway today and are expected to continue into the weekend.
Among the proposals expected to be set out by the government, will be cuts to premium pay for nurses and other healthcare workers and a longer working week.
It comes as the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter urges Garda unions to return to the talks.
Discussions have been ongoing between trade union and Government representatives over the past few weeks, as they attempt to hammer out an agreement that would save an additional 1 billion euro on the public sector pay bill.
Both sides will return to the table today - and the talks are expected to last for the weekend.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Garda Representative Association have already refused to take part in the negotiations if cuts to pay are on the table.
Yesterday, the GRA passed a motion of no confidence in the Justice Minister Alan Shatter - in response, Minister Shatter said "spats" occur between Justice Ministers and Garda Representatives from time to time - and he has urged both sides to get on with their jobs.
Oscar Pistorious has arrived at court to face a charge of murdering his girlfriend
His girlfriend was found shot dead in his home in South African early on Thursday morning
The Olympic and paralympic sprinter is accused of shooting model Reena Steenkamp at his luxury house early yesterday morning.
Police have confirmed Steenkamp suffered wounds to her head and hands. The 30 year old model and law graduate was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.
Police have confirmed that the gun used in the crime was a 9mm handgun, licensed to Pistorius.
Greencore Foods admit supplying meat for bolognese sauce removed by Asda
Greencore is run by Patrick Coveney, the brother of the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney
British supermarket chain Asda has withdrawn a beef bolognese sauce after tests revealed the presence of horse DNA.
Irish food company Greencore has confirmed it supplied the sauce to Asda.
The company says the sauce contained meat that was supplied by the ABP Food Group's Nenagh plant in County Tipperary.
ABP says it never knowingly purchased or processed equine meat.
It comes as three men were arrested in Wales by officers investigating the horse meat scandal last night on suspicion of fraud offenses.
Greencore have said that they are complying with suppliers and testers to get to the bottom of the contamination.
Coronation Street actor has been charged with child sex crimes
Michael Le Vell, who plays mechanic Kevin Webster, has been in the soap for 30 years will appear in court in two weeks time
Coronation Street star Michael Le Vell has been charged with 19 child sex offences, including raping a child and sexual activity with a child
He is best known for the role of garage mechanic Kevin Webster, in the ITV soap opera, a role he has played since 1983.
47 year old Le Vell, whose real name is Michael Turner, is accused of 19 sex offences including raping a child, indecently assaulting a child and sexual activity with a child.
He was first arrested in September 2011 and questioned over alleged child sex offences, but the matter was later dropped.
But late last night the Greater Manchester Police said that the actor had been charged with sex offences against a youngster after a review of evidence by lawyers from the Crown Prosecution Service
He is due to appear at Manchester Magistrates on Wednesday February 27.
Two men have died in separate road crashes in Waterford and Galway
A man in his 70s died after the car he was driving collided with another at Moonvoy, Tramore in Co. Waterford at around 5 o'clock yesterday evening.
The driver of the second car was seriously injured and taken to Waterford Regional Hospital.
Meanwhile in Galway, a 51 year old male pedestrian, died after he was hit by a car at Kylebrack East, Loughrea at around 9 o'clock last night.
Nobody else was injured in the incident. Gardai at Ballinasloe are appealing for witnesses.
