Irish Independent (Dublin, Republic of Ireland) back issues from January 2007:
Leinster not happy despite fightback win.(SPORT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: DAVID KELLY THEIR perceived penchant for partying may be a thing of the past but Leinster still managed to kick start one hell of a shindig at a jam-packed Lansdowne Road on Sunday. It was a performance packed to the gills with party tricks and magic moments ...
Humphreys relief for Ulster.(SPORT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: KIERAN ROONEY ULSTER rugby officials were relieved to report, following an x-ray yesterday, that David Humphreys did not suffer any breaks in his arm, WRITES KIERAN ROONEY. When the out-half departed in the early stages of Sunday's match against Leinster, the ...
Drug chiefs to be locked up in 'mini Alcatraz'.(FRONT PAGE)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Tom Brady Security Editor DRUG traffickers are to be housed in a 'mini Alcatraz' to stop barons running their operations from behind bars. They will be kept in special isolation units as part of a crackdown on a select band of criminals making huge profits out ...
Plastic bag levy to go up by 7c.(FRONT PAGE)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Treacy Hogan THE plastic bag levy is going up by seven cents at the end of the month, writes Treacy Hogan. The hike has been caused by a huge increase in their popularity among consumers. The increase means ...
Brother facing stab death charge.(FRONT PAGE)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Edel Kennedy and Grainne Cunningham THE brother of a father-of-five, fatally stabbed on New Year's Eve, will be charged in connection with his death today. Ailbe Lonergan (31) will appear before Killarney District Court at 11am. His brother Michael ...
Cowen sets out plan for EU75bn good life.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Senan Molony Political Correspondent THE Government has set aside EU75bn of taxpayers money to fund the new National Development Plan - but the bulk of it will not be spent on major infrastructural projects. Instead, most of the money will be spent on "social ...
Have a Nappy New Year.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Anne-Marie Walsh IT WAS a case of seconds out for Ireland's 'First Citizen' in 2007. Only a single second separated this tiny bundle of joy from 2006. The first baby born in Ireland came into the world immediately after midnight. Jake ...
Childhood sweethearts with so much to live for.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Edel Kennedy DARREN and Amanda were childhood sweethearts and had big plans for 2007. They were happily settled in a large house in their home town, their second child had just been born and the young couple were looking forward to building a bright future ...
Students need more computers, says union.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Katherine Donnelly THE Department of Education needs to more than treble what it spends on computers for students in second-leve lschools, according to a teachers' union. And teachers should be given laptops and training so that information and communications ...
Affordable housing scheme 'is failing'.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Edel Kennedy HUNDREDS of people who have been approved for affordable housing are finding themselves turned down for a mortgage. The scheme was set up to help those on middle or lower incomes get on to the property ladder. But new figures obtained ...
Switch n' save: the mortgage holder's mantra.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: EDEL KENNEDY UP to 60,000 homeowners made savings of up to EU2,000 by switching mortgages over the past 12 months. Some mortgage holders switched to consolidate loans or to release equity. But at least 10,000 have become what has been dubbed 'rate ...
Samaritans are overwhelmed by text appeals for help.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Edel Kennedy THE Samaritans have been forced to stop advertising their text service because they are not able to cope with demand. Since their pilot system began in April, they have been flooded with messages seeking help. Spokeswoman Anita Lawlor ...
Arrests up but random breath tests fail to deter.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent MORE drink drivers than ever are being nabbed by gardai. The introduction of random breath testing has failed to stop thousands of drunks from coming on to our roads behind the wheel. Official Garda figures, ...
CONTINUATION: 'New Alcatraz' to put block on drug barons' business.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... been refused bail by the courts and those who face serious drug charges. One official said last night: ''We want to eliminate the impression that it is easier for addicts to secure drugs in prison that it is in the outside community. ''Prisoners and their associates ...
Five years later and we're still shedding all those pounds.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Edel Kennedy IT'S five years since the great euro changeover, but up to 60 people a day are still changing old punts into the 'new' money. People travel from all over the country to the Central Bank's headquarters in Dublin to do so, as it is the only place ...
Claimsfor tax relief soar by one-third to EU380m.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Aideen Sheehan Consumer Affairs Correspondent TAXPAYERS have finally cottoned on to the fact they can claim back large chunks of their income from the taxman. The amount people are claiming back in tax relief has soared by over a third in the last year. ...
Short sunny spell sets in as wild winds blow over.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Grainne Cunningham ENJOY this morning's sunshine . . . because it isn't going to last. As the country recovered from the windiest day of the year on New Year's Eve, Met Eireann forecasters could promise very little respite from the bad weather. ...
New tour group sets up shop here.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Eugene Moloney IRISH sun lovers are likely to benefit from cheaper holiday packages after a new tour operator announced that it was planning to set up shop here. The company, XL holidays, will specialise on holidays to the Greek islands Santorini and Skiathos ...
Excuses run out for rusty Gaeilgeoirs.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Shane Hickey ANYONE who is dubious about a visit to Connemara due to their poor pronunciation of 'An Ghaeilge' may soon have the solution at their fingertips. Plans for the updating of the English-Irish focloir (dictionary) means rusty Gaeilgeoirs can update ...
Final verdict on year in court.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: DEARBHAIL McDONALD SCISSOR Sisters, gun-toting farmers . . . frozen embryos and lovable lesbians . . . child rapists told that underage sex isn't a crime and judges masquerading as politicians. Mark Twain had a point when he said truth is stranger than ...
200,000 expected to drive away in a new car this year.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: EDDIE CUNNINGHAM THE new-car buying spree starts today with high expectations that SSIA money will tempt up to 200,000 drivers to purchase an 07-reg motor this year. More people buy in January than in any other month. The majority of purchases for the entire ...
We're not going to be pensioned off yet, say top gardai.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Tom Brady Security Editor GARDA chiefs want to spend longer on the job. An application has been lodged on behalf of the force's 47 chief superintendents to extend their retirement age from the current 60 years to 63. The Department of Justice said ...
Partners in Europe.(COMMENT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... BULGARIA and Romania came in from the cold yesterday. As they saw it, they did not simply join the European Union: they became part of "Europe''. Gone are the days of Ottoman and communist domination. From now on, they will be partners in a great democratic enterprise. ...
The real price of a house.(COMMENT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... SOCIAL and affordable housing has a ring to it - or once had a ring to it. The concept was simple: reservation of a proportion of each new development for sale at lower prices. The reality was more complicated, and changes in the system made it murkier, not clearer. Now the time has come ...
SIDE LINE.(COMMENT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: MICHAEL WOLSEY IT was the sort of crowd you get at a football match around this time of year - few in numbers, high in spirits. But the behaviour of a group of young lads contrasted sharply with the good atmosphere. Their bad language carried ...
He's not mad. But he won't take it any more.(FEATURES)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Ian O'Doherty You have to hand it to RTE invader Paul Stokes -- the boy's persistent. Most people initially assumed that Stokes stalked on to the Late Late stage as some sort of protest against the content of the show -- this column has even heard of one ...
FAMILY VALUES.(FEATURES)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Ian O'Doherty For most of last year, Paris Hilton was the most pointless bimbo polluting popular culture. But taking up the rear and making a late dash for the line comes 'fire crotch' herself, Lindsay Lohan (pictured). As if turning up late for ...
Are men funnier than women?(FEATURES)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Ian O'Doherty There are some topics even the most foolhardy journalist normal fears to tread. Are black people inherently faster and more athletic than white? Are Asians intrinsically gifted at Maths? Do people from Cork really think they are that superior? ...
When in doubt, apologise.(FEATURES)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Ian O'Doherty Straight from the box marked "unverifiable scientific studies" comes this latest piece of useless information. Apparently, the average person will say "sorry" 1.9 million times in their lifetime -- while the word itself is uttered 368 million ...
Wow, who would have thunk it?(FEATURES)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Ian O'Doherty Hold the front page! Sword swallowing is potentially bad for your health. According to a doctor with way too much time on his hands: "I see patients with swallowing disorders and was sent an X-ray of a sword-swallower, which got me interested in ...
Talkin 'bout a resolution.(FEATURES)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: CONOR FEEHAN Sick of making broken promises to yourself in the form of halfhearted New Year resolutions? Don't worry, you're not alone. Since ancient Babylon we have been making our annual pledge to ourselves that we will do better, and we have been breaking ...
The dark side of the Irish-American dream.(FEATURES)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Kim Bielenberg It is one of the great mysteries of Irish-America. What happened to 57 Irish immigrants, who arrived by ship in America only to die a mere six weeks later? Professor Bill Watson, a Pennsylvania historian, believes he may now be close to ...
The fab five: How to get your share of the profits.(PERSONAL FINANCE)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: EDITED BY CHARLIE WESTON LAST year's recommendations produced a 30pc return, following the 45pc and 25pc returns in 2004 and 2005 respectively, making one consider seriously about retiring from this column while the going was good. I am sticking to the same ...
The ticking bomb of interest-only home loans.(PERSONAL FINANCE)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: CHARLIE WESTON THE ticking time bomb which may well explode in our faces this new year is the risk posed to thousands of home buyers who have low-cost interest-only mortgages. Some of these people are storing up huge problems for the future and putting ...
Doing a good job . . . just.(BUSINESS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: AILISH O'HORA THE pre-Christmas review of the Irish labour market from FaS was a timely one as it included a number of caveats. Although Ireland has been very successful in attracting jobs, especially from multinationals, there are signs that our ...
Going up in smoke.(BUSINESS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Pat Boyle WITH the Kyoto Treaty starting to impact, there were several key developments in the energy sector but little in the way of movement which would deal with our pending problem over CO2 emissions. The most dramatic development was the acquisition of ...
Strong economy brings bumper year for insurance.(BUSINESS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: CYRIL HARDIMAN THE year now concluded has been another bumper one for Ireland's insurers, especially those providing general cover. The strong economy, rising employment and incomes, and the winding down of the SSIA scheme, have ensured a good year for those ...
Irish now a working European language.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Senan Molony Political Correspondent TODAY marks the first day of Irish as a working language of the European Union. But it will take the Government another two years to come up with a development plan for the language back home. Just two weeks ...
The new Europeans rejoice But none of them has the automatic right to move here.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Senan Molony Political Correspondent MILLIONS of Romanians and Bulgarians revelled in their first day as citizens of the European Union yesterday after a night of fireworks and jubilant street parties. Deemed too politically and economically backward for ...
Smear test 'an absolute must' in tackling cancer.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Grainne Cunningham A PAINLESS medical test which takes just five minutes could save the lives of many women, the Irish Cancer Society has stressed. It is critical for all sexually active women over 25 to make appointments to have a smear test, it said in its ...
Shot down in the Dail . . . by Cupid's arrow.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Senan Molony FINE Gael leader Enda Kenny has revealed how Cupid struck - as he was speaking in Dail Eireann. Kenny recalled how he was speaking in the Dail when he looked up into the press gallery and ''saw a vision with flowing chestnut hair in a blue dress ...
Just 25pc of promised 'free GP visit' cards issued so far.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent LESS than a quarter of the 200,000 GP-visit medical cards promised two years ago have been issued so far. New figures reveal that only 47,550 of the special cards have been awarded despite changes to income guidelines. ...
Man found with gun refused bail.(NEWS)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Anne-Marie Walsh A MAN found with a loaded handgun in a well-known Dublin venue was yesterday refused bail in court. Trevor Brunton (24), with an address in Cabra, was charged with the unlawful possession of a firearm and unauthorised possession of ...
McGee's final fling thwarted by cruel injury.(SPORT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Paddy Hickey AFTER a week of rich promise during which he took the scalp of Davis Cup player Stephen Nugent, fate dealt hot teenage prospect James McGee a cruel blow. Only 37 minutes into the Dubliner's men's singles final showdown in the David Lloyd National ...
D'Arcy the fulcrum of best backline in country's history.(SPORT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Tony Ward AFTER the midweek glitch in Limerick, work in progress resumed for Leinster at nostalgic Lansdowne Road on Sunday, albeit on the back of the proverbial game of two halves. In many ways, the much-hyped 'Last Stand' was the reverse of Thomond Park ...
Paddy Power pens 10-year Derby deal.(SPORT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: John Martin THE sponsorship of the Irish Derby by bookmakers Paddy Power has been secured. The leading Irish bookmakers confirmed, yesterday, that they have entered into a fresh deal with Bord na gCon to back their premier Classic. It brings to an ...
Race is on to find Powers stars for 2006.(SPORT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Damien McElroy A TRULY vintage year at home and abroad is reflected in our list of nominees for the 2006 Irish Independent Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey Racing Awards. There are six categories -- owner, trainer, jockey, breeder, racecourse and stable staff ...
Meade wary of grounds for Brave Inca AIG rematch.(SPORT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: JOHN MARTIN THE prospect of a quick rematch between hurdling aces Brave Inca and Iktitaf would appear to be fading in the January mist. Brave Inca easily had the better of affairs when the pair clashed in the bew-leyshotels.com Christmas Festival Hurdle at ...
Studmaster shines at wet and windy Punchestown.(SPORT)
Jan 02, 2007 ... Byline: Damien McElroy ENCOURAGED by champion jockey Ruby Walsh and inform trainer Dessie Hughes, Punchestown was deservedly praised by racing's professionals for overcoming the morning downpour and high winds to proceed with their traditional New Year's Eve meeting. ...
CONTINUATION: Foxrock GC members to discuss EU400m buy-out offer.(SPORT)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Bray GC, which was also a nine-hole layout surrounded by houses, did a deal in the late 1990s which gave them a new course and clubhouse plus a cash injection of IRPS2m (EU2.6m). That was huge at the time but was eclipsed by Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, who received an impressive new ...
Lansdowne leaves mixed legacy.(SPORT)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: KIERAN ROONEY AFTER all of the excitement of last Sunday, isn't it time to make a more balanced assessment of the old Lansdowne Road? That's simply to accept that Lansdowne Road has had it's bad, as well as its good points. Understandably, most observers took ...
Humphreys to miss key games with arm injury.(SPORT)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Kieran Rooney ALTHOUGH the circumstances are not what Irish coach Eddie O'Sullivan, or anyone else, would have wanted, Paddy Wallace is set for a prolonged run at out-half for Ulster. Sadly for David Humphreys, an MRI scan has revealed that he suffered ...
Never change THE SYSTEM.(SPORT)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: DAVID KELLY AT the beginning of last season, weeks before a leaf had been turned in yet another chapter in Munster's epic European tale, the wonderfully inscrutable Declan Kidney was hosting a few media folk in a Musgrave Park cabin. His side had just seen ...
THE GOLDEN GIRLS.(SPORT)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: CLIONA FOLEY WHAT a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago few Irish people outside their own disciplines had heard the names Derval O'Rourke and Katie Taylor. Yet Ireland's new Golden Girls provided some of the nation's greatest highlights of the 2006 ...
Buyers squeezed out by rate hikes.(FRONT PAGE)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Charlie Weston Personal Finance Editor THE stark impact of interest rate hikes has hit house prices with buyers being squeezed out of the market. The trend was especially acute in the capital where the value of second-hand homes fell in the three months from ...
Judge stands by drug sentencing.(FRONT PAGE)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Senan Molony Political Correspondent ONE of the country's top judges has defended drug sentencing in the face of withering criticism from Justice Minister Michael McDowell. The comments by Supreme Court judge Justice Joseph Finnegan were seen as a response to ...
House prices stall in signal a sharp fall is on the way.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Charlie Weston Personal Finance Editor HOUSE price rises stalled in the last three months of the year as six interest rates hikes squeezed buyers out of the market. And in Dublin, the price of second-hand properties fell in the October, November and December ...
Inflation to top 5pc as living costs soar.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Aideen Sheehan, Senan Molony and Treacy Hogan THERE were no happy new year tidings for consumers yesterday amidst official predictions that the cost of living is set to rocket. Finance Minister Brian Cowen predicted that inflation could smash through the 5pc ...
Murder inquiry at critical stage, say detectives.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Tom Brady Security Editor FURTHER detective work is to be carried out by gardai investigating the murder of Dublin mother Siobhan Kearney before a decision is made on a charge against the prime suspect. The Director of Public Prosecutions is not yet satisfied ...
EU6m flu vaccine will only be good for a year.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Eilish O'Regan Health Correspondent A EU33M stockpile of medicine to protect the public in the event of a global flu pandemic could be unusable by the time any outbreak occurs. The Department of Health bought more than one million doses of antiviral drugs ...
EU15m cash boost for childcare.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Katherine Donnelly MORE than EU15m will be spent this year to help deal with the nationwide shortage of quality childcare places. Children's Minister Brian Lenihan announced a range of grants yesterday to groups involved in the provision of childcare. ...
Australian help centres for Irish get EU100,000 grant.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Anne-Marie Walsh THREE organisations which help impoverished Irish emigrants in Australia are set to benefit from government grants worth more than EU100,000. Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern also announced that Melbourne Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann will ...
Shopping spree ends with EU7m Lotto jackpot.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Eugene Moloney IT WAS the sales bargain of a lifetime for a man who yesterday collected a EU7.45m payout from the National Lottery. It was the final draw of the year and also turned out to be the biggest. The winner of what is the fourth largest ...
'I quit smoking and coffee, now my life has been saved'.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Edel Kennedy A STRESSED-out teacher has added 30 years to her life expectancy after overcoming her addiction to 15 cups of coffee a day. Kathryn O'Dwyer (35) was told that she would only live until 59 if she continued smoking, drinking excess amounts of ...
Save your euros while shedding the pounds.(NEWS)
Jan 03, 2007 ... Byline: Aideen Sheehan IT'S payback time for our festive overindulgence -and gyms around the country are enjoying their annual influx as New Year resolutions kick into gear. Health clubs are enticing people in by slashing hundreds of euro off their normal rates, a ...