Laois/Offaly: Ray Fitzpatrick

A three hour debate in the Dail yesterday once again highlighted the awful legacy left to thousands of homeowners in this State from a blatant failure to implement proper building regulations in the construction of homes during the property bubble era. Yesterday it was the creeping destruction caused by pyrite that was in focus but much reference was made also to those homeowners, such as the residents of Priory Hall on Dublin’s north side, who are living with the agony of being forced out of their homes which are serious fire hazards because the fire safety regulations were not implemented during construction.

A new drug, Kalydeco, will be made available to Cystic Fibrosis sufferers in Ireland. The drug, which treats a mutation specific to 10% of CF patients, will lead to a significant increase in quality of life.

Joe Higgins, Socialist Party TD, when condemning the reprehensible nature of the distressingly misogynistic remarks caught on tape of Gardai speaking about female protesters against Shell in Mayo, said the comments were reminiscent of those of a foreign, oppressive occupying force.