| Handshake begins historic meeting
THE first-ever public handshake between the Democratic Unionist leader
Ian Paisley and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern took place before talks between
the two leaders in Dublin last week.
The North’s First Minister-in-waiting arrived at Farmleigh House
for talks with Mr Ahern and as he arrived the North Antrim MP who was
accompanied by his son Ian Paisley Jr bellowed: “Good morning.
He said: “I better shake hands with this man and give you a firm
grip.”
There was a warm handshake with the Taoiseach at the door of Farmleigh
House, with Mr Paisley slapping Mr Ahern affectionately on the right shoulder.
The talks focused on future relations between the Irish Government and
the new administration at Stormont which will come into being on May 8.
drug problem
IRISH children as young as eight are experiencing drug misuse and those
as young as 12 have dabbled with drugs and alcohol, according to new research
from the Health Service Executive.
More than 600 young people in the south of the country were questioned
as part of the survey.
A tenth of those in the 15-18 age group admitted that they had used ecstasy,
cocaine and speed.
The findings were published to coincide with the launch of a new drugs
awareness campaign targeting young people.
The HSE says the figures are worrying as research has found that young
people taking drugs tend to move on to harder substances as they get older.
new bertie quiz
THE Oireachtas ethics watchdog has reportedly launched an informal investigation
into the payments made to the Taoiseach in the early 1990s.
Reports reveal the Standards In Public Office Commission has written to
Bertie Ahern following complaints lodged in recent months.
The investigation is focusing on whether Mr Ahern breached ethics legislation
in relation to the almost £40,000 he received from wealthy businessmen
in 1993 and 1994.
Reports say the complaints to the commission claim the Taoiseach failed
to declare any benefit from the loans and breached the law in relation
to appointments he made to State boards.
At least four of the men who gave Mr Ahern the money have served on State
boards but Mr Ahern insisted when the payments emerged last year that
he did not breach any ethics laws or rules. |
