Other News Brief

Live Register Numbers Fall

Figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the number of people signing on for unemployment benefit fell in October. The seasonally adjusted figure dropped by 3,000 from September to 422,500, its first decline for more than two years. The headline figure dropped by 7,447 to 412,407, though it is still almost 65% ahead of the same month last year. The unemployment rate fell back slightly from 12.6% in September to 12.5%.

€1M Cannabis Seizure

Gardaí have seized over €1million in Cannabis in Co Wicklow. The discovery was the result of a joint operation involving The Garda National Drugs Unit and Revenue Customs Service. The cannabis with a potential street value, subject to analysis, of in excess of €1million was seized yesterday afternoon. The seizure took place at a premises at Hempstown, Blessington Rd., Co. Wicklow. No arrests were made and investigations are continuing.

Gov To Borrow €26bn

The Government will have to borrow €26 billion this year due to the crippling deficit between income and spending. The measure is the result of serious financial problems facing the Government, which are continuing to worsen as the tax take falls back to 2003 levels. Finance Minister Brian Lenihan confirmed the measure on the same day the EU predicted Ireland would be among the last member states to emerge from recession. Exchequer figures published yesterday showed the tax take is falling back to 2003 levels, with just €26.8bn raised in the first 10 months of this year.

Rape Trial Collapses In Dublin

A trial of two Romanian men accused of kidnapping, raping and sexually assaulting a fellow national while she was on her way to pick her son up from school has collapsed at the Central Criminal Court. Mr Justice Peter Charleton told the jury that "certain material came to light", including messages on the complainant's phone, a message in a 'lonely hearts' column and contradictory evidence. He explained gardaí and the defence were entitled to investigate the phone messages and the alleged advertisement placed by the complainant or her husband. The 47-year-old and 33-year-old men, had pleaded not guilty to 17 charges of various sexual offences and one each of false imprisonment of the woman on November 6, 2006.

(DW)