RADIO KILKENNY
6pm news Sept 5th
National pay talks
Employers' groups and trade unions have agreed to engage in a week of intensive negotiations from Monday in a bid to secure a National Wage Agreement. The decision came after two hours of meetings with Taoiseach Brian Cowen at Government Buildings. Earlier, the employers' group IBEC warned that there is no room for further public sector pay rises in the coming year.
Orde praises police and gardai
The PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde said he believes many lives have been saved following the seizure of guns and ammunition in police raids north and south of the border and in Amsterdam earlier this week. Sir Hugh Orde also praised the level of co-operation between his force and the gardaí. A total of 230 handguns, 10,000 rounds of ammunition, €450,000 euro in cash and drugs with an estimated street value of over 4 million euro have now been seized in the international police operation. Six people remain in custody in Dublin, Belfast and Amsterdam after forces from the three jurisdictions swooped on the suspected trafficking ring this week.
Haiti aid needed
A senior UN official in Haiti has said that over 500,000 people are in need of help because of flooding caused by tropical storm Hanna. 136 people have already died in Haiti due to Hanna, the third storm to hit the country in as many weeks. Joel Boutroue, the UN co-ordinator for humanitarian aid in the country, warned that things could get worse in the coming days.
IFA reveal crop losses
The IFA revealed today that more than 150million euro worth of crops could be ruined by dismal weather over the summer. They said growers are facing massive financial losses after harvesting less than two-thirds of their crops. IFA national grain chairman Colum McDonnell said a combination of a poor summer harvest, rising costs and falling prices could spell disaster for many farmers.
Caution urged on roads
Motorists are advised to drive with care due to flooding on a number of roads in the south and east of the country. Met Éireann has said that further heavy rainfall is expected in many places tonight with up to 20 or 30 milimetres of rain likely in places. Heavy rain has resulted in flooding in parts of Dublin, Wicklow and Cork city. There is also a lot of surface water around the country.
Cois Fharraige
Cois Fharraige began today in Killkee Co. Clare. The sea side event runs until Sunday with an international music line up of Travis, Supergrass and The Zutons.
Liam McCarthy takes a early trip to Kilkenny
Kilkenny has already got it's hands on the Liam McCarthy Cup this week but only for a brush-up. After years of dents, scratches and even a bit of vandalism, the silver cup was back in the hands of its creator James Mary Kelly of JMK studios. It's the first major clean up the Cup has recieved since JMK designed and made it 16 years ago.
Euromillions
One of the biggest lottery prizes paid out worldwide could happen tonight. A EuroMillions jackpot of €113million euro is up for grabs. It was last won in July, and has since rolled over five times.
In traffic news...
The N76 Kilkenny/Callan road is reduced to one lane between Grange & Ballymack Cross from 7.30am to 8 pm daily. This is in place until the 13th of September