| Prohibiting begging is against the
constitution THE law on begging has been struck out by the Irish
High Court after a man successfully argued that it was unconstitutional.
Mr Justice Eamon De Valera said article three of the Vagrancy Act which
deals with begging breaches the constitutional right to expression and
to communicate with others.
Niall Dillon took the case against the DPP to prevent them from prosecuting
him on a charge of begging on Parliament Street in Dublin in 2003.
This part of the act also provided for a mandatory prison sentence for
people convicted of begging.
Mr Dillon had told the court he was outside a Spar shop on Parliament
Street when he was arrested adding that he was sitting with a cup of coffee
in a quiet and peaceful manner.
trade mission
THE IRISH Minister for Trade and Commerce is on a trade mission to the
Far East.
Michael Ahern is visiting Singapore and Malaysia in a bid to boost business
opportunities for Ireland in a region that boasts three-fifths of the
world’s economy.
Already Irish interests in the IT and telecom sectors are growing.
Michael Garvey of Enterprise Ireland’s Shanghai office says the
visit is important because Ireland isn’t yet well-known in Asia.
Aside from meeting government officials Minister Ahern is meeting with
local Irish business people all of which contributes to the awareness
of Ireland.
new primate
THE Church of Ireland has installed a new primate in Armagh following
the retirement of Dr Robin Eames.
The Right Reverend Alan Harper was enthroned at St. Patrick’s Cathedral
in Armagh.
Born in Britain Archbishop Harper studied theology in Dublin and served
as a minister in Moville in Co. Donegal as well as in Derry and Belfast.
He is regarded as a relative liberal on the debate on homosexuality within
the Church believing gay people are born with their sexuality and same-sex
relationships are not sinful as long as they are faithful and monogamous.
pogues cancel gig
LEGENDARY band The Pogues were forced to pull the first of three shows
at New York’s Roseland Ballroom to allow frontman Shane MacGowan
to recover from a stage fall.
The Fairytale Of New York singer suffered severe damage to his knee ligaments
after taking a tumble from the stage during a show in Boston, Massachusetts
earlier this month and was still not fully recovered in time for the reunited
group’s New York concert.
In a statement, the band’s management says: “Shane is under
constant medical supervision and analgesic control.” |
