A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Decision on Drumm US case adjourned
An application for recognition of the US bankruptcy proceedings of former Anglo Irish Bank chief executive David Drumm was adjourned for a second time at the High Court in Dublin yesterday. Mr Drumm filed for bankruptcy in Massachusetts on October 14th.
The action effectively put a stay on all legal proceedings against Mr Drumm. However, the US bankruptcy trustee is required to ask the High Court here to recognise the US proceedings.
Bernard Dunleavy SC, representing Massachusetts bankruptcy trustee Kathleen Dwyer, told Mr Justice Kevin Feeney he had received papers from the US to further his application for recognition of the US proceedings. The case was adjourned to Monday.
Former SDLP leader Durkan resigns Stormont Assembly seat
Former SDLP leader Mark Durkan has formally resigned his Assembly seat at Stormont to concentrate on his work at Westminster.
Mr Durkan, a former deputy first minister and minister of finance, formally submitted papers last night to vacate his Foyle seat.
The move had been signalled at last May’s Westminster election when he said that he wanted to focus exclusively on representing Derry in the House of Commons.
His Westminster colleagues, leader Margaret Ritchie and Alasdair McDonnell, are to continue for the time being to take their seats both at Stormont and in London.
Cowen approval ratings down to 11%
Satisfaction ratings for Taoiseach Brian Cowen have fallen by seven points to 11 per cent, according to a new poll. The poll by Red C for the Irish Sun shows Labour leader Eamon Gilmore continues to be the most popular party leader, with 39 per cent approval ratings.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny is at 23 per cent, according to the results of the survey of 1,000 adults carried out last week.
Women urged to seize Robinson spirit
Irish women need to seize the spirit that propelled Mary Robinson to be the first female president of Ireland to neutralise the prevailing macho political culture, according to Labour Women chairwoman Katherine Dunne.
Mrs Robinson was elected president 20 years ago, on November 9th, 1990.
“Mary Robinson praised the women of Ireland for rocking the system by voting for a new Ireland,” Ms Dunne said yesterday. “Her spirit lives on. We need to keep that spirit up and keep tackling inequalities in the system to strive for a truly equal Ireland.”
She called for measures, such as legislation for gender balance among Dáil candidates, to be implemented.