A roundup of today's other news stories in brief
People in Need raises more than €7.5m
More than €7.5 million has been raised by the RTÉ People in Need telethon this year, the national broadcaster has said.
The money was raised through donations made during the telethon broadcasts on RTÉ 1 and RTÉ 2 on Friday night and Saturday morning, as well as from the charity reality show, Celebrities Go Wild.
The show, which attracted up to 500,000 viewers each night, was won by mayor of Kerry Michael Healy-Rae.
Donations were also received following fundraising events that had been taking place since the People in Need campaign was launched in July.
All funds raised will be distributed to charities and community groups around Ireland through the People in Need Trust, with money raised in each county going back into that county.
Since its inception in 1988, more than €42.5 million has been raised by the trust.
Poll shows parties holding steady
An opinion poll published yesterday showed a marginal drop in support for Fianna Fáil and Labour since the general election with Fine Gael and the Greens holding steady and support for Sinn Féin increasing.
The Red C poll in the Sunday Business Postputs Fianna Fáil on 39 per cent (down 1 per cent); Fine Gael 27 per cent (no change); Labour 10 per cent (down 1 per cent); Sinn Féin 8 per cent (up 2 per cent); Green Party 7 per cent (no change); Progressive Democrats 2 per cent (down 1 per cent); and Others on 7 per cent.
Gardaí seek river death witness
Gardaí investigating the death of a woman who drowned in the River Lee in Cork earlier this month have appealed for a man who may have seen the woman going into the river to contact them.
Supt Mick Finn of Anglesea Street station said gardaí wanted to speak to a man in his 30s who was in the vicinity of Albert Quay and Kennedy Quay on the night of October 17th/18th who may have seen Marion O'Leary (54) enter the river.
Disabled parking scheme abuse
The Irish Wheelchair Association has said that there is widespread abuse of the disabled drivers' parking scheme which also involves the use of forged permits.
It also claims that the permits are being used relatives of people with disabilities. Michael Doyle of the association says as many as 1,000 forged permits are being used every day. He has called for an urgent review.
Cork premiere for new Irish film
The world premiere of the new Irish film Strength and Honouris to take place in Cork next month. The film's stars, Michael Madsen, Vinnie Jones, Richard Chamberlain, Finbar Furey and Gail Fitzpatrick, are all due to attend the screening at the Cork Opera House on November 19th, with proceeds going to the Marymount Hospice.
Strength and Honourwon prizes for best picture and best actor (Michael Madsen) at the Boston Film Festival in September.
Diver's ashes scattered at sea
The ashes of a diver whose died as he helped to film a sunken U-boat were scattered in the sea off the coast of Donegal yesterday.
A flotilla accompanied the ashes of Michael Hanrahan out to sea off Malin Head.
Mr Hanrahan, from Rathfarnham, Dublin, died more than three weeks ago.
Gardaí seek missing woman
Gardaí at the Bridewell station in Dublin are seeking the public's assistance in tracing Maria Luciana Costa Aguiar (23).
She was last seen leaving where she lives on the North Circular Road at 2.15am on the October 25th. She is of medium build with brown eyes, wearing glasses and with brown, straight shoulder-length hair.