METRO Friday, November 27, 2009 D METRODigest SOUTH Korean Casanovas breathed a collective sigh of relief yesterday as the Constitutional Court struck down a decades-old law that had banned men from making false promises of marriage to engage in sexual relations with women. The nine-member court ruled in a 6-3 verdict that the law didnt reflect the current social trend on sex and individualism. The law had punished South Korean men who deceived their girlfriends into having sex with penalties of up to two years in prison and a fine of more than 3,500. ABOUT a third of under 18s can still buy cigarettes, a State watchdog has revealed. The Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) said it was unacceptable for children to be sold cigarettes but said shopkeepers are complying with the law now more than ever. The OTC found the amount of retailers refusing to sell cigarettes to under 18s has increased to 68 per cent compared with 60 per cent last year and 52 per cent in 2007. It also found compliance with laws on sales from vending machines in pubs increased, with 65 per cent refusing to sell to minors, up from 37 per cent last year. The Irish Cancer Society said it showed a ban on displays and branding was protecting youngsters health. Cigarettes still being sold to under 18s THE HSE has expressed concerned at a low uptake of the swine flu vaccination among children under five years. This follows the latest death from the virus of a male with an underlying health con- dition. With more than 15,000 cases of the flu this week, the Department of Health warned the number of children and young people contacting the flu was rising. Seventeen people have died in Ireland so far and 221 remain in hos- pital with the virus, 18 in intensive care. Letters urging vaccinations have been issued by the HSEs Chief Medical Of- ficer, Dr Tony Holohan, to an estimated 300,000 parents with children under five, with only 25 per cent responding by taking their child to a clinic. Concern at low uptake of flu vaccine A NEW strategy aims to treble the number of Irish language speakers by the year 2030. The States 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language outlines a multi-layered plan to provide a support framework and increase daily use of the language nationwide. Three core objectives are: an increase in the number of daily Irish speakers; further growth in people who speak Irish on a daily basis in Gaeltacht areas; and greater access to State services in Irish and broadcast and print media in Irish. dars na Gaeltachta, responsible for the development of economic, social and cultural development in Gaeltacht areas, will be restructured as a new national Irish language agency. New State plan to boost use of Irish MASKED OUT Models Aoife Cogan and Yomiko prepare for the Smirnoff Be There Masquerade Ball at The Palace nightclub last night, with entertainment by DJ Alex Donald and 1990s tribute band Smash Hits! Picture: Sharppix index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html28.html29.html30.html31.html32.html33.html34.html35.html