News Monday, January 25, 2010 D Lifeboat heroes rescued more than 1,000 people Brave: Volunteers from the RNLI returning from another rescue By Ross McDonagh man during the intelligence-led operation at around 8pm last night. The man is being detained under section two of the Drug Trafficking Act. NORTHERN Irelands First Minister Martin McGuinness (pictured) is demanding a meeting with DUP leader Peter Robinson to save the power-sharing executive from collapse. Mr McGuinness spoke to Taoiseach Brian Cowen and British prime minister Gordon Brown yesterday to press for progress on policing and justice issues. I think we are in a serious situation, Mr Cowen said. McGuinness wants progress Water shortages set to continue LARGE parts of Dublin are continuing to endure water shortages two weeks after the end of severe weather conditions as work to fix leaking and burst pipes continues. Homes on high ground and those in rural areas may have low pressure this morning once the water supply returns, Dn Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council council said. Fingal County Council is reducing water pressure every night to allow its reservoirs to refill. A water tanker will be available at Hyde Park Road, Dalkey from noon to 2pm today. Man quizzed over drugs raid DRUGS detectives were yesterday questioning a man after they raided a cannabis factory. More than 100 plants believed to have a street value of 60,000 were uncovered at a house in New Road, Galway city. Suspected cultivation Stringtime: David Blake, six, right, and twins Frankie and Lucy Lowney, four, at the launch of the Temple Bar TradFest family programme which kicks off on Wednesday and includes a family parade and an outdoor cil Picture: Mark Stedman/Photocall A POLICEMAN who survived a bomb attack has regained consciousness, police confirmed yesterday. Catholic Constable Peadar Heffron, 33, had his right leg amputated at the Royal Hospital in Belfast earlier this month. A police spokeswoman said he is critical but stable, however he has regained consciousness and is showing signs of improvement. He had just left his home outside Randalstown, Co Antrim, to start work when the device exploded under his blue Alfa Romeo car on January 8. Bomb attack PC conscious Seaside on ice may Bay on way BUDDING Torvill and Deans will be showing off their skills by the sea if plans for an ice rink overlooking Dublin Bay get off the ground. The venture, part of a controversial major redevelopment of Dn Laoghaire harbour, is to be open from December to January, with a roller-blade rink to be available during the rest of the year. A 250,000-a- year contract has been put out to tender to design, build, maintain and operate the rink, with work on the project due to begin by April. and finally... IF YOU thought having no friends was a problem, it now seems having too many can also be a pain. Professor Robin Dunbar, from Oxford University says the neocortex the part of the brain used for language and conscious thought can only cope with 150 friendships, despite users of sites such as Facebook listing thousands. equipment, being used as part of a hydroponic cannabis cultivation factory, was also seized. Investigating garda said they arrested a 37-year-old homedigest Speeding: Can be stopped Limit speed of vehicles to save lives, says report A REPORT has called for speed limiters for cars to ensure they do not break the limit. In a voluntary scheme that would override the drivers control, the speed and brakes could be manipulated via an internet connection, the Northern Irish report said. Public safety could be improved and pollution reduced, the Sustainable Development Commission added. If successful, the technology should be rolled out to all government, public sector and public transport operators vehicles, it added. In the United Arab Emirates, some vehicles have alarms that sound if they are over the limit. IRISH lifeboats rescued more than 1,000 people last year, latest figures show. The Royal National Lifeboat Insti- tution (RNLI) revealed an increase of 13 per cent in the number of launches last year. Through 976 operations from its 43 lifeboat stations, the charity rescued 1,008 members of the public in 2009 and now it needs the public to return the favour. SOS Day, the RNLIs national fund- raising day, takes place on Friday, and it is hoping to raise 100,000 for training and equipment. This year, supporters are being asked to Hunt for the Punt by rooting out and do- nating their old Irish money. Dn Laoghaire in Dublin was the busiest lifeboat station last year, where crew launched 68 times and rescued 92 people. The next busiest station was in Northern Ireland where the Bangor lifeboat volunteer launched 55 times, rescuing 69 people. The Aran Islands lifeboat in Gal- way and the Enniskillen stations on Lough Erne were among the busiest, with more than 50 call-outs each and more than 100 people rescued be- tween them. Machinery failure, stranded vessels and fears arising from lost contact with a vessel were the top three rea- sonsforcontactingtheRNLI,amount- ing to 386 call-outs. Medical emergencies and missing people were behind more than 50 launches each, while animals in dis- tress were responsible for 12. Its been another busy year for Irelands RNLI lifeboats, said the services deputy divisional inspector Gareth Morrison. It has become clear that more peo- ple are using the sea and inland waters for recreation and demand for the life- boats continues to be high. Our volunteer lifeboat crews train throughout the year to be ready for any call-out. Mr Morrison recommended the nautically inclined take all safety pre- cautions, including wearing a life- jacket, checking equipment, checking the weather forecast and not relying on mobile phones. Use a VHF radio and always carry distress flares, he added. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html