News Wednesday, January 27, 2010 D 35 held in blitz on drug dealers garda have arrested 35 suspected street drug dealers in a blitz on gangs. Six men and one woman were detained on drugs charges in athlone, while 28 men have been held in dublin in recent days. The operation has seen undercover officers buy drugs from suspected dealers before detectives moved in. The areas targeted were Finglas, Blanchardstown and Cabra. Eight men arrested in dublin, were being questioned under the Misuse of drugs act. HSE erred in charity wage cuts warning HEALTH chiefs made a mistake ordering voluntary agencies and charities to enforce pay cuts among their workers, the Government has conceded. The Health Service Executive (HSE) issued so- called early warning notices to organisations it funds, saying pay cuts for public servants would apply to them. Labour leader Eamon Gilmore challenged Taoiseach Brian Cowen about the legality of the move last week. Tnaiste Mary Coughlan yesterday said HSE chief Brendan Drumm told the Government the circulars were a mistake. He has since issued a clarification, she added. Under the legislation the agencies are exempt from the salary reductions. Separately, Ms Coughlan confirmed Government plans to allow agriculture, catering, hotel and retail bosses to pay workers less than the minimum wage. Promotions freeze lifted to fill top brass A PUBLIC sector promotions freeze is being relaxed to allow Garda top brass to be replaced. Top-ranking positions in the force that were left unfilled after a spate of retirements include the chief superintendent of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigations, and chief superintendents of the Garda Special Branch and the Garda Technical Bureau. Justice minister Dermot Ahern (pictured) said the positions can now be filled by the Garda Commissioner. homedigest THE cost of sex has gone down. A report on Newstalk 106-108FMs Moncrieff show has revealed prostitution and escort services have been forced to drop their prices in the current economic climate. One prostitute told reporter Henry McKean she charged 15 for oral sex, when her usual rate is 40. Another said she charged 20 for that particular service and between 50 and 100 for full sex. Sex workers in brothels are more expensive at 60 for 15minutes and up to 250 for a full hour but they too claimed a drop in prices and were prepared to haggle. Unprotected sex costs more as many of the women are reluctant to do it for health reasons. Prostitutes reduce price to stay on top THE Food Safety Authority has launched a food allergen alert service to provide information in the event of health risks on products because of missing or incorrect labelling. By subscribing on www.fsai.ie, food allergy sufferers will receive e-mail or text warnings. The FSAI is also calling on allergen sufferers estimated to be five per cent of all children and three per cent of adults to take part in an online survey to help it develop the service. For people who have been medically diagnosed, correct information on the food label is crucial in managing an allergy, said Alan Reilly, chief executive of the FSAI. Food allergy alert service launches TDs challenged to go to work by train A COUNCILLOR has challenged all deputies and ministers to take the train and feel our pain. I wonder if any TD living along the 50-mile commuter service to Portlaoise (or Maynooth) actually uses the train regularly, said Naas Councillor Paddy Mac Namara. I would like to see a TD standing on the platform in the rain as the 7am is announced delayed by 30 minutes, yet again. Cllr Mac Namara said it was no excuse to say the timetable doesnt suit their busy schedule. and finally... DOCTORS in Peru amputated the healthy leg of an 86-year-old man, then amputated the other leg when they realised their mistake. I was shocked when I lifted the sheets and saw they had taken his left leg, the mans daughter said. The ulcer was on his right leg and they had to amputate that one too. The Alberto Sabogal Hospital doctors have been suspended, pending an investigation. Crisis talks continue in NI devolution row Positive deal: Peter Robinson By David Young NOrTHErN Irelands political parties met face-to-face for crunch talks last night as the Irish and British govern- ments expressed hopes of saving the re- gions power-sharing administration. The round-table meeting chaired by Taoiseach Brian Cowen and Prime Min- ister gordon Brown at Hillsborough Castle in Co down, brought together the democratic Unionists, Sinn Fin, the SdLP, Ulster Unionists and alliance Party for the first time during the talks to resolve the row over devolving policing powers was convened on Monday. afterwards, Foreign affairs Minister Michel Martin said the meeting was very constructive and there was a real willingness to make progress. His sen- timents were echoed by Northern Ire- land Secretary Shaun Woodward who said there was a real spirit of co-opera- tion at the talks. despite the development, there are still no signs of an imminent break- through in the wrangle that has threat- ened the future of the fragile Stormont Executive, but the two governments said a positive platform had been created. Sinn Fin is demanding a swift trans- fer of the powers but the dUP has in- sisted it will only move when changes are made to the way Orange Order pa- rades are managed. Papers drafted by the governments are understood to fo- cus on a date for the transfer and a re- placement for the Parades Commission, the body which rules on parades. The timing of law and order devolu- tion remains the main issue of conten- tion between Sinn Fin and the dUP since the 2006 St andrews agreement. as yesterdays talks convened, dUP leader Peter robinson stressed the im- portance of securing a positive deal. Policing is a life or death issue... it is something that touches every member of our community, he said. Sinn Fin assembly minister Conor Murphy said the failure of the deal would have serious implications, but he added his party had delivered on their commitments in terms of St andrews. Little bookworm: Jamie Higgins, age three, at the launch of the Parent Child Home Programme at the National College of Ireland in Dublin. The scheme shows parents how childrens books and toys promote school readiness and cultivate language and literacy skills 4 index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html