Morning Ireland

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Netanyahu responds to Obama

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has unveiled tough terms for a Middle East peace accord, saying he would back a Palestinian state, but ruled out a halt to settlement activity.

David Landau, former editor of Haaretz, says this is a major step forward for the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Two Seanad seats to be filled

Brian Dowling says there is speculation that the Green Party's Niall Ó Brolcháin may take one of the seats

New Jersey memorial to abuse victims

Charlie Bird, Washington Correspondent, reports that the millstone memorial is dedicated to victims of sexual abuse

Opposition rally in Iran declared illegal

Supporters of Iran's defeated presidential candidate, Mirhossein Mousavi, are planning a rally in Tehran to protest against the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Mr Mousavi has formally asked Iran's legislative Guardian Council to cancel the result because of what he alleges were irregularities. The election result has sparked two days of violent demonstrations in the capital.

Ali Ansari, Institute of Middle East, Central Asia and Caucasus Studies, says the anger is widespread and senior officials are involved

DCU musical to go mainstream

Vincent Murphy reports that the student production of Rent has been commissioned for a commercial run in the Olympia Theatre

Survey says 41 towns are litter free

A record number of towns have been declared 'litter free' in the latest survey by Irish Business Against Litter. Forty-one towns reached the mark but none of our major cities is considered 'clean' to European norms. Wexford is Ireland's cleanest town, while Athlone and Mallow are the country's litter blackspots.

Tom Kavanagh, Irish Business Against Litter, says a cleaner Ireland should be looked at when the Programme for Government is renegotiated

Some TDs refusing to take pension cut

Joan Burton, Labour Spokesperson on Finance, says the Government should bring forward legislation on the matter

Are you paying the right tax?

Mark Redmond, CEO, Irish Taxation Institute, says two out of five ordinary tax payers are not claiming tax relief

Toolin Travel goes out of business

Cathal Guiomard, Aviation Regulator, says there will be holidays that will not go ahead and people can claim for a refund

Street performance championships in Cork

Cian McCormack reports that the performances were great for both adults and kids and the event happens in Dublin this weekend

Call for independent Shine inquiry

Fergus O'Dowd, Fine Gael TD, said we need a proper system in place to make sure this does not happen again

Priest has no recollection of ruffian remark

A priest in County Offaly has apologised after describing children who were sent to the Daingean reformatory as unwanted ruffians. Monsignor Tom Coonan - who made the remarks yesterday at a church ceremony in Ballinagar - six miles from Daingean - said last night he had no recollection of using the words reported, but said that what happened in the religious institutions was a scandal.

Monsignor Tom Coonan tells Vincent Murphy he did say that not all of the boys in Daingean reformatory were angels

Girl's life-saving surgery cancelled - report

Michael Parsons, The Irish Times, reports the young girl's family is now raising money to take her to London for the surgery

Rail-bus proposed by Iarnród Éireann

Barry Kenny, Iarnród Éireann spokesperson, says the vehicle can transfer between road and rail