A round-up of today's other stories in brief
All ages urged to get moving this week
ADULTS AND children of all ages can take part in Move Smart Week, which runs all this week to Sunday.
Organised by the Nutrition and Health Foundation, in partnership with the Camogie Association, the week involves a programme of activities for all ages in camogie clubs across the country. The week aims to encourage people all over Ireland to get active, even just a little each day.
A full list of activities can be found at nhfireland.ieand camogie.ie
Ex-Department of Health boss is new Tallaght chairman
THE FORMER secretary general of the Department of Health, Michael Scanlan, has been appointed as chairman of Tallaght hospital.
Mr Scanlan, who is 56, stepped down as the most senior official in the Department of Health in April after more than 38 years in the Civil Service.
Tallaght hospital said yesterday that Mr Scanlan had been voted chairman of its interim board to succeed Sir Keith Pearson.
A spokeswoman for the hospital said that Sir Keith, who was appointed chairman of the interim board late last year, had completed his agreed term. The chairman of the NHS Confederation in the UK and former executive with health insurer Bupa had been nominated to the Tallaght hospital board by the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin, Most Rev Michael Jackson.
The Department of Health announced earlier this year that Mr Scanlan, who spent seven years as secretary general, was to receive lump sum and severance payments of more than €430,000 on his departure.
Mr Scanlan, who had also served as chairman of the board of the HSE until his retirement, was eligible to a pension of €107,795 per year. Mr Scanlan had told the Minster for Health, James Reilly, that he would be happy to play an appropriate role after his retirement, on a pro-bono basis, in helping to support the reform agenda in health.
Mr Scanlan was succeeded as secretary general of the Department of Health by Ambrose McLoughlin, the chief executive of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, the pharmacy regulator.
Irish drivers avoid French motoring laws - for now
NEW MOTORING laws have come into force in France making it compulsory for drivers to carry breathalyser kits in their vehicles.
The new regulations came into effect on Sunday.
However, Irish drivers planning to head to France on holidays will be able to take advantage of the four-month period of grace in effect for foreign drivers, which will mean they are included only from November 1st.
The rules, which exclude mopeds, will be fully enforced and will see motorists and motorcyclists facing an on-the-spot fine unless they travel with two single-use devices as part of a government drive to reduce the number of drink-drive related deaths.
Anyone failing to produce a breathalyser after that date will receive a €11 fine.
French police have warned they will be carrying out random checks on drivers crossing into France via ferries and through the Channel Tunnel to enforce the new rules.
Retailers in the UK have reported a rise in breathalyser sales as drivers travelling across the English Channel ensure they do not fall foul of the new legislation. Car accessory retailer Halfords said it was selling one kit every minute of the day and had rushed extra stock into stores to cope with the unprecedented demand.
The French government hopes to save around 500 lives a year by introducing the new laws, which will encourage drivers who suspect they may be over the limit to test themselves with the kits.
The French drink-driving limit is 50mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood – the same as the limit for most drivers in Ireland.
