In the statement, CIRA said that criminals in the greater Belfast area had been using its name to create confusion among its support base.

THE £3,000 grant for first-time buyers discriminates against young couples who are unable to purchase new houses, the Seán Sabhat Cumann of Republican Sinn Féin, Limerick said on November 23.

Spokesperson Joe Lynch said that there is now a housing crisis in Limerick and many young couples are buying older houses because they are the only homes they can afford.

“The fact is young couples cannot afford to build their own homes and house-building has now come to a standstill in Limerick.

Therefore young couples are forced into the second-hand market but then do not qualify for the £3,000 grant. Even though the house is their first home and in effect they are first-time buyers, they are told that they do not qualify.

“The way the grant is applied now discriminates against young couples who buy older houses as their first home. By purchasing a house these couples are not a burden on the Limerick Corporation housing list and it is our view that they should be allowed the grant.”

THE Universal Declaration of the Collective Rights of Peoples was adopted at the IV Conference of CONSEU (Conference of European Stateless Nations) held in Barcelona, January 19-21 last.

The document is the result of a number of years work of a broad range of people, led by such as the Secretary-General of the Barcelona-based CIEMEN group, Aureli Argemi. CIEMEN acts as a facilitator for independence groups throughout Europe.

Just as the Universal Declaration of the Collective Rights of Peoples enshrines internationally the rights and dignity of all human beings, likewise the Declaration on Collective Rights would enshrine the rights of all people or groups to national self-determination.

The declaration defines what constitutes a ‘people’, and addresses issues such as territorial integrity, the rights of peoples to resist occupation, the rights of itinerant peoples and language and cultural rights, protection of natural resources and international relations etc. Republican Sinn Féin endorsed the Universal Declaration at the Ard-Fheis in Dublin during October.

NB. Prize No 4 has not been claimed. If you have this ticket please return it to 223 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 and your prize will be sent on to you.

THERE were 301 foreign military overflights in Irish airspace from September to October 21 with 64 foreign military landings. These figures were released to Leinster House deputy Enda Kenny by 26-County Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen. The breakdown of figures indicate that there 169 foreign military overflights in September with 141 overflights to October 21. Foreign military landings comprised 43 in September with 22 landings to October 21. So much for Irish neutrality!