Ireland's first ever not-for-profit community television station will be available to NTL Digital subscribers by early 2007. By John Byrne

Anti-war activists plan to protest at the visit of Australian prime minister John Howard to Ireland this month. Howard, a strong supporter of the invasion of Iraq, will be addressing the Dáil as well as meeting the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the President, Mary McAleese, some Government ministers and a "large gathering of influential members of the Irish business community".

J Day, which was to take place as part of the Global Marijuana March to support the legalisation of Marijuana on May 6 in Marley Park, has been "officially cancelled", according to a message on its website.

The Minister for Justice may be targetting casinos, but the real rise in gambling in Ireland is happening online, writes John Byrne

The Garda Press Office has issued a statement pointing out "inaccuracies" in a recent report in the Sunday Independent by journalist Jim Cusack. Under the headline, "Helpless gardai waited hours for armed units", Jim Cusack reported that "two unarmed gardaí who were threatened with a pistol in west Dublin had to wait for almost two hours before armed support arrived, so they could make arrests."

RTÉ presenter Derek Mooney, innovative, humorous and talented, has made a wildlife show one of the most popular radio programmes in the country. By John Byrne

The Garda Ombudsman Commission, the independent body which will investigate complaints against members of An Garda Síochána, will be operative in early- to mid-2007, a spokesman has said.

One In Four Director Colm O'Gorman chooses the Progressive Democrats after becoming 'frustrated' with the Labour Party. By John Byrne

Ex-nurse and 'kid-friendly person' Emily Logan, Ireland's first Children's Ombudsman, is a persistent critic of Government policies on childcare and outspoken on child sexual abuse. By John Byrne.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) plans to invite a number of prominent Irish journalists to their annual conference to take part in a debate about Irish policing. Although none were confirmed at time of going to print, the GRA, which represents rank and file gardaí, hopes that RTÉ broadcaster Sean O'Rourke, who presents the News at One on RTÉ Radio 1 and The Week In Politics will chair the debate. Irish Times' columnists Fintan O'Toole and John Waters will also be invited to speak at it.