Mental health is allocated 5.3% of the total health budget, 3% less than the minimum 8.24% recommended in the policy document 'A Vision for Change'. Cross-political and cross-societal groups met yesterday to call on government to protect Mental Health from further cuts. By Eamonn Costello

Campaigners gathered outside Leinster House yesterday in an effort to protect the mental health budget, described as the “Cinderella” of the health services.

Dunnes Stores has received a petition signed by over 6,000 people demanding that it cease stocking Israeli goods. By Eamonn Costello.

Around fifty protesters gathered with flags and banners at Dunnes Stores head office in Georges Street, Dublin at lunchtime yesterday to support the boycott.

Monday next marks the six-month anniversary of the most severe earthquake to hit Haiti in over 200 years. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake killed over 230,000 people, left a million more homeless and affected over three million Haitians. Most of the homes around the capital Port Au Prince were destroyed and the national infrastructure smashed, obstructing the relief effort. By Eamonn Costello.