A documentary presented by David Attenborough (BBC 1,Sunday 21st Jan) will present the findings of the largest ever climate prediction project involving simulation programs run on over 54,000 computers. The resulting data was analysed at Oxford University to give the most detailed picture of our likely future climate.
In the latest of a series of controversial decisions, Wicklow County Council has ignored the advice of its own planners and rezoned land near Greystones to enlarge a massive housing project. With inadequate roads, poor public transport and limited employment opportunities, locals fear the area will become just one large commuter belt. By Frank Connolly
Local residents in Limerick are campaigning to save four large trees on the site of a new aparthotel in Highfield, Limerick city. Two of the trees – Monterey Cypress tress – are estimated to be 150-200 years old. The other two are a Giant Redwood and a Turkey Oak tree.
As opposition to the planned new stadium at Lansdowne Road mounts, GAA members have re-ignited debate over the use of Croke Park for rugby and soccer matches, saying the existing Lansdowne grounds should be kept open until the go-ahead for recontruction is given. By Frank Connolly
Evidence that Docklands authority board members may have failed to meet statutory requirements and questions about the authority's involvement in a project for which it has a legal regulatory function. By Frank Connolly
One of the three members of the only Sinn Féin cumann in the Erris peninsula is employed by Shell E&P on the Corrib gas pipleine and terminal project. Paddy Ruddy, from Muingingane, Kilcommon, is a member of the local cumann based in Ballycroy and is one of the few local people employed by Shell on the gas project.
Many Irish fishermen are in serious debt and some are engaging in illegal fishing to repay bank loans that run to millions of euro. By Max McGuinness
A survey of the Irish seabed commissioned by the government is set to be at least €50m over budget, 20 years overdue and missing the most relevant information. By Sara Burke
The greenbelt area around Cork city has been opened up for development, in defiance of the local senior planner and An Bord Pleanála. By Frank Connolly
Plans to rezone lands in north Dublin have met with criticism from local residents, who say that the area is not suited to industrial use and that the changes will benefit a landowner who has been accused of operating an unauthorised haulage business there. By Frank Connolly