By: Jeff Meade

By the time you read this, the situation in Northern Ireland might have changed. The issue at hand is devolution--in plain English, the transfer of police and justice powers from Britain to Northern Ireland Assembly.

The Democratic Unionist Party has been at loggerheads with Sinn Fein over the deal. The key point of contention now is abolition of the parades commission--and they're not talking about the St. Patrick's Day parade, folks--to be replaced by an independent panel. The two sides were given until noon Friday to come up with an agreement, or the governments of Great Britain and Ireland were going to come out with their own proposals. However, noon came and went without a deal. RTE was reporting that the two sides were still at it into the night Friday.

Belfast Telegraph
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/deadline-looms-for-northern-ireland--deal-14657649.html

RTE
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0129/northpolitics.html

It was Ireland's biggest bank robbery ever--€7 million. Now an employee of the Bank of Ireland is being questioned by the gardaí in connection with the holdup. The robbery took place last February 27. A gang reportedly forced a BoI bank official to remove the cash from the College Green branch and held the official's girlfriend, her mum and a 6-year-old nephew hostage.

RTE
http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0129/kilteel.html

Drivers in Dublin are grousing about a new speed limit in the center of town. The new 30kph speed limit takes effect Monday. Ireland's Automobile Association is taking pot shots at Dublin city councillors, who voted in favor of the speed reduction to protect pedestrians. AA calls the speed limit "absurd."

Irish Independent
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/absurd-new-speed-limit-will-infuriate-motorists-says-aa-2038477.html