It has been reported that there is infighting among Green Party TDs over the allocation of ministerial roles. Political commentators believe that some sort of job-rotation agreement was negotiated when the party decided to enter Government. This would entail John Gormley leaving his ministerial post after two years - he has now held it for 2.5 years - to give another Green TD the exposure that comes with such a role.

Senior party officials have tried to play down the speculation without being prepared to state unequivocally that Mr Gormley will retain his ministerial post until the next election. Senator Dan Boyle tried to divert the discussion by claiming that Fianna Fáil had agreed to give the Green Party an extra Minister of State position for the second half of the possible five-year life of the Government.

"Legal highs" to become illegal

The Government yesterday decided to ban a range of dangerous products, commonly referred to as "legal highs", which are currently being sold in "head shops". As EU approval is required it will take another three months before the sale of the synthetic substances, which mimic the effects of a number of illegal drugs, is prohibited.

Cross-border agreement on parking fines

The authorities on both sides of the border have agreed to co-operate in ensuring that all car parking fines are paid. At present it is commonplace for motorists to ignore parking regulations while they are on the other side of the border from where their vehicle was registered. There was no method of pursuing offenders after he or she had returned to his or her own jurisdiction.

Under a pilot scheme,which will run to November, efforts will be made to collect all parking fines no matter where they are incurred.

Light at end of tunnel for employment situation

In what the Government hopes is a stabilisation of the employment situation the number of people out of work increased by just 20 in February. Seasonally adjusted the number of unemployed signing on the Live Register actually fell by 2,300 during the month.

Vintners protest at match schedule

The Vintners' Association is urging that the Magners League rugby match between Munster and Leinster, scheduled for Thomond Park in Limerick on April 2, should be rescheduled. The match is due to take place on Good Friday and the Association believes hotels, restaurants and bars will lose business to the value of some €10m since the sale of alcohol in pubs is banned on that day.

Golden eagles under threat once again

Lorcan O'Toole of the Golden Eagle Trust has warned that there is a real possibility of the golden eagle becoming extinct in Ireland for a second time. His comments follow the discovery of the body of a ten-month-old bird on a mountainside in Sligo. Examination of the carcase found that it had been poisoned, the second such incident in the past year and the ninth over a two and a half year period.

The two latest incidents have occurred just prior to the lambing season and Mr O'Toole has called for legislation to combat the illegal use of poison by a small percentage of farmers.

Wednesday's Papers

The Minister for the Environment leads in both the Irish Times and the Irish Examiner this morning, with "Gormley's future as Minister divides party colleagues" and "Gormley Cabinet future in question over deal" respectively.

The Irish Independent focuses on the rise in mortgage interest rate announced by AIB with "Lenders to follow AIB's 0.5pc home loan hike".

The Irish News headline is "Army knew about two disappeared 38 years ago".

The Weather in Galway

In what has become an unusual occurrence there was no frost and no sun this morning. Overnight rain has eased off and it the cold frosty conditions will return tonight. Temp 6C.

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