News Ireland up-date by Donie

Jedward will represent Ireland in this year’s Eurovision 

Song Contest to be held in Baku

  

Jedward will represent Ireland in the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest after a clear and decisive win the Late Late show.

The winning song, Waterline, was chosen on Friday night’s Late Late Show Eurosong Special through a combination of public and regional jury vote.

Five acts took part in the Late Late Show Eurosong Special: Celtic Whisper with Maria McCool (song: Mistaken), Donna McCaul (song: Mercy), Andrew Mann (song: Here I Am), Úna Gibney and David Shannon (song:Language of Love) and Jedward (song:Waterline).

This year’s Eurovision will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in May, with Ireland competing in the first semi-final on Tuesday May 22. When asked about Ireland’s chances in this year’s Eurovision, Late Late Show host Ryan Tubridy said this week: “I think we’ll win it. I think we’re due it. I’ve got a really good vibe about this year, 2012, in Ireland. Things are good; the sun is coming out again and hopefully it’ll be reflected with a good time out in Azerbaijan and hopefully Ireland can come home with a bit of silverware.”

Garda Speeding detection rates in Ireland are up by 66%

There was a 66% increase in the number of people detected for speeding on Irish roads last year, new Garda figures have revealed.

  

There has been an increase in the numbers of people caught speeding and there was a 66% increase in the number of people detected speeding on Irish roads last year.

The rise follows the introduction of new privately operated speed cameras which were fully rolled out early last year.

The figures were published by Gardai during their launch of a new nationwide crackdown on bad driving behaviour which began today.

In 2010 more than 158,000 people were detected speeding. But last year that rose to more than 262,000.

As part of the new Operation Focus, Gardaí also intend to tackle issues like drink driving, mobile phone use and seatbelt wearing.

And now for ‘Operation focus’

Garda road safety initiative begins now

   

Operation Focus, will involve a concentration of Garda resources at known high-risk crash locations over the next six months.

A Garda initiative targeting road traffic offences including drink driving, speeding, non-use of seatbelts and the use of hand-held mobile phones began in Dublin this morning.

Operation Focus, will involve a concentration of Garda resources at known high-risk crash locations and will be deployed nationally over next six months.

During the Dublin operation mandatory alcohol test checkpoints will be held at the designated locations from 4.30am to 5.30am, 6.15 am to 7am, 7pm to 8pm and 11pm to midnight.

The M50, M1 and M11 will be patrolled on a continuous basis by six Garda vehicles equipped with automated number plate recognition technology and 57 high visibility check points and 19 patrol cars.

Marked safety camera vans will be carrying out speed enforcement at known collision black spots, in addition to Garda units with speed check guns.

Assistant Garda Commissioner John O’Mahoney said the force wanted drivers to focus on the main causes of death on the roads. “The objective is to remind people that it doesn’t pay to take chances on our roads,” he said. “As a community, we all have a duty to ensure that no family should lose a loved on our roads as a result of reckless behaviour.”