29 December 2002

Irish Court Poor Box Pays Charities The latest figures released by the Irish court service show that €1,005,731 was contributed to poor boxes in the district and circuit courts during 2001. Judges can direct payments to the poor box in lieu of other fines. The top five beneficiaries of the poor box system include St Vincent de Paul (which received almost €100,000), the Garda Benevolent Fund, Fr Peter McVerry's projects for homeless teenagers, Focus Extension and Focus Ireland. ["Crime pays for charities," by Harry McGee in The Sunday Tribune, December 29, 2002.] 11:04:35 AM

Ireland's Largest Provider of Off-Campus Certificates The National College of Ireland, based in Dublin's International Financial Services Centre, is Ireland's largest provider of off-campus certificate and diploma-level courses. 10:14:10 AM

Irish Constitution Protects Personal Reputations Irish citizens are granted constitutional protection to their reputations. Artcile 40.3.2 of the Irish Constitution states: "The State shall by its laws protect as best it may from unjust attack and, in the case of injustice doe, vindicate the life, person, good name and property rights of every citizen." These thorny constitutional protections provide the foundation for elements of the Irish compensation culture. 9:46:54 AM