Politics & Politicians

• Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak arrived in Ireland on Wednesday at the start of a two-day official visit. During his stay he met President Mary McAleese, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. This was the first time that a president of Egypt visited Ireland. Mr Mubarak's wife Suzanne accompanied him and visited St Michael's House in Ballymun, which caters for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
• Galway West Fine Gael TD Pádraig McCormack, who announced at the party's convention that he would not be seeking re-election, has reversed his decision following the withdrawal of local Fine Gael councillor Brian Walsh. Councillor Walsh recently announced his withdrawal from the general election contest, citing personal reasons for his decision.
• Clare TD Síle de Valera resigned her position as Minister of State at the Department of Education on Friday, just as she said she would a year ago, when she announced that she would not be contesting the next general election. Ms de Valera first entered the Dáil in 1977 at the age of 22, representing a Dublin constituency. From 1997 until 2002 she was Minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht & the Islands but this role was given to her cousin Éamon Ó Cuív after the 2002 election. The granddaughter of Éamon de Valera now plans to write her memoirs and to undertake a PhD in Psychology. Her successor as Minister of State is expected to be named this week; Seán Haughey is the favourite.
• Plans by the US Congress to award the Congressional Medal of Honour to former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher have been thwarted by a group of Irish-American politicians. The opposition is led by Barney Frank, a Democratic congressman representing Massachusetts, who is supported by a number of congressmen from Irish-dominated districts including Joe Crowley of New York. Mr Frank sits on the Financial Services Committee, which has the final say on recipients of the medal.
• The action of Mayor of Tralee Norma Foley, in using Oireachtas freepost envelopes to send Christmas cards, is to be investigated by Fianna Fáil headquarters. Ms Foley used envelopes still held by her father, Denis Foley, following his retirement four years ago and maintained that the cards were from her parents as well as herself and her husband.