The Irish Foster Care Association has said that there is an urgent need for new foster parents throughout the country.

The High Court has reserved judgment until Monday on an action taken by a couple who say the Adoption Board is preventing them from adopting a child from Ethiopia.

A Polish man wanted in his native country for the alleged sexual exploitation of children has walked free from the High Court after the request for his extradition was refused.

The Government is being urged to suspend the introduction of its proposed new community childcare subvention scheme.

Nearly 2,000 people died from alcohol-related problems over an 11-year period, a new study released today reveals.

A coroner has said that there is no evidence of any lack of care by staff at a Belfast day centre after a man collapsed there and later died in hospital over a year ago.

New measures are being introduced to tighten up the law on the sex-offenders register and to combat the sexual grooming of children.

The Simon Community says it is concerned that the Government will cut funding for homeless services in this December’s budget.

Solicitors for the Catholic Church have handed over files to the PSNI which is carrying out a major inquiry into historic allegations of child sex abuse by priests.

People in this country are so appalled by the ever-rising crime rate — homicides up again by 25pc this year — that there are ever more voices calling for the legalisation of recreational drugs. If only to remove the drugs trade from the criminal gangs.