The rejection by Irish voters of a treaty to reform the European Union has exposed serious deficiencies in the workings of the 27-nation body, says the head of a grouping of European Protestant churches.

Levels of religious knowledge throughout Ireland are decreasing significantly, and in Northern Ireland are even lower than in the Republic according to a new poll, believed to be the first ever conducted on the subject in Northern Ireland

Amid growing concern about depression and suicide in Britain and Ireland, especially among the young, The Salvation Army has announced that it will be holding a two-day International Conference on Suicide Prevention next month.

Irish Catholic Bishops have joined worldwide human rights oranisations in calling on the President of Zimbabwe - who was educated as a Catholic - to change direction and respect the will of the people for change.

The Catholic archbishop of Dublin and the Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland marked World Press Freedom Day yesterday by calling for the release of the kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston.

The Irish and the South Africans have experiences of violence, reconciliation, forgiveness and the healing of memories which they can learn from together, an ecumenical seminar in Dublin has heard.

The first bilateral meeting between representatives of the Catholic Church and the Irish Government took place yesterday as part of the new structured dialogue between the Government and the Churches.

The new head of the (Anglican) Church of Ireland has said that the 1701 Act of Settlement, which prevents a Catholic from marrying a monarch, should be abolished. He has also affirmed that the disestablishment of the Church of England would be a positive rather than a negative step.

The Rt Revd Alan Harper, Bishop of Connor has been elected Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland by the House of Bishops of the Church of Ireland.