Second Edition News for September 14


Plans to bring the Tour de France cycling race to Ireland depend on government departments agreeing to share the two million pound (3million dollars) costs.

Tour de France director Jean-Marie Leblanc met Tourism Minister Enda Kenny this week for what a ministry spokesman described as "constructive discussions."

Kenny now has to convince his cabinet colleagues to share the cost of staging the start of the world's most famous cycling race in Ireland in 1998.

A decision is expected within the next few weeks.