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Economic Risk in Ireland and Other Countries Spooking Investors
Matthew Bandyk
Despite federal spending consuming 27.2 percent of GDP, the United States maintains a Aaa rating. But you can't say the same about Ireland and many other countries in both the developed and developing world where continued fallout from the economic crisis is hurting their credit ratings. As a result, investors have viewed the economic situations in these countries as increasingly risky bets.
Aer Lingus to cut 230 cabin crew
Aer Lingus Chief Executive Christoph Mueller has notified the government of 230 compulsory redundancies among cabin crew.
Mueller said that as four of the five unions at Aer Lingus had accepted its 97 million euros restructuring plan the management must respect that vote and would proceed with around 440 voluntary redundancies...
Glanbia in talks on Irish dairy business sale
Food group Glanbia has reported a 19% drop in pre-tax profits for the year ending 2009 in what it called a very challenging environment RTE Ireland reported on 10 March. Glanbia said its pre-tax profits fell to 97.4 million euros from 120.3 million while revenues declined by 18% to 1.83...
Eircom pension deal as profits fall
Eircom has reported a profit of 327 million euros for the six months to the end of December down 3% on the same period a year earlier RTE Ireland reported early last week.
CEO Paul Donovan said business conditions in Ireland had not improved and its revenues were down by nine...
ECJ to decide on tobacco prices
Following a European Directive dissalowing prices fixed on tobacco product the European Commission has brought a case against Ireland for setting minimum prices for tobacco products. Ireland has countered that the minimum prices are necessary to protect public health by ensuring that tobacco products are not excessively cheap. The Manufactured...
Aer Lingus mulls compulsory lay-offs
Aer Lingus is considering introducing around 1 100 compulsory redundancies and scaling back its operations as a contingency plan if staff fail to approve a 97 million euros cost reduction programme. Staff are currently balloting on the plan RTE Ireland reported on 24 February. Meanwhile the hangar at Dublin airport...
Gaza field trip for FM to unblock blockade
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin T.D. will travel to Gaza on 25 February on a fact finding mission he announced in a statement.
My purpose in visiting Gaza is humanitarian in order to assess for myself the conditions obtaining for Gazas population in light of the completely unacceptable blockade...
Pope outraged by Irish clergys abuse
Pope Benedict XVI expressed outrage shame and profound regret over revelations of large-scale child abuse by Irish Catholic priests the Vatican said 14 February. The statement came after Benedict met with Irelands two leading bishops Cardinal Sean Brady of Armagh and Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin along with Secretary of...
US backing for Irish wave power firm
Irish company Ocean Energy which designs turbines capable of converting wave power into electricity has signed a big development deal with a multi-billion $ US multi-national RTE Ireland reported early last week. Ocean Energys CEO John McCarthy said the agreement would significantly develop wave energy in Ireland and should lead...
200 jobs to go at Bitech in Co Louth
Two Hundred jobs are to be lost in Dunleer Co Louth with the closure of Bitech Engineering in November RTE Ireland reported on February 5. Parent company Glen Dimplex has taken the decision after staff voted rejected a cost-cutting programme before Christmas. SIPTU said the deal included a significant number...
Toyota recalls 26 000 cars in Ireland
Toyota Ireland has announced that 26 000 cars will be recalled in this country in order to address a potential fault in the vehicles accelerators RTE Ireland reported on 1 February.
The recall will include vehicles from eight model ranges including Avensis Auris Corolla and the RAV4.
The recall is part of...
Ryanair increases profit forecast despite losses
Europes biggest low cost airline Ryanair raised its profit forecast on February 1 despite third quarter losses of 11 million Euro USD 15.4 million DPA reported. A drop of 37 percent in fuel prices had helped to counteract a 12 percent decline in fare prices the airline said. It had...
Aer Lingus and Aer Arann in franchise deal
Aer Lingus and Aer Arann have announced a deal to set up a franchise arrangement between the two airlines. The franchise services will be branded Aer Lingus Regional and will use Aer Arann aircraft and crew RTE Ireland reported on 26 January.
Under the agreement Aer Arann will operate 12...
PayPal to add another 100 Dublin jobs
Global online payment company PayPal said it is adding 100 staff to its Irish workforce at Blanchardstown in Dublin RTE Ireland reported early last week. The company already employs more than 1 100 people in Ireland after it opened its European operation centre with just 25 staff in 2003. The...
New crystal facility to open in Waterford
WWRD Group the company which took over the Waterford Crystal and Waterford Wedgwood brands said it will open a new crystal facility in the city RTE Ireland reported on 25 January. It said it has signed an agreement with Waterford City Council to open the new manufacturing facility retail outlet...
Emergency supplies on their way to Haiti
Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power today announced that the Government is to freight 85 tonnes of emergency supplies to Haiti as part of the international aid effort. The Government supplies will be given to Concern and Goal for distribution to 8 000 families. The consignment includes mosquito...
Digiweb acquires Internet Ireland
Broadband provider Digiweb on January 13 announced the acquisition of rival Internet Ireland Ireland Online reported early last week. Internet Ireland services offered include web hosting data centre colocation managed email solutions broadband and leased lines. Personnel with Internet Ireland will be transferred to Digiwebs Dublin offices and data centre...
Business slow Aer Lingus cuts Gatwick planes to three
Aer Lingus has confirmed that it will make some changes at its London Gatwick base as a result of weak consumer demand for air travel officials said. In a trading update Aer Lingus said it will cut the number of planes it has at Gatwick from five to three from...
Zurich sees chance moves its portfolios
Zurich Financial Services is transferring the majority of its general insurance portfolios in Italy Portugal and Spain to its Ireland unit to simplify its legal structure and improve capital management company officials said. Zurich said in a statement that the transfer was effective on January 1. It said it planned...
Wolseley sells British building materials group
Plumbing business giant Wolseley said it is selling its businesses in Ireland and the Brooks business in Northern Ireland to a group of private investors for total of 26.5 million euros in cash. The deal covers Brooks Heat Merchants Tubs Tiles and Encon in the Republic of Ireland and the...
Glanbia expects return to earnings growth
Food group Glanbia said it expects to return to earnings growth this year after a difficult year in 2009 RTE Ireland reported on 6 January.
In a trading update for 2009 the group said it saw the impact of the downturn in global dairy markets in the first half of the...
Waterford Crystal site up for sale
Hopes that the Waterford Crystal manufacturing plant could be saved have been dashed RTE Ireland reported on 5 January. A receiver - appointed a year ago - has decided to put the 36-acre site at Kilbarry near Waterford city on the market ending any hopes of reviving crystal production there....
Malawi development program expanded
The Minister of State for Overseas Development Peter Power announced additional funding of 2 million to tackle hunger in Malawi on 29 December.
The funding will support a national program to improve small farmers access to seeds fertilizers and pesticides to increase agricultural productivity in addition to funding agricultural research...
Ambassador to head UN Review of Peacebuilding
The President of the UN General Assembly HE Dr Ali Abdussalaam Treki has appointed Anne Anderson Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations as Co-Chair of the Review of the UN Peacebuilding Commission. Welcoming the appointment the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Micheál Martin T.D. said early last week...
An Post to cut 1 300 jobs by 2012
An Post has said that it intends to reduce its 10 000 strong workforce by 1 300 between 2010 and 2012 RTE Ireland reported on December 8.
Around 450 people received letters from the company over the last few days inviting expressions of interest in voluntary redundancy.
From that group the company...
NIB to cut 150 jobs close 25 branches
National Irish Bank has annouced it is to shed 150 jobs and shut down almost half of its branch network as part of a major cost-cutting exercise RTE Ireland reported on 7 December. The bank said it will seek voluntary redundancies over the next 18 months and close 25 of...
Berlusconi in Belarus for trade talks
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi arrived in the former Soviet republic of Belarus on 30 November for trade talks with authoritarian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. The main topic was cot concern bilateral economic relations Lukashenko said according to Bel-1 television news reports. Belarus was hopeful that Berlusconis one-day visit would draw...
Italy sees 200 mln in pension inflows over three months
The Italian asset management association Assogestioni recently published a new set of figures which showed open plan pension funds saw net inflows of j218 million between July and September 2009 taking the overall net asset value of Italian open plan pension fund assets to nearly 6 billion. The Italian association...
Eircoms first quarter revenues down 9%
Eircom has reported a nine percent drop in revenue for the first quarter ending September. Revenues fell to 468 million while earnings before interest tax and depreciation slipped less than 1% to 168 million RTE Ireland reported on 25 November.
The phone company said that its operating costs were 11% lower...
Ryanair to open Oslo base
Ryanair is to open its 37th base at Oslo Rygge in March 2010 with three aircraft and 16 new routes 22 in total Ireland Online reported on 24 November. Ryanair will offer 100 weekly return flights to/from Oslo Rygge in an investment of over $200 million 133.5 million in the...
Dell workers fund set for final approval
The final approval for a 21 million fund to help former Dell workers in Limerick find work was expected later on 25 November RTE Ireland reported. The European Parliament debated the Globalisation Fund proposal previous night. The money will be spent on further education and retraining for up to 2...
United Drug profits down
Healthcare services company United Drug has reported a five percent fall in pre-tax profits for the year to the end of September as it experienced very buoyant trading conditions in parts of the group but challenging conditions in other parts RTE Ireland reported on 18 November .
Pre-tax profits fell to...
Bentley Systems to create 150 Dublin jobs
The company which developed software behind major projects here such as the new Landsdowne Road Aviva Stadium and others have announced the creation of 150 jobs in Dublin RTE Ireland reported on 18 November. Bentley Systems develops and provides software for infrastructural projects such as roads bridges hospitals apartments and...
Irish FM concerned over Gaza student expulsion
The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin T.D. has issued a strong appeal to the Israeli Government to re-consider the expulsion and forcible return to Gaza last week of a young female Bethlehem University student Berlanty Azzam.
I was extremely concerned to hear of the circumstances surrounding Ms. Azzams detention...
Flahavans to invest 1.6 mln Euro in Waterford mill
Flahavans announced early last week details of its 1.6 million investment in its mill in Kilmacthomas Co Waterford Ireland Online reported. To date 500 000 has been invested with the installation of a dryer and associated grain-handling equipment. The new installation is capable of drying grain quicker and is more...
Ryanair reports profits warns Boeing to cut plane prices
Irish budget airline Ryanair reported half-year pre-tax profits of 419.4 million $618.4 million but warned that continued cut-price fares would result in losses for the rest of the year.
The airline said falling fuel costs had boosted profits by 300% in the 6 months up to the end of September....
1400 insolvencies documented in 2009
The latest update from Kavanagh Fennells online insolvency publication InsolvencyJournal.ie shows that the predicted figure of 1 400 insolvencies in 2009 looks to become a reality with 1 208 insolvencies now recorded for the first 10 months. The number of insolvencies for the first 10 months of the year represents...
Liechtenstein and Ireland agree on tax exchange of information
The Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan T.D. signed a Tax Information Exchange Agreement TIEA with Liechtenstein early last week.
At the signing ceremony in Government buildings Minister Lenihan said: I welcome the commitment of Liechtenstein to implement the OECD standards of transparency and exchange of information in tax matters and...
Irish company wins Canadian health care contract
An Irish company has won a multi-million Euro contract to provide technical to a health centre in Canada Ireland Online reported early last week. Lincor Solutions MEDIVista provides beds with patient entertainment services such as the internet TV and telephone in addition to clinical applications like X-Rays. It is installing...
US healthcare company brings 60 jobs to Belfast
Pharmaceutical company Elan has reported a net profit of $52.3 million for the third quarter of this year a turnaround from the $83.5 million loss in the same period last year. It also raised its outlook for the full year RTE Ireland reported on 21 October.
But the results were helped...
NYSE to create 400 Belfast jobs
The New York Stock Exchange has confirmed that it plans to create 400 jobs in Belfast over the next few years RTE Ireland reported on 19 October. The announcement was made by the company at Stormont Castle where it was welcomed by the Norths First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy...
Aer Lingus to cut 676 jobs
AER Lingus has announced 676 job cuts at the airline. In a statement on 7 October the company said that it needed to reduce annual costs by around 100 million before 2011 RTE Ireland reported.
The airline said that 489 jobs will be lost among its pilots cabin crew and...
Grant for Irish tidal energy company
IRISH tidal renewable energy company OpenHydro has been awarded a grant of up to 2 million under Sustainable Energy Irelands SEI Ocean Energy Prototype Research Development Programme Ireland Online reported. The company designs and manufactures marine turbines for generating renewable energy from tidal streams. It has a project portfolio spanning...
Irish government: There will be no third referendum
Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen on 30 September ruled out a third referendum on the Lisbon Treaty if Irish voters rejected it in the upcoming second referendum reported Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa . There wont be a Lisbon III I think thats for sure Cowen said when hypothesizing over a...
Wolseley reports loss depressed Irish market
Wolseley the worlds biggest distributor of plumbing and heating products said today that it fell into a net loss of GBP 1.17 billion during its last financial year. This compares to a net profit of GBP 74 million the previous year RTE Ireland reported on 29 September. In Ireland Wolseley...
Lisbon countdown
The crucial vote on Irelandrsquo;s 2 October re-vote on the European Unionrsquo;s governing document the Lisbon Treaty ndash; which replaced the failed EU Constitution and was rejected by the Irish last year ndash; became even iffier after an opinion poll showed the lsquo;Norsquo; vote picking up steam and a report...
Church says feel free to vote either way
Irelands Catholic Church has told its members that they are free to vote either way in next months referendum on the EU Lisbon Treaty Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa reported on 22 September - and criticized as misinformation claims that the treaty will permit abortion in Ireland. Leaflets claiming that a...
Northern Ireland politicians meet Libyan diplomats
Leading Protestant politicians from Northern Ireland held a first round of talks with Libyan officials in London on 23 September over the delicate issue of compensation for victims of Libyan-sponsored terrorism in the troubled British province reported Deutsche Presse Agentur dpa .
Protestant Democratic Unionist Party DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson...
ESB drops plan to buy wind energy firm SWS
The ESB is no longer in the running to buy wind energy company SWS Natural Resources Ireland Online reported on September 16. The West Cork company is the biggest independent wind energy supplier in the country with 180 megawatts of power in operation and another 160 megawatts to be provided...
Two new Italian bases for Ryanair
Ryanair is setting up two new bases in Italy - at Bari and Brindisi - bringing its total European bases to 36 RTE Ireland reported on September 15. From next January Ryanair will base two planes at Bari and open nine new routes while in February it will base one...
15 mln Euro for biology research centre
The Irish government is to provide almost 15 million Euro over the next five years through Science Foundation Ireland for the establishment of a new Systems Biology Ireland research centre RTE Ireland reported on September 15. Systems Biology is a new way of using computers and mathematics to understand biology....
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Garda held over Sargent letter leak
Gardai today arrested one of their colleagues over the leaking of a letter that led to the resignation of former junior minister Trevor Sargent.
Bishop of Derry in 'secret deal' on abuse case
The Catholic Church has faced further allegations of mishandling child sex abuse in Ireland after claims that a girl abused by a priest was sworn to secrecy in an out-of-court settlement as recently as 2000.
Former Anglo chief FitzPatrick arrested by fraud squad
The former chief of Anglo Irish Bank was arrested today by fraud squad officers after a dawn raid on his home.
Recruiter looks for 800 Irish applicants to fill bank posts
UK banks want to recruit up to 800 Irish bankers as the financial services industry in London recovers, a leading employment company said yesterday.
Health warning as 98pc of all chicken has dangerous bug
NEARLY all chicken produced in Ireland is contaminated with a dangerous bacteria, according to a new EU study.
EU rules delay move to ban deadly drug
A DRUG linked to the death of two teenage friends will remain legal here until June because the Government cannot fast-track legislation to ban it. 
Doctors get top-up fees to treat 1,300 patients on waiting lists
MORE than 1,300 patients on waiting lists were treated privately after public hospitals and doctors were paid top-up fees, the Irish Independent has learned.
Boots expansion to create 150 jobs in five new stores
PHARMACY giant Boots is planning a further expansion into the Irish market, with at least five new stores due to open this year, creating more than 150 jobs.
World goes green for day to find its 'inner Irishman'
FROM Arnold Schwarzenegger messing about with a hurley to North Korean politicians sympathising with our economic woes, it seems everyone gets in touch with their inner Irishman on St Patrick's Day. 
'Global Irish' lured home
THE children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Irish nationals across the world are being offered reduced third-level fees to come and study in Ireland. 
Doctors get top-up fees to treat 1,300 patients on waiting lists
MORE than 1,300 patients on waiting lists were treated privately after public hospitals and doctors were paid top-up fees, the Irish Independent has learned.
Cardinal 'was not present' at third victim interview
CARDINAL Sean Brady was not present during a third investigation into notorious paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth, a Catholic Church spokesman insisted last night.
Victims' fury as RTE claims 'no appetite' for movie
VICTIMS last night expressed anger at RTE's refusal to screen an award-winning film about the survivors of clerical abuse.
Health warning as 98pc of all chicken has dangerous bug
NEARLY all chicken produced in Ireland is contaminated with a dangerous bacteria, according to a new EU study.
Tragic teen's father in donor law plea
THE father of a tragic heart transplant teenager who died last June has urged the Government to change the law on organ donations. 
Lisbon Treaty referendums cost taxpayer €43m
THE two Lisbon treaties cost the Exchequer €43m, making them the most expensive referendums by far in the history of the State.
Man wins compensation 30 years after his ordeal
A MAN who was subjected to horrific sexual abuse at the hands of a notorious Irish priest more than three decades ago has finally been awarded compensation for his ordeal.
More than half of promised new schools stuck in planning limbo
MORE than half of the school projects promised by the Government last year have not seen a sod turned or a brick laid.
Joy and despair for fans at club finals in Croker
IT IS a passion that transcends generations. Young and old were wrapped up in the occasion as thousands flocked to Croke Park for the All-Ireland club finals.
State-funded body drops legal action over €19,000 bonus
A GOVERNMENT quango has abandoned attempts to recover a €19,000 bonus paid in error to a former manager at the centre of a fraud investigation.
War on quangos saves just 5pc of Bord Snip target
THE Government policy of abolishing quangos has saved just €7m for the public purse since plans to cut these organisations were announced at the end of 2008, new figures reveal.
€1.2m for RTE career breaks in bid to cut wage costs
RTE is spending €1.2m to encourage staff to take a career break in a desperate bid to slash the state broadcaster's wage bill.
Pirate Queen is treasured in Japan
IT lost an estimated $18m (€13m) and shut down after only 85 performances on Broadway.
Thousands of dads not on birth certs avoid child payouts
MORE than 4,000 birth certificates are issued every year without a father's name, new figures reveal.
Lotto heading for rollover of €6.5m
SATURDAY's Lotto jackpot is heading for €6.5m after nobody picked the winning numbers last night. The numbers in the main draw were 1, 24, 26, 27, 32, and 33 and bonus 35. 
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Irish rugby team 'priviledged' to call Croke Park home
Ireland's players and management have united in expressing their regret that Saturday will be their last appearance at Croke Park - and a glance at their record at the ground explains why.
Fabregas to return
Cesc Fabregas is poised to return from injury as Arsenal entertain West Ham on Saturday, but William Gallas' fitness is an ongoing concern for manager Arsene Wenger.
Copper strikes Jewson gold
Copper Bleu (12-1) won an eventful renewal of the Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase, the first race on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.
PSG's future 'at stake' as supporter dies after attack by own fans
A Paris Saint-Germain football fan has died after spending weeks in a coma following an attack by rival PSG supporters.
Giggs spurred on to beat Liverpool's league title record
Ryan Giggs has admitted that the prospect of erasing Liverpool from the history books is a driving force for himself and Manchester United as they bid to win a 19th league title this season. 
O'Leary pivotal to Irish chances
DISPLAYING exactly the same attitude and appetite as earned him the man of the match accolades for his performance against Wales, Tomas O'Leary admits that the Triple Crown isn't quite the same as the Grand Slam.
Mourinho: A man with a very special plan
ALTHOUGH HE paid lip-service to sharing the glory with his players, Jose Mourinho could not resist ensuring that everyone knew who was the architect of Internazionale’s victory at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday.
Harbinson emphasises importance of 'sevens' in victory march
St Gall's have long since established a reputation as being one of the finest exponents of 'sevens' football in the country and their manager Lenny Harbinson wasn't slow to attribute their first All-Ireland club success to that devotion in Croke Park yesterday.
Shine lights up Rossies title bid
Roscommon stopped Mayo's bid for five provincial titles on the trot with a last-gasp one-point win in Dr Hyde Park.
Messi's genius sees Barca ease past Stuttgart
Lionel Messi staged another master class at the Nou Camp last night to power holders Barcelona into the quarter-finals of the Champions League. 
Terry accident adds to Blues night of misery
CHELSEA captain John Terry was breathalysed by police officers following an accident at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night that left a security guard with a badly bruised leg.
Carr's try sends Dragons packing
Connacht coach Michael Bradley challenged his men to win their four remaining home games in the Magners League and they duly delivered at the Sportsground last night in the first of the tasks.
England axe Wilkinson
THIS is not where Martin Johnson hoped England would be on the concluding day of the Six Nations: fielding a refurbished back division against unbeaten France in Paris, dropping his one iconic player, Jonny Wilkinson, to the bench and crossing his fingers that a shock success will add a little lustre to another disappointing season, Writes David Hands.
Peter Bills: Brain drain hurting the modern game
Statistics, statistics -- in a politician's hands, they invariably end up as damn lies.
Beware the Killer 'Bs'
Twenty years after the 'White-Shark-Fin' back row went animal crackers and helped Scotland's 1990 Grand Slammers spoil England's hopes in a memorable championship triumph at Murrayfield, another potent back row is threatening to cause havoc and potentially ruin another party on Saturday.
Vincent Hogan: Resilient Ruby saves punters from penury
It is one of the great, clunking clichés of this festival for jockeys of Irish-trained winners to wear a tricolour back to the enclosure.
Earls stringing it together on and off the pitch in search for glory
IN the week that Ireland winger Keith Earls served as grand marshal to Limerick's St Patrick's Day parade, perhaps it is no surprise to learn that he and scrum-half Tomas O'Leary are attempting to replicate the magic of legendary musical duo Foster and Allen. 
Ruby hot favourite for title after entering record books
Ruby Walsh is rated a 1/3 hot favourite to be top jockey at Cheltenham after tightening his grip on the trophy yesterday.
Aintree aim for Quevega
Quevega could tackle the boys at Aintree next month after winning the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham for the second year in succession.
Poquelin ready for take-off in Ryanair Chase
IT hardly compares to Tuesday's big story on Betfair where six punters had backed Binocular ante-post at the ceiling price of 999/1; but I see that over €270 has been matched on Big Buck's ante-post at just under 5/1 which looks like a great deal now. 
O'Flaherty stars in PBC triumph
PRESENTATION Brothers College Cork claimed their 28th Munster title yesterday, moving level with great rivals CBC Cork, after a deserved victory over a game but out-classed Rockwell outfit.
McAuley's power play turns the tide for Clongowes
There have been many fine Clongowes cup-winning performances down through the years, with the Des Dillon-led unit of 1998 leading the way for polish and panache. 
Veteran albertas run offers serious value
SO far this week, the punter must feel like he has been let down by heavily backed favourites too many times but that can be put right today if Big Buck's can prevail in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
'Lard of the Ring' feels wrath as Russell jumps to O'Connell defence
PICK on someone your own size. There can't be many people annoying enough to distract a professional in the midst of one of the most glorious moments of his career. John McCririck happens to be one of them. 
Weak card must move to Saturday
WITH today's card comprising the pair of features, supplemented by four uninspiring handicaps, the soft underbelly of Cheltenham's move to a four-day festival is exposed. 
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IMF: Greece hasn’t sought financial aid at fund
Greece hasn’t sought financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund, said a fund official who reiterated that the IMF stands ready to help the country if asked.
Fiscal reductions have reassured markets: Martin
Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said the Government’s fiscal measures have reassured markets and he is optimistic about Ireland’s economic outlook.
Oil declines as dollar strengthens
Oil fell for the first time in three days as a stronger dollar trimmed demand for commodities and a report showed US crude stockpiles increased last week.
Amazon launches Kindle ebook reader for Macs
Amazon attempts to see off the threat posed by Apple's iPad by launching software that allows people to download and read electronic books on a Mac.
Microsoft previews Internet Explorer 9
Microsoft has given developers a glimpse of its next web browser, Internet Explorer 9.
Former Anglo chief FitzPatrick arrested by fraud squad
The former chief of Anglo Irish Bank was arrested today by fraud squad officers after a dawn raid on his home.
Google beaten by Facebook
New figures suggest that social networking is continuing to gain in popularity on the web, and that the way users search the internet is changing.
Energy firms facing year of ‘obstacles and opportunities’
SOME Irish energy companies will probably be forced to sell stakes this year despite a fall in the value of energy deals, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said yesterday at the launch of a report on the global energy market.
It's virtually the end of the line for Windows Server 2000
IT'S hard to believe 10 years have passed since the Y2K drama and the arrival of Windows Server 2000. Are many firms still running this and what's going to happen? 
The ubiquitous broadband future is closer than you think, says Vodafone boss
It's time for the Irish telecoms industry to start pulling together, says Vodafone's Charles Butterworth
Food for thought on investing in companies with negative net worth
JOHN Dorfman, chairman of Thunderstorm Capital in Boston and one of the world's great value investors, rarely buys a stock whose liabilities are greater than stockholders' equity. It's a policy that has served him well but it would leave him with few stocks to buy in Ireland.
Irish stocks reach five-month peak as Fed pledges low rates
IRISH stocks jumped to a five-month high as shares elsewhere in Europe soared to a 17-month peak following the Federal Reserve's pledge to maintain record-low borrowing costs for an extended period to safeguard the economic recovery. 
Score yourself a World Cup DVD collection
AS football fans steel themselves for a World Cup in which we were cheated out of a place, the Irish Independent is offering the nation's soccer enthusiasts the chance to relieve the glory of tournaments past. A new promotion kicking off this week will allow readers to collect 15 action-packed DVDs with highlights from every World Cup between 1930 and 2006. 
Country Mix hopes outsourcing deal will quadruple agency ad sales
NICHE radio player Country Mix is hoping to quadruple its big brand advertising after outsourcing all its agency dealings to local radio sales-house IRS.
United Drug lines out with support for Special Olympics
UNITED Drug boss Liam FitzGerald and Ireland rugby star Tomas O'Leary come together with athletes to celebrate the drug giant's appointment as an official supplier for the 2010 Special Olympics Ireland Games. 
Only way is up for pilot training centre
MIKE Edgeworth set up the Pilot Training College just months after the 9/11 attacks plunged global aviation into a crisis, so it's little surprise that he's taking the latest recession more in his stride than the average businessman.
House prices to fall further as loan arrears rise
IRISH house prices will fall further while mortgage arrears are rising rapidly, a leading rating agency warned yesterday. 
Jones Lang LaSalle profits down by 39pc
PRE-TAX profits at one of the country's best-known property firms, Jones Lang LaSalle, dropped by 39pc to €2.9m in 2008.
Boots expansion to create 150 jobs in five new stores
PHARMACY giant Boots is planning a further expansion into the Irish market, with at least five new stores due to open this year, creating more than 150 jobs.
Six-month high for Libor cost of dollar borrowing
The cost of borrowing dollars between banks in London rose the most in almost six months amid speculation financial institutions held back funds to meet a tax-payment deadline.
Could 'weapons of mass destruction' still hurt Ireland's future stability?
AS Greece struggles to avoid defaulting on its debts, the question is whether Ireland could face a similar fate. Faced with a spiralling debt and profligate public spending in the past, Ireland appears to have many of the same problems that brought Greece to its knees.
Lenihan told by EU deeper budget cuts still required
IRELAND'S plans to bring spending and borrowing under control may require deeper cuts than previously forecast, the European Commission said yesterday, as it demanded that Finance Minister Brian Lenihan take action on public sector pensions and provide more details about plans for further cuts over the next few years.
Could 'weapons of mass destruction' still hurt Ireland's future stability?
AS Greece struggles to avoid defaulting on its debts, the question is whether Ireland could face a similar fate. Faced with a spiralling debt and profligate public spending in the past, Ireland appears to have many of the same problems that brought Greece to its knees.
Anglo Irish Bank's bad loan losses expected to reach €14bn
Bad loan losses at Anglo Irish Bank are now set to come in around the €14bn level, as the nationalised bank and its auditors fine-tune figures ahead of publication next week.
Lebedev closer to Independent deal
ALEXANDER Lebedev moved closer to buying the London 'Independent' and the 'Independent on Sunday' yesterday after the UK Office of Fair Trading (OFT) ruled that the deal would raise no competition issues.
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Gardaí given another 12 hours to question FitzPatrick
Gardaí have extended the period of questioning of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Seán FitzPatrick by a further 12 hours.
Jet forced to return to Dublin
A transatlantic jet was forced to return to Dublin Airport today after experiencing a number of technical problems after take off.
Man accused of indecent assault on daughter
The trial of a Carlow resident accused of repeatedly indecently assaulting his daughter in his car in Co Kildare nearly 20 years ago has opened at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Bouncers attacked man 'for no reason', court hears
A 22-year-old man who claims that security staff at a nightclub "set upon him for no reason" and assaulted him has told the High Court that he "feared for his life" after being grabbed around the neck.
Teenager reported missing in Dublin
Gardaí in Dublin are today appealing for information in tracing a missing teenager.
FÁS fraud accused sent for trial
A former FÁS executive accused of defrauding the state training agency of more than €600,000 was served with a book of evidence at the Dublin District Court yesterday.
Man jailed for stabbing ex-wife with bread knife
A man who repeatedly stabbed his ex-wife in the stomach with a bread knife he had originally been planning to kill himself with has been jailed for six years by Judge Katherine Delahunt.
Ex-detective jailed in cocaine case
A former detective who was “pivotal” to the success of a £200m (€224m) plot to smuggle cocaine into Ireland was jailed for 22 years today.
Traffic returning to normal after taxi protest
Traffic is returning to normal this afternoon after disruptions in Dublin, Cork and Limerick - caused by a three-hour taxi drivers' protest.
Insurers refusing to provide flood cover for some Cork residents
Hundreds of flood victims in Cork are now facing another battle - as insurance companies refuse to provide flood cover.
Ireland: BreakingNews.ie
Ireland's premier breaking news website providing up to the minute news and sports reports.
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theTrumpet.com: Ireland
theTrumpet.com -- Understand your world.
Irish News. Single Source to News from Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Largest City: Dublin
Ireland is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth largest island in the world. It lies to the northwest of Continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain. Politically, the Republic of Ireland (also known simply as Ireland) covers five sixths of the island, with Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom, covering the remainder in the northeast.
The population of the island is slightly over six million (2007), with 4.34 million in the Republic of Ireland (1.7 million in Greater Dublin) and an estimated 1.75 million in Northern Ireland (0.6 million in Greater Belfast). This is a significant increase from a modern historical low in the 1960s, but still much lower than the peak population of over 8 million in the early 19th century, prior to the Great Famine.
The name Ireland derives from the name riu (in modern Irish, ire) with the addition of the Germanic word land. Most other Western European names for Ireland derive from the same source, such as French Irlande, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese Irlanda, German Irland and the Dutch Ierland.
Traditionally, Ireland is subdivided into four provinces: Connacht, Leinster, Munster and Ulster; and, in a system developed between the 13th and 17th centuries, 32 counties. Twenty-six of the counties are in the Republic of Ireland, and the remaining six (all in Ulster) are in Northern Ireland. Notably, Ulster and Northern Ireland are neither synonymous nor coextensive, as three counties of Ulster (Cavan, Donegal and Monaghan) are part of the Republic. Counties Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and Tipperary have been broken up into smaller administrative areas, but are still considered by Ordnance Survey Ireland to be official counties. The counties in Northern Ireland are no longer used for local government, although their traditional boundaries are still used in sports and in some other cultural areas.
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ireland