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Martin wades into abortion debateAs the Dáil committee hearings continue on the abortion bill, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has waded into the debate saying it is important that Christian believers "be, and seen to be, on the side of life, especially when life is most vulnerable".
Payment cuts see families pay rent shortfallLimits on rent supplement payments set by the Government are forcing thousands of families to make undeclared top-up payments to landlords to secure places to live.
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Anger as North Korea launches another missileNorth Korea fired a short-range missile from its east coast, a day after launching three more of these missiles, a South Korean news agency said.
How Star Trek predicted the futureWHEN Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry first dreamed up the concept of a television show based in the unexplored universe of Outer Space in 1964, the world was a very different place.
- BUSINESS
Warnings over future of eurozoneThe eurozone is heading towards a break up unless there are moves towards much closer political and fiscal union, according to chief economist with State Street Global Advisers, Chris Probyn.
Bruton defends corporate tax rateIreland will be able to maintain its current corporation tax code in the face of international pressure to prevent multinational corporations avoid paying their fare share of tax, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said yesterday.
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Mayo’s statement of intentGalway 0-11 Mayo 4-16 Five minutes to go in Salthill yesterday and James Horan was still cajoling his men to sew it into Galway.
Wilkinson inspires Toulon to gloryASM Clermont Auvergne 15 Toulon 16 Not for the first time this season, a matchday performance and the result have made a mockery of the statistics.
- LIFESTYLE
What Lenny did nextLENNY Abrahamson has directed three feature films: Adam & Paul, Garage and What Richard Did.
Clothes maketh you madTrying on clothes, said Ewart, produced "sensations which bring deep peace and perfect contentment" to the female mind.
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Revenue rise for Aer Lingus in loss-making first half of year
Despite rising revenues, Aer Lingus has today reported a pre-tax loss of €24.5m for the first half of the year despite.Traditionally loss-making on a seasonal basis, the airline reported a 83.6% reduction it its operating loss compared to the prior year however, with operating losses of €4.4m in H1 2012 compared to €26.8m in H1 2011.
Total H1 revenue increased by 10.1% compared to prior year.
Yield per passenger up 5.3% while passenger numbers increased by 1.2%.
Long haul performance in H1 saw volumes and yield up 11% and 9%, respectively, compared to prior year.
Retail revenue increased by 9% in the first half. Aer Lingus has €1.0499bn in gross cash.
"Aer Lingus has produced a good trading performance in the seasonally weak first half of 2012," said Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Mueller.
"The Group’s operating loss of €4.4m represents a significant improvement over the prior year. These results clearly demonstrate that our strategy of building a leaner and more efficient Aer Lingus is working.
"Since 2009, the Aer Lingus staff and management team have delivered significant and successful change to the business.
"These changes include the re-positioning of our business to serve underlying demand, gains in market share and significant ongoing cost reduction leading to a return to profitability.
"This turnaround in performance since 2009 along with the payment of our first dividend since the 2006 IPO, demonstrate that Aer Lingus is committed to delivering value. We will continue to focus on improving our operational and financial performance during the key summer travel months of 2012.
"If current trends continue, Aer Lingus’ operating profit, before net exceptional items, for 2012 will be at least that achieved in 2011 (€49.1m)."