There is no shortage of suitors to buy Bord Gáis energy and there has also been considerable interest in buying the National Lottery too, according to communications minister Pat Rabbitte.

Crime bosses should not be able to live in luxury in another EU country from the proceeds of criminal activities in Ireland — Justice Minister Alan Shatter has told his fellow EU ministers.

Most of Ireland’s airports would be closed down if new rules being devised by the EU come into force, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary warned.

Plans for greater EU integration, due to be sketched out at the leaders’ summit in three weeks, should include changes to tax policy including a common corporate tax base, Luxembourg prime minister Jean-Claude Juncker said.

The long white document, stuck with blu-tack to the glass doors of the soaring office block that is the European Central Bank, greeted the mandarins of the euro when they arrived for work.

Legislation that would have drastically cut the amount of taxpayers’ money that went to bail out Irish banks and will ensure bondholders pay in future will be unveiled by the European Commission today.

There are increasing signs that Germany is preparing to change its attitude towards eurozone countries becoming liable for one another’s debts as intense efforts are being made to provide Spain with funding that will not trigger a sovereign crisis.

Making the vote count — from abroad

Germany has said it will push ahead with a growth compact now that Irish citizens have adopted the fiscal treaty, despite cuts and hardships which they said deserved special recognition and respect.

The EU could have a free trade area with the US within two years, opening up a vast array of opportunities for business, and especially Irish business, according to Jobs Minister Richard Bruton.