The concept of free water is not understood in other EU states, yet Ireland was able to remain outside of the common practice despite its water standard infringements, writes Europe correspondent Ann Cahill

Ryanair staff costs may increase dramatically after the airline heard it will be forced to pay social welfare contributions for employees at bases around Europe.

Borrowing money from the EU’s loan fund to replace the €31bn Anglo promissory notes will require amending the country’s bailout programme and could be seen as a second bailout, officials have confirmed.

A regime to force bank bondholders and shareholders rather than taxpayers to take losses in failing banks has been discussed by EU finance ministers.

EU finance ministers have agreed to explore a limited form of taxing financial transactions but said they will also work on finding a way to tax derivatives.

EU finance ministers have agreed to a firewall that was less than the bazooka many said is needed to protect the euro.

The country may yet have to pay a high cost for the deferral of the €3.1bn promissory note payment as the ECB is deeply unhappy with the deal and the extra cost to the exchequer may have to be made up in government spending cuts.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary said he has been approached by companies interested in buying the State’s 25% share in Aer Lingus.

“Use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities,” St Paul advised his friend Timothy, who may have been a hypochondriac.

People in Ireland generated the fourth highest amount of waste per person in the EU two years ago, although waste companies report the recession has forced us to cut the amount being produced over the past year.