The future of Greece in the euro looked more problematic last night as six ministers resigned ahead of a crucial vote on the latest austerity package.

The Government has yet to decide if there will be a cut-off point beyond which unemployed people will no longer receive state support under the new social welfare system, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has said.

The right to compensation when an airline cancels a flight could be changed as a result of Dubliner Denise McDonagh’s case against Ryanair, which she has taken to the European Court of Justice.

Germany signalled it would be ready to adjust the Irish and Portuguese programmes once the second bail-out deal for Greek is finalised.

“Going back into the dark.”

Farmers have been warned to be on the look-out for a new virus affecting mainly sheep, but also cattle and goats across Europe.

Eurozone finance ministers will meet in Brussels this evening, when they expect to finalise details for a second bailout for Greece together with cuts on bondholders that will trigger a temporary selective default.

Cuts in education budgets risk undermining the economy’s growth potential, the EU has warned Ireland as the country moves closer to the bottom of the international league table in spending on schools.

Greek prime minister Lucas Papademos was yesterday shuttling over and back between the troika, the creditor banks and political party leaders desperately trying to conclude a deal on new austerity measures.

Ireland received a clear warning that it must spend more on research and its SMEs must be much more progressive if it is to create the kind of jobs and growth needed to emerge from the crisis.