Last month Seán Quinn, his son, and a nephew were convicted of contempt of court for not complying with court orders made last year in relation to €500m in assets.

A new culture of convenience has emerged in Irish politics with the coming of the IMF.

Incredibly, Irish politicians expect a jaundiced public to believe they will spend the next two months at committee meetings and working for constituents.

As a political public relations event, yesterday’s announcement that the Health Service Executive will cease to exist in 2014 turned out to be something of a PR disaster for beleaguered Health Minister James Reilly.

Dramatic US Senate revelations about shadowy money laundering at HSBC bank have put the spotlight on two of the highest profile figures in the world of Irish finance — Michael Geoghegan, appointed by Finance Minister Michael Noonan as chairman of the Nama Advisory Group, and David Hodgkinson, chairman of AIB.

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for unsuccessful bidders to challenge the awarding of the second mobile telephone licence to Esat Digifone in May 1996.

The Cabinet decision to approve the €2bn stimulus package of investment in infrastructural development should be welcomed.

The Cabinet is due today to discuss proposals to counter alcohol abuse.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore met yesterday with Ambassador Brendan McMahon to stress his concern about the publication of photographs of the body of Michaela McAreavey.

With Ireland’s unemployment rate a depressing 14.5%, the fifth highest in the EU, tens of thousands of people who would prefer to be working than on the dole will watch with keen anticipation the Government’s approval this week of a €2bn package aimed at stimulating growth in the economy.