The €1.3bn sale of Irish Life will go towards paying off Government debt and is the first sale of a fully State-owned asset since the bailout.

Following the release of permanent tsb’s results yesterday, chief executive Jeremy Masding tried to put a positive spin on what the future holds for the state-owned institution.

In the latest review of the IMF/EU bailout programme, the Government welcomed the June 29 statement by the eurozone heads of state committing to “sever the pernicious link between the banks and the sovereigns and mandating the eurogroup to examine the situation of the Irish financial sector with a view to enhancing the sustainability of our well-performing programme”.

A Government minister has said he is hopeful cheaper interest rates for the state’s €85bn bailout will be agreed within 10 days.

British Prime Minister David Cameron has told Taoiseach Enda Kenny he “admires very much” the economic decisions being taken in Ireland.

ANY hopes Taoiseach Enda Kenny had of getting a cheaper IMF-EU rescue package at the EU summit in Brussels are gone for the moment at least.

THE economic crisis and terms of the EU/IMF bailout mean the Government cannot commit to pay the estimated €13 billion actuarial cost of providing a state guarantee of the full pension entitlements of workers in cases of employer insolvency.

THE Oireachtas last night published a Bill that gives the governor of the Central Bank major powers over the banking sector.

THREE months ago, the Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) published its assessment of abuses in the Magdalene laundries.

Ireland will not be forced into a Budget dictated by the International Monetary Fund and Europe, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan insisted today.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen today rubbished accusations that the Government had surrendered Ireland‘s sovereignty.

Central Bank Governor Patrick Honohan today said he expects the country to get a loan worth tens of billions through an International Monetary Fund-European Union rescue package.