Employment lawyers are eagerly awaiting the enactment of a Bill which should bring some clarity into the increasingly fraught area of data protection rights in the workplace.

The Fine Gael TD abused online by colleague Barry Walsh has welcomed his resignation from the party’s national executive council after a damning 48-hour public backlash.

Professional and legal fees related to the special liquidation of IBRC — the Anglo Irish Bancorp and Irish Nationwide holding group — have reached over €214.5m.

Dealmakers behind the €14 million purchase of the bulk of the City Quarter investment in Cork city centre from Nama have emerged as the just-re-branded MC2 Accountants, on behalf of private investors.

The Department of Finance and agencies under its remit spent around €25.75m on legal fees last year.

An auditor for Anglo Irish Bank has told a trial that he misled a previous trial about a statement he gave to gardaí.

A legal firm that specialises in medical negligence cases has received €11.8m in fees over two years from the State Claims Agency (SCA).

A west Waterford soccer club, preparing for 50th anniversary celebrations next year, faces an uncertain future after one of the playing pitches it has occupied for more than 25 years was purchased from a receiver.

Roy Keane has become the latest celebrity to go to court over their image rights.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has confirmed that the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) last year paid bonuses to staff for the first time since 2012.

Children will be allowed just one free shower and one toilet flush a day under revised water allowances ahead of the introduction of charges next year.

The Chief State Solicitors Office is challenging an amendment by businessman, Declan Ganley, to include the findings of the Moriarty Tribunal in his case against the State and Denis O’Brien over the second mobile phone licence.

When Cian and Polly McCourt moved from Ireland to the US, little did they suspect that the arrival of the newest Big Apple of their eye would get more views than a hit Broadway performance.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he was fully aware of the €180m set-up costs of Irish Water, but he did not specify whether he had knowledge of the €85m spent on consultancies.

The issue of spending at Irish Water will again come before the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) later today to discuss accountability within the new agency.

The questions now remaining over the spending of €85m on private consultants to set up Irish Water, is how much the Government knew about it and why they failed to provide answers to questions raised by TDs in the Dáil.

Superstar golfer Rory McIlroy is facing his biggest challenge to date — but in the courts, not on the course.

Former world number one Rory McIlroy has confirmed he has left Horizon Sports Management to create his own management group.

US pharmaceutical Perrigo will benefit from around $150m (€113m) in annual tax savings from acquiring Elan, its chief executive said yesterday.

Irish bio-tech company Elan looks set to be sold, with management sensationally announcing yesterday that it has authorised a formal sale process to commence.

Elan says it has received several unsolicited corporate enquires in the wake of high-profile advances from US intellectual property firm Royalty Pharma.

One Dublin legal firm last year received fees in excess of €2m from Nama as the bonanza for professional firms from the agency’s work continued.

Nama has spent €51.5m on legal fees since it was set up but expects to recoup €36.16m of this from property developers.

A FIRM of solicitors retained by a bank to act for it concerning substantial loans to property developer John Kelly and struck-off solicitor Thomas Byrne is being sued for €23 million over an alleged failure to ensure the bank had proper security related to those loans.

A national internship scheme has been launched to give up to 5,000 unemployed people critical work experience.

BUSINESSMAN Philip Lynch and his family have failed to produce evidence to show Allied Irish Banks misrepresented the nature of a €25 million loan made to them and developer Gerry Conlan, the Commercial Court was told yesterday.

A SOLICITOR has told the Commercial Court the final terms of a €25 million loan issued by Allied Irish Banks to buy development lands in Waterford gave the bank full recourse to businessman Philip Lynch and his family for repayment of that sum.

A STUDENT society has pulled off a major coup by securing one of the world’s best known journalists for an address in Cork next month.

AER Lingus will not be appealing a decision by the Irish Takeover Panel to cancel a hotly anticipated head-to-head debate between its chief executive and Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary.

THE Referendum Commission for the Lisbon treaty spent €2.7 million of its €5m budget on media advertising.

INTEREST rates and inflation are the issues causing the most concern for privately owned business in Ireland.

Newspaper publisher Trinity Mirror said today it has sold the Racing Post to an Irish investment firm for £170m (€244.24m).

BUSINESSES suspected of flouting competition laws were yesterday warned of an expected surge in dawn raids by authorities over the coming months.

SWS chairman Raymond Collins today announced the completion of the sale of the SWS businesses to Ion Equity ltd.

LIMERICK County Council paid out €1.38 million in legal expenses last year, according to figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

A&L GOODBODY was presented with the 2006 Client Choice Award for Ireland at an event organised by the International Law Office (ILO) in Chicago last night.

A SIGNIFICANT number of small to medium-sized privately-owned businesses here expect to be involved in merger and acquisition activity (M&A) over the next few years.

A SPECIAL dinner to honour golfing legend Jack Nicklaus is to take place at Dublin’s Burlington Hotel on Wednesday, July 19.

A&L Goodbody have been ranked, for the third consecutive year, as the number one Irish law firm for global mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity.

WILLIAM Fry Solicitors has emerged as this year’s top Irish legal firm for merger and acquisitions.

THE value of funds administered in Ireland surged 23% to €785 billion this year, according to a major report published yesterday.

STRONG demand is pushing the price of houses higher than expected, according to a major new study by AIB.