THE continuing uncertainty over the operation of Ireland’s only oil refinery, at Whitegate in Cork Harbour, could have serious implications for the State’s energy supplies and consequently for our economy.

The potential sale of the country’s only oil refinery in Whitegate, Co Cork is back on the table despite its parent company appearing to pull the plug on the sales process last year.

The chances of giving all primary schools the same high-speed broadband that is now available at secondary level are slim but the move remains a priority, the Department of Education has said.

Over €86.7m will be spent by the Office of Public Works (OPW) on leasing buildings which house government departments and other State agencies this year.

Final planning permission has been granted for more than 250 wind turbines in just the past two years, according to an analysis of cases before An Bord Pleanála (ABP). *

Senior civil servants are to face calls to appear again before an Oireachtas committee after a second organisation seemed to distance itself from suggestions that it was “satisfied” with privacy provisions of the postcode to be launched this year.

Welcome to your Monday morning briefing. Let us ensure you’re up to speed on what’s happening and are prepared for the day ahead.

The State is facing the embarrassment of spending millions on a postcode system that is going nowhere, writes Joe Leogue

Irish Rural Link has demanded that the Government prioritise fibre-optic broadband to hundreds of thousands of homes and provide exact figures as to the funding that will be required.

Political representatives in north Kerry are dismayed by reports that the company behind the Shannon LNG project has pulled the plug.

Shares in Providence Resources soared by nearly 12% yesterday on the back of the Dublin-based explorer being granted an extension to its highly rated Barryroe field in the Celtic Sea.

UK demand for Irish renewable energy is not as strong as plans to build hundreds of windfarms across Ireland would suggest.

Cairn Energy is to press on with its intentions to begin drilling off the west coast during the second quarter of next year, now that it has received formal Government approval for its plans.

The widow of the drowned skipper of the doomed Tit Bonhomme trawler has called for an immediate review of how the 999 calls from the sinking vessel were handled the morning of the tragedy.

Homeowners may have to pay hundreds of euro to replace water pipes that do not comply with regulations associated with the installation of meters over the next two years.

A report on the possible environmental impacts of “fracking” for gas has found the method “does not pose a significant environmental risk”.

Environmentalists and locals are raising their concerns about plans to develop gas fields in Leitrim and Fermanagh.