Taoiseach Enda Kenny has rejected calls from new Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras for a European debt conference.

The Irish banks will not have to undergo stress tests again this year, according to an ECB source.

The decision not to seek a special overdraft facility was finalised at an emergency cabinet meeting today ahead of Finance Minister Michael Noonan flying out to a summit in Brussels.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan is briefing Cabinet ministers on Ireland’s exit from the bailout today.

No deal can be done on Ireland’s legacy bank debt until at least the end of next year, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has revealed.

The Government should stick to the commitments made under the bailout programme, according to the European Commission’s director general of economic and monetary affairs, Mario Buti.

Ireland could still secure a retrospective recapitalisation of the domestic banks following the stress tests of the eurozone banking system scheduled for next March, according to Philip Lane, professor of economics at Trinity College Dublin.

Minister for Finance Michael Noonan says that Ireland must defend its corporate tax rate to defend jobs.

The Government continues to have discussions with the troika about solutions for the tracker mortgage problem, “but it would be too strong a description to say they are under negotiation,” Minister for Finance Michael Noonan told the Oireachtas Finance Committee.

An international deal giving Ireland more time to repay its bailout loans is worth a lot to the country, Finance Minister Michael Noonan said.

The Minister for Finance Michael Noonan has said he has reached an agreement in principle on a deal to extend the maturities on Ireland's bank debt by seven years.

EU Finance Ministers will gather in Dublin this morning for an informal meeting at which it is hoped Ireland can secure political agreement for an extension to its bailout loans.

The Minister for Agriculture said he is confident that negotiations on extending the maturities on Ireland's bailout loans are moving in the right direction.

When 27 finance ministers and central bank governors from the EU member states meet in Dublin on Friday, it will be their first paperless deliberation, thanks to Dell and Microsoft.

European finance ministers are to urge officials in charge of Ireland’s bailout programme to consider a deal to extend repayments.

The Taoiseach dismissed British objections to a cap on banker bonuses, saying that London was always likely to take a different view to the rest of the EU on the matter.

A deal to extend the maturity of Ireland’s bailout loans will not save the taxpayer any money, it has been claimed today.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has warned that public service workers face forced pay cuts unless unions agree €1bn in savings in an overhaul of the Croke Park deal.

EU and IMF lenders are working on an alternative to reduce the costs for Ireland of the €47 billion bailout bill for Anglo Irish Bank.

Eurozone finance ministers have agreed to increase the capacity of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) bailout fund.

Yet another summit of EU leaders may be needed next weekend to complete plans for a comprehensive economic rescue package, officials in Brussels said today.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Finance Minister Michael Noonan have both welcomed an agreement which could improve the terms of Ireland’s EU/IMF bailout deal.

MINISTERS in the last Government failed to turn up to almost two-thirds of crucial European finance meetings as the economic crisis took hold.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan continues his visit to Brussels today at an Ecofin meeting with his European counterparts.

The Government has agreed €1bn of the €3bn cuts to be announced in the Budget on December 7, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan revealed today.

Greece’s newly-elected socialist government won a vote of confidence in its programme.

ALLEGED pyramid scheme operator Breifne O’Brien has been ordered to repay €1.85 million given to him by his financier brother-in-law to invest.

Ireland’s economic slowdown will be back in the spotlight today as Finance Minister Brian Lenihan faces his European counterparts.

GERMANY’S finance minister has made a blistering attack on Ireland’s low corporate tax rate and accused the country of using EU money to fund unfair competition.

THE odds of an ECB interest rate hike to dampen the Christmas spirit have shortened considerably leading economists warned.

A proposal to slap an air ticket tax on flights throughout the European Union to finance overseas aid would damage Ireland’s tourism trade, it was warned today.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern announced this evening that Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy will be the Government's nominee for appointment to the next European Commission.

ITALY joined France and Germany in successfully breaching the 3% budget deficit limit without getting an early warning from Eurozone ministers yesterday.

A DRAMATIC drop in the number of new start-up software companies is expected after the suspension of the Business Expansion Scheme (BES) and seed capital tax reliefs following the intervention of the European Commission.

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy yesterday welcomed an extraordinary set of Exchequer figures but was rounded on the opposition for "hoarding" the tax bonanza to be used as a pre-election slush fund.

The Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, has said he looks forward to making good progress at the second meeting of the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of the European Union (Ecofin Council) in Brussels tomorrow.

SINCE the start of the year, the strength of the euro against the dollar has dominated all market commentary.

Charlie McCreevy is to chair the first meeting of the Council of Economics and Finance Ministers of European Union (the EcoFin Council) in Brussels tomorrow.

FINANCE Minister Charlie McCreevy is set to become embroiled in the row over the French and German budget deficits as he takes over the chair of the EU Ecofin Council.

CHARLIE McCreevy could borrow up to €3 billion without the threat of fines or sanctions under the defunct EU Growth and Stability Pact.

THE de facto smashing of the stability and growth pact early yesterday morning will result in a rise in interest rates as the European Central Bank (ECB) warned of serious dangers following the move.

Political Editor