The Government and State agencies have paid consultants €152m for advice on the banking crisis.

There’s scarcely a more imposing midfield pairing in the country than Anthony Maher and his sidekick David Moran. Or is that the other way round. The 27-year-old Tralee man is finally getting the reviews his work ethic merits.

The Oireachtas banking inquiry may be blocked from questioning Anglo Irish Bank’s auditor during the Celtic Tiger boom because of Seán FitzPatrick’s imminent trial.

Former financial regulator Patrick Neary, who, days after the bank guarantee, defended a lack of oversight in the sector and claimed the public’s money was “safe”, has been directed to attend a key banking inquiry grilling in May.

Some 75% of energy firms intend increasing staff in the next three years.

The receivers for five properties in Co Clare have said the tenants will not be evicted but if they choose to stay, they do so “at their own risk”.

The preparation of tax returns and the processing of payroll for a number of busy central London accountancy firms is now being carried out by start-up company CPC Outsourcing in Bandon, Co Cork.

After years in abeyance, Cork harbour’s infrastructural asset Marino Point may be poised for new uses and employment, subject to its multi-million euro sale being ratified by Nama in coming weeks.

An organisation that denies it pays bonuses — but admits its staff can earn "performance related awards".

Recently vacated by clothes retailer Quills, nos 106/107 Patrick Street, Cork City, are selling for €1.95m.

CORK harbour and port amenity with a deep water jetty at Marino Point is to be sold after a ‘Best Bids’ process in October, with a price expectation of up to €7m indicated.

Up to 500 new jobs have been announced for Belfast.

I DON’T know Brian Acton or Jan Koum, the founders of the $19 billion WhatsApp, so their success does not make me resentful — thankfully.

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.

Irish Water’s chief executive has come under fire for spending over €50m on consultants to help him charge taxpayers for their water.

WHEN Toby Gilbert decided to emigrate last year, he did not choose Australia over Dublin for sunshine and sandy beaches — he just wanted a few more free hours to see his wife.

The news yesterday that a further 250 jobs are being created nationally may not be exactly an excuse for unbridled joy. After all, we still have in the region of 400,000 people unemployed. However, small though the number may be, it still offers hope.

A Central Bank report on the financial position of Newbridge Credit Union in Kildare shows a “degree of cautious optimism” about its future, the High Court heard yesterday.

We will all continue to feel the pinch of harsh budgets for the next few years despite economic growth in 2014, according to a new economic forecast.

A leading hospital cannot explain why five senior officials received almost €700,000 in non-salary, “top-up” fees — with “inconsistent recollections” from board members over who approved the deals.

A new survey has found that many entrepreneurs have thrived here in the past year, despite Ireland's financial woes.

There is no significant improvement on the horizon for the Irish jobs market, according to the latest forecast by Ernst and Young.

BOTH the Parknasilla Hotel and the Cork International Airport Hotel have overseas buyers, the first in legals, the second sold to Phillips Hotels Ltd for approximately €5m. So Savills’ successful run of sales shows it’s not just the Dublin hotel market (where the 500 bed Burlington’s selling for €70 m to the private equity group Blackstone) that’s attracting investors.

Cork Airport has said it needs to secure at least 32 redundancies if it is to avoid mounting losses over the next three years.

THERE’S a good return to sender, or in this case to the eventual buyer, of 18a Woodbine Business Park, in New Ross, Co Wexford.

A Wicklow house with links to the first ‘world wide web’ — a trans-ocean cable — is for sale on 186 acres, for €3m.

A major accounting firm has downgraded its forecast for Ireland's economic growth this year.

Residential investments with 9% to 11% yields are on offer in two Cork locations via separate receivers and for separate distressed vendors.

Ernst & Young has downgraded its prediction for Irish economic growth for 2012 in its quarterly Eurozone Economic Forecast.

Two new reports are today forecasting a slowdown in Ireland's economic recovery next year.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has today called for the publication of a report on Irish Nationwide that was concluded 18 months ago.

TAX changes aimed at the wealthy will only bring in 25% of the money saved by hitting social welfare recipients, it was claimed last night.

IT will be “business as normal” at the five-star Ashford Castle Hotel, receivers appointed to the leading European hotel said yesterday.

Ernst and Young has said the economic uncertainty in other countries is threatening to derail Irish economic recovery.

A major accountancy firm is predicting growth in the Irish economy this year, for the first time since 2007.

The Irish Brewers Association (IBA) has released new figures showing that the Irish beer market has declined by 3% in the year to date.

The latest eurozone economic forecast from Ernst and Young has revealed that if decisive action is not taken on the eurozone debt crisis, a default scenario in Greece is "unavoidable".

Top accountancy and auditing firm Ernst & Young is facing a disciplinary hearing at an industry watchdog over claims it failed to identify rogue operations at Anglo Irish Bank.

A large number of Xtra-vision's landlords have agreed to variations of the lease agreements they have with the chain, the High Court heard today.

Leading economists are warning that concerns over sovereign debt continue to overshadow recovery in the eurozone.

Tommy Barker suggests you lodge an interest in former purpose-built 10-bed Kinsale B&B.

The High Court has refused to allow accountancy firm Ernst and Young to bring a challenge to an investigation into its conduct as auditors of Anglo Irish Bank.