The transfer of corporate assets into Ireland by a handful of multinationals which led to a huge surge in Irish GDP runs the risk of putting the country’s tax regime back under the international spotlight, analysts have warned.

One of the most generous pre-election budgets ever is to be unveiled by Finance Minister Michael Noonan, with tax cuts and spending hikes amounting to €3bn, twice what ministers had signalled.

Cork’s city planners have sought ministerial approval for the major extension of a tax break scheme designed to promote regeneration and city living, and to include the city’s main shopping and office districts.

Concerns have been raised over a deliberate attempt to “undermine” the Oireachtas banking probe following a major leak of evidence.

The controversial decision to give shareholders in the bankrupt firm Siteserv a €5m “sweetener” as taxpayers took a massive loss on its sale has been defended by Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

Ireland will face more problems with an overheating economy unless expectations surrounding the next election are restrained, a banking expert said.

Lucinda Creighton (Irish Examiner, November 7) should be reminded that when the journalist Gavin Sheridan and his colleagues first began the process of requesting copies of the correspondence between Ireland and the European Central Bank (ECB) it wasn’t only the ECB who blocked them every step of the way until the matter was escalated to the European Ombudsman.

No one earning less than €30,000 a year should have to pay the Universal Social Charge, People Before Profit has insisted in its pre-budget proposals.

Another austerity budget this autumn has been signalled by Finance Minister Michael Noonan despite the economic recovery creating jobs faster than expected.

Three of the most senior members of the Cabinet are under pressure to explain what they did to try and save nearly 400 jobs.

Sacked haulage firm workers are staging a sit-in after one of the country’s largest companies ceased trading with the loss of nearly 400 jobs.

SMALL businesses have hit back at the Credit Review Office (CRO) which claims that AIB and Bank of Ireland will fail to meet their €6 billion credit commitments due to a lack of demand for loans.

A HIGH Court challenge by holders of a portion of €2.6 billion worth of Allied Irish Bank (AIB) subordinated bonds, to prevent the Irish Government “burning” 80% of their holdings, is “entirely unfounded” according to Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny was accused of downgrading the centrepiece legislation of his first 100 days in power by rebranding it from a jobs “budget” to just a jobs initiative.

FOOD and medicines could be hit by major VAT increases under emergency measures drawn up by the Finance Department which would see health, welfare and school spending slashed.

A Government-ordered investigation into the Department of Finance found it needs to “remake itself” urgently to help the country recover.

The North's Finance Minister Sammy Wilson has faced claims that the Assembly's draft Budget is based on "ifs, buts and maybes".

JUST how stupid does Brian Cowen think the people of Ireland are?

THE Government last night admitted it had not been in the loop when London discussed its proposed massive €8.4 billion loan to Ireland with other major world economies.

THE spectre of a savage €7bn package of spending cuts and tax rises in the budget emerged last night.

THE country faces a severe four-year package of spending cuts and tax hikes “significantly” greater than the €7.5bn already signalled, it was revealed last night.

A SIPTU bank account at the centre of a number of investigations was used to fund six trips to New York by a Department of Finance official who had a key role in industrial relations issues.

Australia’s Labour Party won the backing of a Greens party politician today in its bid to form the country’s first minority government in nearly seven decades, while other independents said they were close to deciding which party they would support.

BUDGET cuts of at least €3 billion continued to loom last night as new Exchequer figures showed the tax take again slipping below target.

WELL-PAID TDs can easily evade work under the present Dáil set-up while the Government is never held to account, Transport Minister Noel Dempsey last night warned as he urged reform.

FACEBOOK users may have an input into where budget cuts fall, the Finance Department has suggested.

BRIAN COWEN is to face tough questioning from the Oireachtas committee drawing up the scope of the next stage of the banking probe.

THE tax take continued to slump by €1.4bn in the first five months of the year, but new Exchequer figures show the situation is beginning to stabilise.

The mayor of top Mexican tourist resort Cancun was charged with drug trafficking links today.

BANKERS were allowed to run riot at Leinster House again yesterday as they stormed the Dáil chamber and once more held the nation to ransom.

THE biggest financial gamble in the history of the State comes into play in the next few weeks as NAMA finally swings into life.

THE public service pension arrangements announced by Brian Lenihan yesterday will barely apply before 2014 given that it only applies to new entrants and there is a staff recruitment ban for the next four years.

THE Government and public sector unions were last night continuing to debate ways to save €1.3bn in the public service pay bill next year and reform the service into the future.

THE Educational Building Society (EBS) will start merger talks with the Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) this week, says EBS boss Fergus Murphy.

CHILD allowance cuts of at least €277m are looming, Brian Cowen signalled as the Government braced the country for a savage budget.

LIKE a desperately cheery first mate of The Titanic, Brian Lenihan announced the ship was sinking – but slightly slower than expected.

THE Green Party leadership has been accused of a “con job” by grassroot members who were kept in the dark about major parts of the NAMA plan when they voted to support it at a special convention last month.

Labour's Deputy Leader is criticising the decision by the Department of Finance to withold documents on all communications relating to Anglo Irish Bank.

THE black hole in the nation’s finances will explode to more than€26 billion by year’s end due to a deeper than feared collapse in tax revenues, exchequer figures last night revealed.

THE Carroll case judgment exposes a “fatal flaw” in the structure of NAMA which could end up seeing the taxpayer forking out billions of euro over the odds for bad land debts, Fine Gael warned last night.

THE head of Bord Snip Nua was paid nearly €800 a day while drawing up its hit list of “savage” cuts in public services.

HIGHLY paid hospital consultants appeared to be on a fresh collision course with the Government last night as their lucrative pay deal was targeted by An Bord Snip Nua.

THE cabinet is to finally move to cut ministerial pensions paid to sitting TDs after a hard core ignored pleas to give up the perk voluntarily.