The Government’s Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) has invested €30m for a stake in Finance Ireland Investment, a lender which primarily focuses on SMEs, in a bid to boost lending for businesses.

Dairy co-ops have been urged to follow this week’s leaders on milk prices, who increased prices by 1-2.5 cent per litre, for August milk.

Glanbia Co-op Society has moved to release about €238 million of its value to members, to help them finance significant expansion and investment in the Irish dairy industry.