The former chairman of Independent News and Media (INM), Leslie Buckley, has said he will fight any accusations levelled against him arising out of investigations into the company’s affairs.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime...

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has described as “ridiculous” the defence given by Communications Minister Denis Naughten, who had said his call with a lobbyist for Independent News and Media (INM) was “personal”.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin has described as “ridiculous” the defence given by Communications Minister Denis Naughten when he said his call with a lobbyist for Independent News and Media (INM) was “personal”.

The Taoiseach has claimed members of the Opposition were simply “looking for a head” in going after Communications Minister Denis Naughten.

It was as bad a day in the office as Denis Naughten has had in more than six years.

Communications Minister Denis Naughten will not be forced from office by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar or Fianna Fáil, despite facing accusations of giving out “inside information” over a media deal.

Attempts have been made to “silence” the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE), it has been claimed in the Dáil.

Ireland’s largest publishing firm, the stock market-listed Independent News and Media, has been thrown into crisis amid serious allegations by the State’s corporate enforcer that include claims of governance misdeeds and email hacks.

The Government is to face stiff questioning in the Dáil over the data breach scandal at Independent News and Media (INM) this week, with Sinn Féin and Fianna Fáil expected to raise the issue.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Communications Minister Denis Naughten have broken their silence on the alleged data breach scandal at Independent News and Media (INM), saying it is very “concerning”.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Communications Minster Denis Naughten have broken their silence on the data breach scandal at Independent News and Media, saying it is very “concerning”.

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for the Government and opposition parties to take action to ensure media outlets are not pressured by “overbearing influences” in response to the Independent News and Media (INM) data breach controversy.

Here are all the latest headlines this lunchtime.

The Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) will investigate whether personal data was accessed in the alleged data breach at Independent News and Media (INM).

INM shares decline 5% on ODCE probe news.

The president of the High Court has ruled that Leslie Buckley, who is to step down shortly as chairman of Independent News and Media, is entitled to privilege over 10 documents concerning the preparation of his response to the State corporate enforcer’s investigation of a whistleblower complaint.

A reporter has told the Regency Hotel murder trial he thought a garda raid was taking place on the day of the shooting.

The divide is between those who want a wrongdoing addressed once highlighted and those who want it to remain buried, says Special Correspondent Michael Clifford.

Robert Pitt has resigned as chief executive of Independent News and Media (INM) following an extraordinary row that had waged in the media company for over a year.

The CEO of Independent News and Media, Robert Pitt, has left the company.

The CEO of Independent News and Media has abstained from voting for the re-election of Chairman Leslie Buckley.

Independent News and Media — of which Denis O’Brien owns a significant stake — said it wants “urgently” to spark a debate over ownership and consolidation of newspapers and broadcasters in Ireland, claiming “unhelpful” regulatory conditions were placed this year on its now aborted bid to take over regional publisher Celtic Media.

Shares in Independent News and Media (INM) rallied yesterday, after a turbulent week ended with the group announcing a deal for pension scheme members.

Businessman Denis O'Brien has claimed a dossier about him was compiled by Red Flag Consulting for a client for a “hostile” motive and was part of a “campaign of defamation” intended to damage him.

Media groups have hailed a decision by the European Court of Human Rights which upheld an appeal by Independent Newspapers regarding a record €1.25m libel payout.

IRELAND has fallen five places from ninth to 14th in the latest Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders.

A Limerick-based company is aiming to target a global market with €500m, reports Trish Dromey.

The newspaper group's chief executive Robert Pitt has told an Oireachtas committee the plans have been dropped.

Calls have been made on Michael Lowry to step aside from an Oireachtas committee because of his perceived links to businessman Denis O’Brien.

Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar ruled out any “retrospective” attempts to prevent healthy companies winding up defined benefit pension schemes, saying the move will not legally work.

The Communications Minister Denis Naughten has asked the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to carry out a review of a proposed media merger being led by Denis O'Brien.

Transport Minister Shane Ross has said he is “not very happy” at the prospect of being “a lot poorer” due to losing a large part of his pension from Independent News and Media (INM).

THE appalling, dishonourable decision by the profitable Independent News and Media (INM) to close its defined benefit pension scheme is another indication of how government after government has dodged its responsibilities. 

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has urged Independent News and Media (INM) pension fund trustees to appeal the company’s plan to close its defined benefit pension scheme to the High Court.

Justice Minister Francis Fitzgerald has warned that we must we must never forget the “hidden body count” of gangland crime.

The debate over whether the UK will exit the EU has switched dramatically to the potential gains for some Irish shareholders and most Irish exporters should the so-called ‘Bremain’ side win the looming UK vote on EU membership on June 23.

Investors in the Irish stock market should favour Irish firms that have less exposure to the UK — until the outcome of the British referendum on membership of the EU is known, Merrion Capital has said in a major report.

As the Kinahan-Hutch feud rages, gangland intimidation and violence will get worse, writes Cormac O’Keeffe

ALMOST 50 journalists were murdered because of their work last year.

Gardaí are monitoring an estimated 80 members of rival feuding gangs as they brace themselves for two funerals next week.

GERRY ADAMS’ restatement of Sinn Féin policy earlier this week, that his party would close the Special Criminal Court, seemed, at the time, predictably self-serving and ill-judged.