Business could benefit from a new strategic bank but there are a lot of other factors in play here, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

The confirmation from the research by the Central Bank that Ireland has the second lowest approval level for small business loan applications in the eurozone, coming just ahead of Greece, comes as no surprise to me and the people of Ireland.

The position on a Government body of a union troubleshooter embroiled in today’s massive money laundering probe was in doubt tonight, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said.