Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has side-stepped concern that scrapping the water tax standing charge will lead to higher usage bills.

THE Mahon Tribunal is entitled to question Taoiseach Bertie Ahern’s banking expert Paddy Stronge about his view that the tribunal has advanced incorrect suggestions about the nature of lodgments to bank accounts of Mr Ahern, counsel for Mr Ahern agreed yesterday.

Eminem, whose finesse with words rocketed him to hip-hop superstardom, offered only a few in response to comments made on a radio show by his estranged wife, Kim, about their failing second marriage.