A pregnant woman was effectively sacked while on maternity leave by one of the country’s major hotel groups, having previously been warned that one of her bosses was close to former taoiseach Brian Cowen.

BILL CULLEN, the businessman, television star and board member of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has emerged as a significant donor to Fianna Fáil during its years in office.

FORMER Ryder Cup star Phillip Walton is among the recipients of a quarter of a million euro grant allocation announced by the Team Ireland Golf Trust last night.

PROPERTY developer Noel O’Callaghan is planning a second hotel in the United States.

POLITICAL donations to Sinn Féin fell dramatically last year after new rules banned political parties from accepting donations from abroad.