The bail-out deal negotiated by the Government amounts to a national sell-out that will leave the country crippled with debt, opposition politicians claimed.

The closure of a computer frame manufacturer with the loss of 89 jobs will be a major blow to the South Connemara region, it was claimed today.

Unions at Dublin Airport tonight threatened strike action within a week if management don’t commit to existing agreements on hiring new staff.

Workers at the state-owned airline Aer Lingus will not be bullied in any future development plans, union bosses warned today.