Irish Life & Permanent has appointed former UK post Office MD Alan Cook as chairman of the group with immediate effect.

The Office of Fair Trading has issued a prohibition order against a Co Tyrone estate agent banning him from auctioneering work.

Three retail chains owned by tycoon Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct business were today rapped for enticing customers into stores with a closing down sale – only for the shops to carry on trading.

The Office of Fair Trading in the UK today apologised to Morrisons and agreed £100,000 (€124,000) damages after the retailer was wrongly identified in a price-fixing probe.

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) today launched an investigation into the UK’s £20bn (€30bn) a year house-building sector.