GREECE is the word that should rightly haunt this country. Billy Connolly tells a joke about a man on the African savannah tying his trainer laces.

The North was urged today to provide a home for prisoners freed from Guantanamo Bay.

WHAT happened to all our money?

CORK County Council has taken the unprecedented step of passing a vote of no confidence in Environment Minster John Gormley over his handling of a major pollution threat in Cork harbour.

THE Government is considering pulling the defence forces out of EU peacekeeping duties in a bid to win acceptance of the Lisbon treaty and end any concerns about conscription.

Ronnie Drew was buried today after a funeral ceremony that brought together many of Ireland’s finest musicians.

THE message from farmers to French President Nicolas Sarkozy as he arrived at Government Buildings in Dublin yesterday was straightforward, “Oui, oui, s’il vous plait”.

DISAPPOINTMENT and shock were the reactions from European leaders to Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty while groups opposed to it were delighted and demanding a complete re-negotiation of the deal.

The IFA's last minute U-turn on the Lisbon treaty was "disappointing, but totally to be expected" Libertas executive director Naoise Nunn said this evening.

ICT Ireland, the association that represents the high-tech sector in IBEC, have revealed worries over spending commitments in schools.

Labour Party Justice spokesman Pat Rabbitte has called for a full Dáil debate to be held on the findings of the Morris Tribunal.

A BED was eventually found yesterday for an elderly woman with Alzheimer’s disease who spent about 65 hours on a trolley in Dublin’s Mater Hospital following a heart attack.

Taoiseach-in-waiting Brian Cowan is due to meet his counterpart in the North during a visit to Belfast today.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today urged a Yes vote in the upcoming referendum on the new European Reform Treaty as a means of combating climate change.

The Labour Party Leader has renewed his call for Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to step aside in the interest of the country saying his continued tenure is "a national embarrassment".

Colin Hunt has been appointed to the board of Aer Lingus as a non-executive director with immediate effect. Mr Hunt, a nominee of the Minister for Finance Brian Cowan will be designated as “Minister’s Nominee” in accordance with the company's articles of association.

THE cost of electricity will increase under proposals for a huge reform of the EU’s CO2 emissions trading scheme, due to be announced today.

Minister for Finance Brian Cown should force Bertie Ahern from his job rather than defend the indefensible, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said today.

CORK Chamber of Commerce is hoping to meet the Taoiseach this week to persuade him to help resolve the Cork Airport debt row and provide financial incentives for a proposed docklands project.

Minister for Finance Brian Cowen has published legislation that will scrap stamp duty for first-time buyers in line with Fianna Fáil's pre-election promises.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's Fianna Fáil party is to enter into formal talks with the Green Party tomorrow to see if they can find a basis for forming a coalition Government.

EU finance ministers have unanimously agreed banking changes estimated to save consumers and business at least€28 billion a year.

PEOPLE on social welfare are to be given more free electricity in a bid to offset the 20% hike in bills from next year, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern announced yesterday.

Fianna Fáil’s annual think-in begins in Co Mayo today.

A TAX hike on alcohol of at least 25% will be the first item on the agenda for the Finns who took over the EU presidency this week.

The Government is still trying to get all-party agreement on the detail of the new Sexual Offences Bill.

DROOPYS MALDINI and Grayslands Pixie were last night awarded the highest accolades in Irish greyhound racing when they were named the Dog and Bitch of the Year at the National Awards Banquet at the Keadeen Hotel in Newbridge.

THE Government has been told it must scrap the minimum price it imposes on cigarettes and replace it with increased taxes.

The Taoiseach and Síle de Valera are expected to come face to face today in a row over her future as Minister of State.

Meath 3-14 Offaly 0-14

GOVERNMENT assurances that at least 40 CIA flights through Shannon Airport had nothing to do with the rendition and possible torture of prisoners were rubbished in a high-level report yesterday.

GORDON BROWN and Brian Cowen have a lot in common. They both gave budget statements this week.

A RANGE of measures to harmonise tax system elements throughout the European Union has been put forward by Taxation Commissioner Laszlo Kovacs.

An intensification of economic co-operation between the North and the Republic was called for by the Minister for Finance today.

THE European Commission yesterday rejected a request by the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association (ITBA) to keep the special tax exemption for breeders.

ONE man dropped his wife off at the maternity ward and returned to play his round of golf, but even he couldn’t upstage mobile phone magnate Denis O’Brien — who had the mother of all chip shots.

EUROPEAN leaders signalled their willingness to rework the services directive last night.

By Ray Ryan, Agribusiness Correspondent

Minister for Finance Brian Cowan today told banking leaders that he will not accept poor service which could risk the industry's reputation.

Elderly Irish emigrants in Britain are to receive another €1m, it was announced today.

IBEC believes Finance Minister Brian Cowan will have plenty of scope to increase workers take home pay in December’s budget by widening the income tax bands to take account of inflation.

FOREIGN Minister Brian Cowan yesterday stepped in to defend the Dutch EU presidency after a row with Russia over the hostage tragedy in Beslan.

Sinn Féin launched a stinging attack on the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) today for what it branded its destructive role in the peace process.

The body of an Irish man shot dead in Saudi Arabia will not be brought home for two weeks, it emerged tonight.