Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended the decision to go with the bank guarantee in September 2008; US billionaire Donald Trump has finally won his battle against plans for a windfarm near Doonbeg; Harry Shearer, voice of Mr Burns in The Simpsons will be back in the role of the evil nuclear power plant boss. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended the decision to go with the bank guarantee in September 2008; mother of student who has been missing since he was swept into the sea at Baltimore last week has made an emotional appeal for more divers to help find her son; Harry Shearer, voice of Mr Burns in The Simpsons will be back in the role of the evil nuclear power plant boss. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

The infamous “soft landing” prediction for the stumbling Irish economy was not based on any specific analysis or internal Department of Finance reports.

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen, who presided over the country’s slide into economic chaos, has blamed bankers as the main culprits.