LABOUR leader Eamon Gilmore has questioned whether the Government’s efforts to block AIB staff receiving €40 million in bonuses will succeed.

FINANCE Minister Brian Lenihan’s bank bonus blocking plan may not be able to prevent more AIB officials from taking High Court cases to receive the money — potentially leaving the state open to the pay-out and expensive legal costs.

THE AIB official who took a High Court case seeking to receive the 2008 bonus, which succeeded because the bank did not dispute the claim, will still get to keep the sum.

Controversial bonuses could end up being given to some 90 Allied Irish Banks staff despite Government attempts to block the pay-outs, it was suggested tonight.

THE opposition last night welcomed AIB’s decision not to pay €40m in bonuses to staff, but said the bank and the Government had to be “shamed” into acting on the issue.

AIB has decided not to pay the controversial €40 million in bonuses due to staff following intervention by the Government.

THE Government is introducing a 90% “super tax” on bank bonuses, but it won’t apply to the €40 million about to be paid to AIB staff.

STRUGGLING Allied Irish Bank is set to dole out almost €40 million in bonuses this month despite being on the brink of another bailout from the Government.

ALLIED IRISH BANKS, which is facing majority state control, will have to pay a €160,000 bonus to an employee of its capital-markets unit after losing a court case.

An armed robber who carried out a “very well planned and organised” bank robbery of €700,000 has been given a 12-year sentence by Judge Tony Hunt at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

IRISH food suppliers are charging up to 70% more for products than their British counterparts, retailer representatives told the Oireachtas Enterprise, Trade and Employment committee yesterday.

Tracy Silva normally spends Sunday nights singing karaoke with friends, but this year the mother of two was on the bill for a bigger show – Boston’s annual Fourth of July Pops concert and fireworks display.

A 20-ton slab of granite, inscribed to honour “the enduring spirit of freedom”, has been laid at the World Trade Centre site as the cornerstone of the skyscraper that will replace the destroyed towers.

A 20-TON slab of granite, inscribed to honour "the enduring spirit of freedom," was laid yesterday at the World Trade Center site as the cornerstone of the skyscraper that will replace the destroyed towers.