Good afternoon. Here’s all the news you need to know this lunchtime.

John Minihan tells Ellie O’Byrne about his famous photograph of Samuel Beckett

Des O’Driscoll looks at five things to do in the world of arts and culture this week.

William Burroughs’ centenary occurs this month. The West Cork-based photographer John Minihan recalls meeting the controversial author in London

Music shop Pro-Musica has been trading on Oliver Plunkett St for 30 years — but Tuesday night was the worst flooding they had seen in some time.

High tides and heavy rainfall mean coastal areas remain on flood alert this week.

Photographs have a curious power to stir the imagination, there is nothing quite like them for communicating a sense of the past.

As the Cannes Film Festival opens, Irish photographer John Minihan retraces the highlights of a career spent capturing some of Hollywood’s biggest names, and his Oscar party trip this year

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was among the substantial crowd of mourners who last night attended the removal of Margaret Barry, wife of former tánaiste and minister for foreign affairs, Peter Barry.

John Minihan marks Culture Night and Cork International Short Story festival with illuminating photos, Tina O’Sullivan reports

A RETROSPECTIVE exhibition is often an admission the game is up, we may as well look back because there won’t be much point expecting anything new in the future.

Van Morrison is dismissive of fame, but his music will endure despite his aloofness, says John Minihan

Photographer John Minihan recalls his encounters with writer Edna O’Brien, from London in the 1970s to Cork this year

The release of a new book on John Kingerlee is tinged with sadness at the tragic death of its editor, writes Marc O’Sullivan

IF a picture tells a thousand words, then one of John Minihan’s photos of his west Cork home would do instead of a sales brochure, or editorial write up.

PHARMACIES have proliferated in recent years and there are many stories about exorbitant prices being paid for medication. It has all been part of Rip-off Ireland.

Pharmacies across the country are threatening not to dispense drugs to people on medical cards and those with chronic long-term illnesses because of cuts by the Department of Health. Over 1,000 pharmacists gathered in Dublin to protest against the cuts.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen will ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange today but the smiles from those present will mask growing concern about the economy both in the US and at home.

TAOISEACH Brian Cowen begins a four-day visit to the US today during which he will visit the New York Stock Exchange and meet prominent Irish Americans on Wall Street.

HOLDING down a job is tougher for people like Irene Kearney who have rheumatoid arthritis because fatigue is a significant symptom of the disease.

NINE defeated general election candidates were yesterday appointed to the Seanad in a line-up which produced many unexpected winners and losers.

THE Taoiseach is expected to announce his 11 nominations to the Seanad, within the next 48 hours, with the Greens and Progressive Democrats each securing two coveted seats.

DEFEATED Green Party leadership contender Patricia McKenna came sixth in a ballot of Green Party councillors on who should obtain a Seanad nomination, it emerged yesterday.

FIANNA FÁIL’S Billy Kelleher was the first deputy to be returned to the Dáil in the four-seat constituency of Cork North Central yesterday evening.

CORK Airport can only afford to carry a maximum debt of €60 million, according to a new report.

ONLY three Cork-based TDs are racing certainties to be re-elected to the next Dáil, according to a former minister — and bookmaker.

Valuable works by some of Ireland’s most sought after artists are to be sold off next month in London’s two most famous auction houses, Sotheby’s and Christie’s.

THE news that Cork Airport Authority (CAA) is to be saddled with a €100 million debt in exchange for freedom from control by the Dublin Airport Authority (Irish Examiner, February 20) flies in the face of the Government’s own plans for regional development.

TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen provoked uproar yesterday as he branded a Government u-turn landing Cork Airport with debts of €100 million “the sale of the century”.

A GOVERNMENT Senator launched a scathing attack on the Government yesterday over the controversial Cork Airport debt issue.

IF Government commitment to balanced regional development has any meaning, it is crucial to counter-balance Dublin’s sprawl, now skewing development across the country.

The Progressive Democrats have hit out at their coalition partners, following news that Cork Airport is to be saddled with a €100m debt.

A SENIOR Ryanair executive told a group of Cork TDs and senators yesterday that the airline may have to reduce its services from Cork Airport because of high landing charges.

A painting from a highly-acclaimed portrait series by Louis le Brocquy is expected to fetch the highest price at a major sale of post-war Irish art which goes on display today.

THE IRA robbery in Adare which led to the brutal killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe was carried out to finance an extensive bungalow for the gang leader, the Irish Examiner has learned.

TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen faced a barrage of criticism in the Seanad last night after insisting the Government’s position on the break-up of Aer Rianta had never changed.

TRANSPORT Minister Martin Cullen faced a barrage of criticism in the Seanad last night after insisting the Government’s position on the break-up of Aer Rianta had never changed.

COUPLES with joint incomes of €100,000 or less will pay tax at the standard rate of 20% under tax-cutting proposals unveiled by the Progressive Democrats yesterday.

COURAGEOUS Anna Nolan was smiling through her pain yesterday.

SINN FEIN leader Gerry Adam’s visit to the killers of Garda Jerry McCabe in Castlerea Prison may trigger a fresh attempt by the party to seek early release for the men, Fine Gael and the Progressive Democrats claimed yesterday.