Senior EMC staff were honoured at a civic reception last night at which the Lord Mayor of Cork said the firm was a “cornerstone of Cork’s foreign direct investment community”.

Political choices on the abortion debate should not be free from the influence of faith matters, the papal nuncio said yesterday.

Over a dozen gardaí had to be called to Cork’s City Hall last night to end a tense standoff caused after anti-household tax campaigners forced the abandonment of a council meeting.

Cork’s city manager has told councillors the city’s core funding for this year has been slashed by at least 10% to make up for the shortfall in exchequer income, even taking into account the household charge.