The public expenditure minister has warned home owners not to dig up or remove their water meters, saying they will be used again under a new charging regime, having been provided through taxpayers’ monies.

The Government has been urged to give thousands of businesses special funding after Britain confirmed ‘hard Brexit’ plans that could cause widespread job losses across Ireland.

Three Government ministers have denied Ireland is deliberately talking down the Northern Irish economy as part of an attempt to convince firms to move south due to Brexit.

Independent Alliance ministers have dropped demands to abolish prescription charges and increase the fuel allowance in the budget, writes Juno McEnroe of the Irish Examiner.