It’S just getting better and better for Irish horticulture. Hot on the heels of the World Association of Floral Artists World Flower Show during the summer, last month Ireland played host to the International Garden Centre Congress.

On Saturday last, on Dublin’s O’Connell St, a young woman with a group seeking abortion rights offered me a leaflet.

If ever there was a tipping point in the national historic drama of Irish abortion laws, this latest horror is it, writes Rachel Doyle

The Irish State is still treating women as "second class citizens" according to a Labour Party TD, who said the restrictive nature of abortion laws passed last year is putting women through "torment".

St Mary’s Church of Ireland on Jacknell Street, Dungarvan Co Waterford is the setting for a pop-up, vintage tea rooms as part of a fund-raising, afternoon event for the charity, ‘To Russia with Love’. 

RACHEL DOYLE was elected President of the International Garden Centre Association (IGCA) last October.

A near 6% monthly fall in home loan approvals is “indicative of a dysfunctional market”, an industry representative has stated.

The Irish Banking Federation reported a 16% increase in the volume of mortgages approved but brokers claim that the market remains deeply dysfunctional.

Less than one-third of Magdalene Laundry survivors have received compensation from the State — one year after Taoiseach Enda Kenny apologised to victims in the Dáil.

A “major intervention” has been called for to address the mortgage crisis, despite new figures showing increases in approval levels.

Three in four home loans in long-term arrears are not being restructured by the banks despite lenders having a range of mortgage solutions to offer borrowers.

A rise in the number of house repossessions is likely, in the coming quarters, as a means of stemming the strategic non-payment of outstanding home loans, Davy Stockbrokers has warned.

Bank of Ireland hasestablished a new €2bn fund aimed at first-time buyers and people looking to move house following the news that house prices have been increasing.

The banks are massaging their mortgage lending figures in an effort to meet their targets, according to members of the country’s leading brokers’ organisations.

ECB chief Mario Draghi announced that a further rate cut could be on the way as the eurozone economy remains fragile.

ECB chief Mario Draghi announced that a further rate cut could be on the way as the eurozone economy remains fragile.

The latest Central Bank figures show that domestic banks and households continue to deleverage, with mortgage and business lending falling and deposits increasing.

The Central Bank are going to be closely monitoring how the new code of conduct on mortgage arrears is used by banks and expect to see a significant increase in restructuring within weeks.

The total level of personal loans and mortgages held by Irish people has shrunk every month for the last 39 months, while savings have been on the increase over the same period, according to figures released by the Central Bank.

The main banks are unlikely to meet previously stated mortgage lending predictions for this year, one industry representative has warned, despite new approval figures suggesting signs of market growth.

State-owned Permanent TSB will completely overhaul the interest rates it charges on its mortgage products from tomorrow.

New data shows mortgage lenders are increasingly entering into more realistic repayment arrangements with struggling customers.

Justice for Magdalenes (JFM) has expressed hope that the McAleese report published later today will lead to an apology and redress for those who suffered in the Magdalene Laundries.

Loan demand for all aspects of household credit is expected to increase during the first quarter of this year.

The volume of new mortgage lending increased by over 10%, on a year-on-year basis, during the third quarter of the year — the first time any quarter has shown an annualised rise for six years.

The Central Bank report on Irish credit conditions drew widespread support from business organisations.

Goodbody Stockbrokers analyst Eamon Hughes says AIB will have to hike its interest rate on standard variable rate mortgages by a further 1% to 1.5% to return the bank to profitability and enable it to start lending again.

The monthly banking figures released by the Central Bank gave mixed signals about the health of the overall economy.

Banks lent less to businesses and homes in the first three months of this year as they fear a further deterioration in the economy.

Mortgage interest rates were significantly lower than the eurozone average, in January, according to latest figures from the Central Bank.

THE European Central Bank is studying ways to reduce Ireland’s €3.1bn-a-year bill to pay off €30bn in promissory notes used to bail out Anglo Irish Bank, now the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation.

MORTGAGE holders were disappointed that the European Central Bank chose to hold its benchmark interest rate at 1%, dashing hopes of a rate cut.

THE state should cover the cost of any future drop in the value of new properties being purchased, a leading economist has said.

HOMEOWNERS who bought during the boom will see their mortgage repayments come down as interest relief increases.

AN interest rate cut could be on the cards for early next year resulting in lower mortgage repayments for many homeowners.

FOUR out of five mortgage applications are being refused by financial institutions, according to a survey of brokers.

IRELAND is gaining further credibility, according to European Central Bank (ECB) chief Jean Claude Trichet, who yesterday signalled that interest rates are on hold for now.

IT could be 2014 before the European Central Bank (ECB) raises rates again, according to an Irish Examiner survey.

DESPITE figures that reveal a rising number of cash- strapped homeowners are falling into arrears, Bank of Ireland has signalled it will raise its lending rate for mortgage holders.

HOMEOWNERS could be hit with further interest rate hikes later this year, followed by two more next year.

THE number of mortgages given out by banks this year is expected to fall to levels last seen in 1971.

HOUSEOWNERS are facing a further rise in the cost of mortgage repayments next month.