Minister for finance John Bruton wanted to withdraw Irish troops from peacekeeping in Lebanon in 1987 because Ireland was not being financially reimbursed sufficiently by the UN, writes Seán McCárthaigh

The multi-millionaire businessman, Larry Goodman, attempted to squeeze further concessions out of the Charles Haughey-led government in 1987, despite having already secured one of the largest ever state grants for a private company.

The new National Lottery had major concerns in 1987 that its success could be threatened by a rival lottery being set up by two charities which it feared was exploiting legal loopholes restricting the size of jackpots.

Bertie Ahern sought to reverse a decision of the previous government to sell the former CIE group of hotels. This was within months of his taking office in his first ministerial appointment.

Former tánaiste Ray MacSharry has described the horror of being caught up in the terror attack in the French city of Nice and of seeing dead bodies among the chaotic scenes along the seafront, write Juno McEnroe.

The man responsible for the Nice terror attack is “probably linked to radical Islam” as France mourns the third massacre of its civilians in 18 months.

Former tánaiste Ray MacSharry has described the horror of being caught up in the terror attack in the French city of Nice and of seeing dead bodies among the chaotic scenes along the seafront.

I HAD a dreadful thought during the budget. It occurred to me that I had worked on or around every budget, in one capacity or another, since 1983.

When does a show trial become a no-show trial? When precious little new shows up to justify the effort involved.

Prince Charles wished the students of IT Sligo “good luck in your exams” as he left the college following his short tour.

THE haughty arrogance of Jean Claude Trichet, who last week snubbed Ireland’s banking inquiry and insisted that Oireachtas members attend upon him at his venue of choice, is trumped only by his gross insensitivity to the memory of the former finance minister, the late Brian Lenihan.

SINN FÉIN have always insisted that their version of the past is at least as valid as any other — no matter what they imagine it to be. 

A powerful Dáil committee is seeking to delete the names of politicians accused of having Ansbacher-linked accounts from the official record and haul in a TD who named them for a private dressing-down.

Former tánaiste Mary Harney last night denied she halted a probe into offshore tax accounts because prominent PD Des O’Malley’s name was on a list of people allegedly involved and that every opportunity had been afforded the investigation to finish its work.

The selection of an Irishman to head up the Agriculture portfolio at the European Commission will be seen as a major feather in the cap for the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, following a pretty fruitful week on the European front for a Government about to come under renewed attack from the Opposition.

Phil Hogan has been confirmed as the new European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development in the 28-member Commission named by president-elect Jean-Claude Juncker in Brussels this morning.

Former Environment Minister Phil Hogan could find out today which job he is getting in the new European Commission.

ON radio yesterday morning, Olivia O’Leary, who chronicled his era in power as a political reporter, recalled the time she danced with Albert Reynolds. He was, she said, a great dancer.

Urban dwellers may not be aware of the importance of the EU’s Leader programme to our economy.

Ten heads of state or government and 100 ministers sharpened their political teeth in the European Parliament, giving them an advantage in EU politics, but it is a trend Ireland has not followed.

Thirty years back, we had fewer skills and less education, yet the social divide wasn’t as severe, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

“EVENTS, my dear boy, events.” Harold Macmillan’s truism recast as cliché, ranks with the often inaccurately quoted aphorism of Enoch Powell about all political careers ending in failure as the great barstool platitudes on politics.

The Irish public has been left hanging when it comes to getting a full explanation about who knew what and when in the phone-tapping scandal of the 1980s, writes Ryle Dwyer.

NOTE: A correction to this article is published at the end of the text.

The two public interestdirectors in Permanent TSB have announced that they will not be seeking re-election to the board.

Fianna Fáil has accused the Government of not tackling the issue of cheap alcohol and has said it is having a devastating effect on public health.

A director of Permanent TSB has described as “an egregious breach of court process” a court bid by the bank and a group of directors to prevent any action aimed at disqualifying any of the directors from involvement in the management of a company.

The appearance before the Oireachtas Finance Committee of the public interest directors of the pillar banks shed much needed light on a grey and politically motivated area of the nationalisation of the banks.

Permanent TSB director Ray MacSharry says the bank is not in the business of softening its attitude on mortgage arrears.

Permanent TSB has 170,000 mortgages in arrears with a total value of €7.9bn.

Public interest directors on the boards of bailed-out banks have been summoned to the Oireachtas finance committee.

Public interest directors on the boards of bailed-out banks have been summoned to the Oireachtas finance committee, it was confirmed today.

Public interest directors in bailed-out banks are to be hauled before the Oireachtas finance committee to explain their duties and roles, amid criticism of lenders.

Public interest directors on the boards of bailed-out banks have earned over €1m since being appointed but have never met or communicated with the finance minister about their roles.

A public appetite for a warts-and-all banking inquiry is growing.

The news that the giant global investment manager Franklin Templeton is the biggest holder of Irish government debt outside of the IMF and EU has put the economy in a spotlight before a series of crucial ECB/EU meetings.

Mitchells & Butlers — the British-based pub and restaurant owner, in which John Magnier and JPMcManus hold a significant stake — has reported a 4.4% year-on-year increase in sales for the first 17 weeks of its current financial year.