Consumers faced mobile phone charge increases of up to 20% as a direct result of the acquisition of O2 Ireland by Three four years ago, a report by the representative body of EU telecom regulators has found.

The body which oversees disputes over tax demands by Revenue has expressed concern about its ability to deal with cases following a near doubling in new appeals.

A microscopic parasite that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal illness has been detected in the drinking water supplies of two areas in north Cork

Farmers will have to fence off cattle to prevent them accessing rivers and streams as part of new measures to improve water quality.

The pension watchdog has expressed concern that many workers are finding themselves with inadequate pension provision as a result of leaving it until close to retirement age to check out their entitlements, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

Researchers are raising fresh concerns about the risks of pumping raw sewage into the waters around Ireland.

Former politicians owe the State €42,300 as a result of overpayments to pensions, by Seán McCárthaigh.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

There must be a general election in the air…..as TDs’ attendance for votes in the Dáil has dropped significantly in recent months.

€1m military vessel released in Cork; Jamie Carragher has a go at Raheem Sterling; and up to 21,000 big data jobs could be created in next 4 years. These are some of the latest and most read news on irishexaminer.com this lunchtime.

It seems there were major disagreements within Garret FitzGerald’s government in the early 1980s when it came to making a decision about what to do with struggling industries in the Cork Harbour area.

In documents released under the 30-year rule, here are the stories that have emerged from State papers.

By Sean McCarthaigh

By Sean McCarthaigh

A two-tier market is opening up in Ireland despite activity up in almost all counties in 2013, reports Seán McCárthaigh.

The Irish Examiner has received a major award for its role in promoting road safety.

A shortage of supply is driving up house prices with sales in Dublin skewing national figures and talk of a recovery premature, according to analysts.

A study of employment appeal rulings shows disparity in outcomes between Irish and foreign nationals, writes Seán McCárthaigh

Pat Kenny and Sean O'Rourke go head to head over the airwaves.

A firesale auction of repossessed homes and businesses had to be cancelled when protesters took over a salesroom.

The latest Allsop Space distressed properties auction has been cancelled after disruptions by a group of protesters became too loud.

I refer to your front page article on May 28 in which your reporters, Juno McEnroe and Seán McCárthaigh, claim that I had asked families to risk incurring penalties in relation to non-payment of the family home (property) tax.

The lack of an appeal mechanism for those refused a property tax waiver has left councils and owners disappointed, writes Seán McCárthaigh

Alcohol market continues to decline, writes Seán McCárthaigh

I read with interest the piece from Sean McCarthaigh that a cashless society would save us €1 billion (April 5).

Asking prices for homes in Dublin have risen for the first time in six years, according to the latest Daft.ie house prices report, while a MyHome.ie report found average Dublin prices fell by 4.8%.

While the dramatic fall in road deaths over the past six years has been impressive, we face a harder task to maintain progress under the latest strategy, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

Young readers are turning over a new leaf every day, with children’s book sales on the rise.

Information Commissioner Emily O’Reilly has called on the Government to speed up election promises made to voters to introduce major reforms and extensions to freedom of information legislation.

Seán McCárthaigh’s report (Irish Examiner, Feb 11) on the predicted increase in cancer cases and the danger that cutbacks might impact negatively on those that fall ill to the disease makes for worrying reading.

ONE of the most thought-provoking items recently printed in an Irish newspaper was that of Sean McCarthaigh, in the Irish Examiner on October 11, 2011.

Denis O’Brien doggedly pursued business and wealth, so he is unlikely to give up on his challenge to Moriarty’s findings, says Seán McCárthaigh

WHATEVER about Seán McCárthaigh’s view of the Ombudsman’s report (‘State has again become our enemy,’ November 10), it is important that opinion is informed by facts.

A MEDICAL inquiry into two surgeons responsible for the removal of the wrong kidney from a young boy at Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin was dramatically halted yesterday after the committee invoked a new piece of legislation to terminate proceedings.

Fr Naughton’s first known victim still suffers ‘catastrophic’ effects, writes Seán McCárthaigh

Visionary or misguided, the €1.5bn plans for Ballsbridge are dead in the water, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

Cork threatens Shannon’s title as the state’s second busiest airport after 15 years of successive growth, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

Ryanair, US routes and independence from Dublin are all key issues for the airport’s survival, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

Cuts in funding, Ryanair’s dominance and the economic downturn cast doubt on the sustainability of our airports, writes Seán McCárthaigh.

Regional airports may have to look to international destinations to bring in some public service obligation funding, finds Seán McCárthaigh.

Seán McCárthaigh recounts some of the evidence given in the witness box by Celia Larkin at the Mahon Tribunal yesterday.

I WAS puzzled by the one-page feature (Irish Examiner, October 23) in which Seán McCárthaigh uncritically took on board the faulting by Colm O’Gorman of our clergy for not having mandatory reporting of sex-abuse allegations against priests and other church workers.

Seán McCárthaigh

Seán McCárthaigh