Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan asked doctors whether the stress of coping with the country’s economic crisis was to blame for a cancerous growth in his pancreas, he said today.

Finance Minister Brian Lenihan today confirmed he would undergo treatment to remove cancerous tissue in his pancreas.

The Social Affairs Minister Mary Hanafin says she can't commit to a reversal of the axing of the Christmas bonus this year.

President Mary McAleese is due to begin a three-day state visit to Romania today.

A CRACKDOWN on social welfare fraud saved the Government €238m since the start of the year, according to figures released by the Department of Social Affairs yesterday.