The failure of successive governments to support Irish companies in going global while offering every support to multinationals coming to these shores  has been strongly criticised by the head  of the Irish Stock Exchange.

There’s good news this month on the hospitality front for West Cork’s Skibbereen.

A state group set up to protect public funds was kept out of the room on guarantee night despite being completely opposed to a blanket bank protection and warning Anglo was “an accident waiting to happen” for over a year.

Former taoiseach Brian Cowen is expected this week to back previous suggestions that Ireland was “bounced” into a bailout.

US president Barack Obama has said that he authorised the attempt to rescue hostage Luke Somers in Yemen because the US had information that the British-born photojournalist’s life was in imminent danger.

A British-born photographer held hostage by Al Qaida in Yemen has been killed in a failed rescue attempt, his sister has said.

The mother and brother of a British-born photojournalist have appealed to his al-Qaida captors to spare him, saying he “was only trying to do good”.

Al-Qaida has threatened to murder a British-born photographer held hostage by the extremist Islamic group, according to a terrorist monitoring organisation.

ISN’T Culture Night fantastic? I don’t know what it was like down your way, but throughout Dublin there was just an amazing buzz last Friday night. Queues everywhere to get into places like St Patrick’s Cathedral and the Dublinia exhibition, and throngs of people in the streets. There was an incredible downpour around half seven, but it didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits.

Mayo 3-8 Westmeath 1-13

Currow 0-13 St Brendan’s 3-13 (AET)

Despite reports that newlyweds Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were bored on their honeymoon in Ireland, they have expressed an interest in making a return visit to Limerick when the rapper plays a gig in Dublin next week.

Irish Stock Exchange boss Deirdre Somers has said a strong performance last year shows that the Dublin exchange remains a vibrant, growing business.

Less than 48 hours ahead of a strike by its cabin crew, Aer Lingus has warned the staff that more than 300 of their jobs would be lost if the rosters they are seeking were to be implemented.

There are times in The Menu’s life when a prolonged sojourn in Sheep’s Head is the only repair for his poor benighted soul.

NTMA retirees receive more in their annual pension payments than over 70% of staff receive in their salaries.

The Irish Stock Exchange has launched a platform to help aviation companies raise money by trading debt instruments.

The Government has scrapped stamp duty on the transfer of shares on the Enterprise Shares Market (ESM) in an effort to boost investment in Irish companies.

Austin Stacks 3-12 Feale Rangers 0-3

The Irish Stock Exchange reported a 35% increase in 2012 pre-tax profit to €6.3m, driven by cost savings over the 12-month period.

Tolka Rovers 2 College Corinthians 2

FORMER Taoiseach John Bruton keeps grabbing the headlines. Two weeks ago, on this page, I deplored his intervention into the abortion debate, one that could have caused unnecessary difficulty for Enda Kenny, the first Fine Gael leader to follow Bruton as Taoiseach.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte has ruled out removing the Government’s €500,000 pay cap on bankers’ salaries.

Bank of Ireland chief executive Richie Boucher is the right man for the job, according to its public interest directors, Joe Walsh and Tom Considine.

The head of the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) has called on Government to improve its enterprise policy, or risk missing out on a new generation of Irish plcs.

The Irish Stock Exchange has managed a decent start to the year, but news that another top Irish company is considering switching its listing to London could prove a headache for chief executive Deirdre Somers, says John Daly

Exceptional charges dragged profits down by nearly €1 million at the Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) last year, but the market still saw primary business increase and overall annual revenues rise by 4%.

Drug addicts should not be put on methadone for years at a time, written off and left on the sidelines of society, Russell Brand has said.

The Irish Stock Exchange (ISE) has established a new listing market for securities, as part of a joint venture with its Maltese counterpart.

Ireland will probably need another European bailout according to the former chief executive of the National Treasury Management Agency, Michael Somers.

The former CEO of the National Treasury Management Agency Michael Somers has said Ireland will probably need another bailout.

The NTMA’s successful bond swap this week will have done the country’s image no harm at a time when agency boss John Corrigan is helping Ireland claw its way back to a form of international market respectability, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

Four men have been sentenced for their role in an attack on a man in a shopping centre in front of numerous shopkeepers and members of the public.

A man who was one of a group of three that slashed 128 tyres because of “some sort of complaint they had about capitalism” has been given a suspended sentence.

CAVAN came from three points down in the final six minutes to salvage a draw against Westmeath in yesterday’s TG4 All-Ireland Ladies IFC final at Croke Park.

DERMOT McCARTHY is around long enough to know that this week’s controversy about the extraordinary pension and pay-off he received in July will pass.

A MEATH man was left waiting “for hours” in A&E on several occasions despite being in severe agony, an inquest had heard.

AIB has approached some candidates to take on the role of chief executive but they turned down an offer due to pay.

BOHEMIANS shook off a winter of financial discontent with a spring in their step to easily outplay Bray Wanderers in their opening Airtricity Premier Division game of the season at the Carlisle Grounds.

WATERFORD IT atoned for their league final defeat to IT Tralee by knocking the champions out of the Trench Cup in Belfield yesterday.

PORTADOWN recorded a deserved 2-1 victory over 10-man Bohemians in the Setanta Sports Cup first round, first leg clash at Dalymount Park last night.

The former chief executive of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has said homeowners could be facing the prospect of having to pass on their debts to their children.