FIVE former taoisigh were among the mourners who attended Garret FitzGerald’s funeral — three Fianna Fáil office-holders, Brian Cowen, Bertie Ahern and Albert Reynolds, along with John Bruton and Liam Cosgrave of Fine Gael.

THE independent body responsible for informing the public on referenda has been given a record budget for the second round of the Nice Treaty campaign.

An Irish business chief today underscored the importance for industrial investment of reversing last year’s shock referendum rejection in Ireland of the Nice Treaty for the expansion of the European Union.

Former Chief Justice Thomas Finlay is to head up the Referendum Commission for the Nice Treaty.