The auction of nuclear power firm British Energy suffered a blow today after it emerged one of the potential suitors had pulled out of the running.

Nuclear power firm British Energy today dismissed a series of takeover approaches as not “representing shareholder value”.

French industrial group Suez confirmed today it was no longer involved in talks over a possible bid for UK nuclear power provider British Energy.

Five Irish internationals have made an early exit from the West of Ireland championship at Rosses Point.

A ferry which ran into trouble in high winds in the Irish Sea has run aground at Blackpool, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said tonight.

Nuclear power company British Energy faced more output problems today after complications during a planned inspection at its Hartlepool site.

LEADING shipping companies regularly operating on the Irish Sea are paying staff members as little as €1.31 an hour.

AN IRISH union inspector got his first full meal in 36 hours yesterday as a dispute between a Russian-crewed ship and its owners moves into a fourth day.

AN Irish trade union inspector and his British colleague feared for their lives and were forced to barricade themselves and the Russian crew of a ship into a section of the vessel after a dispute with the ship’s owners.

A VESSEL supplying one of the country’s leading supermarkets with much of its stock is to be exposed by a trade union for paying crew members as little as $1.31 (€1.01) per hour.

Nuclear power generator British Energy was given a jolt from the City today after revealing a fresh blow in its battle to improve output.

A group representing councils in the Republic and the North today urged Tony Blair to bin proposals to build a new generation of nuclear power plants in the UK.

Nuclear power generator British Energy lowered its target for output today as it continued on work to counter “under-investment” in prior years.

Ferry group Norfolkline is closing in on agreement to buy ferry operator Norse Merchant and its subsidiaries.

The UK’s second biggest port operator said today it remained on track for a £780m (€1.1bn) takeover by the owner of Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport.

NorseMerchant Ferries has secured the charter of the roll-on/roll-off ferry Lembitu for its Belfast-Heysham services.

The battle for control of the UK’s second-biggest ports firm intensified today after Peel Holdings spent £103.8m (€149.4m) for a higher stake.

British Energy shares were back trading today after the nuclear power generator completed a life-saving financial restructuring.

The financial restructuring of British Energy was finally completed today after the nuclear generator received court approval for its overhaul.

British Energy today said it had been given the all-clear to extend the deadline for a life-saving financial restructuring.

Disgruntled shareholders in troubled nuclear generator British Energy today moved to try to block its life-saving restructuring package.

Mersey Docks and Harbour Company, Britain's number 2 port operator behind Associated British Ports has reported a small increase in underlying full year profit, in line with market expectations, and said although the economic climate remains uncertain it is well positioned to benefit from any upturn.

A major air and sea search was launched today after a 52-year-old man was reported missing from a ferry.

Troubled nuclear group British Energy was today handed a one-year extension to a £650m (€946m) emergency loan agreement with the British government in a bid to tackle its financial problems.

A man from Blackpool appeared in court in Northern Ireland today on drugs charges following the seizure of cocaine with a street value of £30,000 at the weekend.

Two men were being questioned by police today after cocaine was seized at Belfast docks.