An air and sea search for three kayakers reported missing off the Co Wexford coast has been called off after they were found safe and well.

Business leaders in Waterford have hit back at criticism over the Government's plan to invest €5m in the region's airport.

The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is "very happy" to offer a full apology to women affected by the CervicalCheck.scandal.

Deciding how to spend the money raised through taxation and borrowing is, in the main, a matter of the political priorities of the people elected to make the decisions

Glanbia, Coolmore Stud, Dawn Meats, as well as other investors are being asked to put up €5m to help extend the runway at Waterford Airport, with the central government and local authorities stumping up a further €7m, to restart commercial flights in the region.

A decision on the future of Waterford Airport is "near completion", according to the Department of Transport.

An independent review on the future of troubled Waterford Airport has been completed and sent to Transport Minister, Shane Ross.

A report into a fatal plane crash in Co Waterford in March of this year has found that the probable cause was a collision with a tree during an attempted forced landing following an engine stoppage in flight.

The search for the remaining two crew members of Irish Coast Guard helicopter R116 will resume today after bad weather hampered efforts over the weekend.

Flights to the UK are to resume at Waterford Regional Airport after a year-long hiatus which has seen no scheduled commercial services at the facility.

A renewable energy firm refused planning for a solar farm close to Waterford Airport has appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála.

The Irish Coast Guard has confirmed that two investigations will be carried out into the death of their first ever volunteer to be killed in the line of duty.

The last transmission by a pilot killed in a light aircraft crash last month contained the words “going to end up in a field,” investigators have established.

Conor Kane takes advantage of the new Waterford-London route and enjoys a day trip in the city.

A friend of the pilot who was killed in an air crash on Saturday evening and who witnessed the aftermath said yesterday no one could have survived the impact, which occurred just minutes after take-off.

An investigation is underway after a man was killed in a plane crash in County Waterford yesterday evening.

Ryanair is throwing a party for its 30th birthday.

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended the decision to go with the bank guarantee in September 2008; US billionaire Donald Trump has finally won his battle against plans for a windfarm near Doonbeg; Harry Shearer, voice of Mr Burns in The Simpsons will be back in the role of the evil nuclear power plant boss. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com

Former Taoiseach Brian Cowen has defended the decision to go with the bank guarantee in September 2008; mother of student who has been missing since he was swept into the sea at Baltimore last week has made an emotional appeal for more divers to help find her son; Harry Shearer, voice of Mr Burns in The Simpsons will be back in the role of the evil nuclear power plant boss. Just some of the latest and most read stories on irishexaminer.com.

Here’s a run down of today’s business headlines.

Waterford Airport’s future looks secure following confirmation that flights on the Waterford-London/Luton route are to resume at the end of April.

One in every five people in Ireland is afraid of flying, according to the European Aviation College, which is helping people with severe aviophobia overcome their fear.

Should a ferry ever be engulfed in flames off the Irish coastline with a threat to the lives of dozens of passengers and crew, those who may be involved in the emergency response have a flavour of what to expect following a major training exercise yesterday.

A joint Irish naval and coastguard operation has succeeded in securing the safety of 13 crew on board a stricken bulk carrier drifting without power in stormy seas off the Co Cork coast.

Passengers arriving to and preparing to depart from Waterford Airport got an unexpected bonus when they were serenaded with some high-quality singing by dozens of barbershop crooners.

The new chief executive of Waterford Airport has identified the need to expand the facility’s range of destinations, particularly London, as a priority.

Four fishermen were plucked from the water at Tramore Bay by search and rescue services yesterday after their fishing vessel capsized, near the spot where three brothers died while fishing in June.

Shannon Airport’s chief executive-designate yesterday spoke of “the new belief” since the airport was freed from the control of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

A lone yachtsman has been airlifted to safety, after his boat got into difficulty off the coast of East Cork overnight.

The Waterford-based Coastguard Helicopter has brought two casualties to hospital today - one, a crew member from a fishing vessel off the south coast, the other a hillwalker in Co Tipperary.

Two men have been taken to hospital this morning after a fishing vessel capsized off the coast of Co Waterford.

The chief executive of Waterford Airport, Graham Doyle, has expressed his disappointment after Aer Arann announced they are to discontinue their services at the airport from early January 2013.

Aer Arann, operating as Aer Lingus Regional, is to suspend its services at Waterford Airport with effect from next January.

An airplane has gone off the runway at Waterford Airport.

BUSINESS and tourism in the south-east received a boost yesterday with the news that Flybe is to operate a new route connecting Waterford Airport with Birmingham.

INVESTIGATIONS are under way into the cause of a light aircraft crash which injured a flight instructor and his pupil yesterday after the craft plunged 2,000 feet from the sky.

The family of a fisherman missing off the south-east coast face another agonising night after the search operation had to be suspended.

An air and sea search resumed today for a fisherman missing off the south east coast after his boat overturned.

A LIFELONG fisherman who celebrated his 64th birthday on December 30 is feared drowned after the small boat he was fishing on sank off the south-east coast at Duncannon, Co Wexford, yesterday morning.

Navy divers are due to join air and sea teams tomorrow in the search for a fisherman feared drowned off the south east coast after his boat sank.

Flights at Dublin airport are due to resume this morning.