It’s Fine Gael and Labour’s turn to buy votes now. And FF thought they were good at it?

The Government has moved to play down comments by US president Barack Obama that American companies are using legal loopholes to save tax by setting up headquarters in Ireland.

In the course of a strong attack on American businesses suspected of moving off shore to avoid taxes, US president Barrack Obama specifically mentioned Ireland as one of the havens during a television interview on the business network CNBC on Thursday.

The public is split on whether it can stomach a tax to help cut the country’s sugar addiction — despite nine in 10 people accepting the move is key to winning Ireland’s obesity battle.

Popcorn lovers are being forced to shell out for the pleasure of eating their favourite movie snack, with cinema chains charging a mark-up of 700%.