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ELECTION 2016
Fine Gael is scrambling to explain projected spending powers for the next government after its economic blueprint for the country was overshadowed with questions about holes in future budget plans.
Some of the country’s most prominent business leaders have warned against squandering the country’s vulnerable economic recovery in the general election.
There was little sign of an election in the suburban streets of Bishopstown in Cork, where one of the newest candidates to be added to the Fine Gael ticket was already two weeks into her canvass.
Let’s get one thing straight. There’s talk of “keeping a recovery going”. There’s talk of what will be in people’s pockets in five years time: more jobs, more pay and more public services. It’s dream stuff.
There is a sense that Fine Gael would abandon economic caution simply to get back into power, writes
Imagine if a politician aspiring to be in the next government stood up and made the following statement to his or her potential voters. “The Irish economy is now in a strong recovery phase after an absolutely horrendous period, during which most citizens of the country endured an unacceptable level of hardship and pain...
IRELAND
Finance Minister Michael Noonan knew of abuse allegations at a foster home in the southeast as far back as 20 years ago, he has revealed. Mr Noonan last night confirmed that he received a letter written by the foster father in the controversy directly to himself in 1996, as then minister for health.
A young child has died from the flu virus at a Dublin hospital. The HSE has confirmed the child had been suffering from H1N1 flu virus, also known as swine flu.
The fear of getting penalty points by drivers last year resulted in the busiest year on record for the National Car Test with almost 1.5m inspections carried out.
There is a warning for female drivers after a number of car hijackings and robberies. The incidents, which happened in quiet and isolated areas, were reported to Gardaí last month.
WORLD
Planes landing in the UK from areas affected by Zika are to be sprayed with insecticide as part of the UK government’s response to the outbreak. A pregnant woman is among the seven people identified as being infected with the zika virus in Spain after visiting affected countries.
WikiLeaks founder says he could walk free if group backs his case. A United Nations working group is believed to have decided that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is being unlawfully detained.
SPORT
So much has been written about the loss of Paul O’Connell to the Ireland cause in terms of the former captain’s leadership, that it is easy to forget there will also be a direct impact on the Irish lineout. Meanwhile, Peter Jackson looks at the best of the new generation, each on the verge of breaking into the international arena
Cork hurling selector Diarmuid O’Sullivan revealed how he trains with the present squad to teach the players the “dark arts” of the game. O’Sullivan, who is part of new manager Kieran Kingston’s backroom team, has been “astounded” as to how the game has progressed in the six years since his inter-county retirement and while labelling the commitment of the current crop as “incredible”, he says the “dark arts” have become forgotten tricks of the trade.
BUSINESS
Ireland must avoid the prospect of any more “bubbles” developing in its economy in the future, Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici has cautioned.
The controversial merger of Tyco and Johnson Controls will yield significant benefits for the newly combined company in Cork when the deal completes later this year, its head of its Irish operations says.
ANALYSIS
It’s a boon for Republican and populist candidates like the Iowa winner and his rival, Donald Trump, that they are disliked by a press of which many people are wary, says
LIFESTYLE
Is your marriage so devoid of spark that you wonder why you are still together? Does your partner irritate you a lot ?If so, says Georgina O’Halloran, you may be in a zombie marriage.
VIDEO
Ireland will be missing some heavyweight frontliners but that does not mean their pack are about to get bullied by Wales when their RBS 6 Nations title defence begins in Dublin on Sunday.
VIRAL
An ancient wildebeest-like mammal shared a feature with herd dinosaurs – who lived tens of millions of years before it – that was, well, a bit bizarre.
It is big, hairy, and if one sinks its fangs in you, it will burn, burn, burn like a ring of fire. Scientists have named a new species of tarantula after country music star Johnny Cash.
TECHNOW
: Uncharted 4 is destined to be one of the biggest PS4 games ever, so it's fitting that it's getting a special edition console.
A lot of stuff happens in Star Wars The Force Awakens but that doesn't mean you can't tell it all in 60 seconds with some skill
GoPro launched more new products over the last 18 months than ever before, and the result has been falling profits for the action camera makers.
SHOWBIZ
Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor’s children were distinctly unimpressed by Justin Bieber’s cameo in their film star parents’ latest movie, Zoolander No 2.
MOST READ RIGHT NOW
Finance Minister Michael Noonan knew of abuse allegations at a foster home in the southeast as far back as 20 years ago, he has revealed. Mr Noonan last night confirmed that he received a letter written by the foster father in the controversy directly to himself in 1996, as then minister for health.
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