FP's Peter Foster: One step closer to European superstate

Predictably, Fianna Fail â€" the party that has dominated Ireland's politics for eight decades and presided over its spectacular 2008 financial meltdown â€" was tossed out of office at the weekend. This leaves former opposition party Fine Gael to put ...

Read more at: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/02/28/fps-peter-foster-one-step-closer-to-european-superstate/

Ireland parties talk coalition, seek bailout changes

By Padraic Halpin and Carmel Crimmins DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's opposition parties were to kick-start coalition talks on Monday after an election win they said gave them a mandate to renegotiate an EU-IMF rescue deal they fear will bankrupt the ...

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/28/us-ireland-vote-idUSTRE71O1PP20110228

Euro Declines to Almost Three-Week Low Versus Yen After Ireland Election

“We've got a political shift in Ireland and Germany and a banking system that's hooked on European Central Bank cash,” said Robert Rennie, Sydney-based chief currency strategist at Westpac Banking Corp., Australia's second-largest lender. ...

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-27/euro-is-near-two-week-low-versus-yen-on-ireland-vote-middle-east-unrest.html

Irish Govt Talks May Conclude Quickly,Focus On EU Meetings

In November, Ireland became the second euro-zone member to seek external help when investors stopped buying its government's bonds. The outgoing government negotiated EUR67.5 billion in loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, ...

Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110227-701608.html

Ireland's PM-elect sees compromise on bailout rate

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's prime minister in waiting Enda Kenny on Saturday said he believed the European Union and International Monetary Fund might compromise on the interest rate charged on an 85 billion euro bailout. Kenny, whose Fine Gael party ...

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/26/us-ireland-vote-bailout-idUSTRE71P2TO20110226

Ireland's Ruling Party Headed for Crushing Defeat, Early Poll Shows

Mr. Cowen has become for many a hated symbol of the policies that led to Ireland's current predicament and to its precipitous fall from prosperity to ruin. Unemployment is up to 13.8 percent (it was as low as 4.2 percent as recently as 2005); ...

Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/world/europe/27ireland.html?src=mv

Ireland at a fork in the road

Tomorrow's game at Murrayfield is one in which Ireland, too, desperately need to click back into gear. After the unpalatably high counts in both errors and penalties that were registered in the first two RBS 6 Nations games of 2011 against Italy and ...

Read more at: http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/ireland-at-a-fork-in-the-road-146585.html

Ireland Winding Down 2 Banks With Deposit Shift

By CHRIS V. NICHOLSON Ireland took a major step Thursday to bring the curtain down on two of its most troubled banks â€" Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society â€" by transferring 12.2 billion euros in deposits to two larger institutions. ...

Read more at: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/02/25/ireland-winding-down-2-banks-with-deposit-shift/

Dolphins GM: Chad Henne Our Quarterback 'Right Now'

By Andy Kent INDIANAPOLIS -- Chad Henne is still the Dolphins quarterback, Miami GM Jeff Ireland said at the NFL Combine Thursday. That is, at least, until a better option comes along. "Right now, our starter is Chad Henne," Ireland told the media ...

Read more at: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/dolphins-gm-chad-henne-our-quarterback-right-now/

Ireland's Enda Kenny poised for electoral victory

It's hard not to like the former school teacher who traded on his friendly pub manner to become leader of Ireland's Fine Gael party, which has played second fiddle to its rival Fianna Fail for much of the past eight decades. ...

Read more at: http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9LIE9EG0.htm

Kenny says FG ministers would avoid constituency work for 100 days

Promising to “hit the ground running” with a strategy to restore Ireland's international reputation, Mr Kenny also said Irish ambassadors would be recalled from abroad temporarily for an extensive briefing. “I actually see the emergence from this ...

Read more at: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0224/1224290733754.html

Ireland's predictably historic election

Meanwhile, it's not just Gerry Adams who's fuzzy on economics Fine Gael's Enda Kenny weathered a leadership challenge last year, and is now set to become Ireland's taoiseach. Photograph: Cathal McNaughton/Reuters The word "unprecedented" has lost all ...

Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/23/ireland-election-fianna-fail-labour-fine-gael

Ireland: A change too far

The scale of Ireland's collective lost financial gamble is staggering. After years of rapid growth, during which a bloated construction industry accounted for a quarter of GDP and Irish banks sank nearly a third of their lending in construction ...

Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/23/ireland-change-too-far-editorial

Emergency borrowing from ECB still at high level

The expected sale of assets in Ireland's two most troubled banks is behind the spike, a source told Reuters on Saturday. (For story click [ID:nLDE71I08C]) ECB Executive Board member Juergen Stark said on Monday the rise was due to developments in ...

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/22/ecb-marginal-idUSECB00123620110222

Ireland weighs risks of 'burning the bondholders'

By Jennifer Hughes When Ireland's weakest banks were found to be behind a surprise spike in emergency borrowing from the European Central Bank last week, the market reaction was perhaps surprising: it was generally relief. Speculation about who might ...

Read more at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/106795aa-3dec-11e0-99ac-00144feabdc0.html?ftcamp=rss

Northern Ireland police to be censured over 1971 pub bombing

Police in Northern Ireland are to be severely criticised over the handling of one of the biggest atrocities during the Troubles in which 15 people were killed in a loyalist bomb attack. A report by Northern Ireland's police ombudsman is expected to ...

Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/feb/21/northern-ireland-police-mcgurks-bar

History-making Irish vote shot through with anger

By RAPHAEL G. SATTER AP GALWAY, Ireland -- Ireland holds historic elections this week - a ballot that could devastate the party blamed for the country's dramatic economic reverse and dump it from office after dominating Irish politics for almost 80 ...

Read more at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/20/AR2011022001471.html

Ireland-bound flight diverted to Boston's Logan Airport

By Taylor Miles, Globe correspondent A Continental Airlines flight headed from New Jersey to Ireland was diverted to Boston tonight after pilots reported an electrical burning odor onboard. The Boeing 757, on its way to Shannon from Newark, ...

Read more at: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2011/02/ireland-bound_f.html

Ireland lenders behind spike in ECB overnight lending

By Richard Tyler 8:38PM GMT 19 Feb 2011 Two of Ireland's most troubled lenders were behind a dramatic rise in emergency lending by the European Central Bank last week. Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society tapped the overnight money as ...

Read more at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8336011/Ireland-lenders-behind-spike-in-ECB-overnight-lending.html

Irish deposit sales cause ECB borrowing spike: source

The two troubled lenders, at the heart of Ireland's financial crisis, are selling deposits and corresponding assets as part of a wind-down of their operations under an EU/IMF bailout deal. To ensure a sale within the next week, they have had to ...

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/19/us-ecb-ireland-idUSTRE71I1QR20110219

B of I says 2010 profits could be 30% lower

BANK OF Ireland expects its operating profit for 2010 to be 25-30 per cent lower than the €1.4 billion it achieved the previous year. A trading update issued yesterday by the bank indicates likely operating profits of approximately €1 billion. ...

Read more at: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2011/0219/1224290287683.html

Guardian Focus podcast: Ireland's general election

Ireland is on the verge of a political earthquake. The ruling Fianna Fáil party has dominated Irish politics for much of the Republic's history, but appears to be heading for decimation at the polls. The collapse of the country's banks and their ...

Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/audio/2011/feb/18/focus-podcast-ireland-general-election

Portugal Under Euro-Zone Pressure To Seek Bailout: Source

By Costas Paris, PARIS (Dow Jones)--The Portuguese government is being pressured by fellow euro-zone members to follow Greece and Ireland in seeking a bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, according to a senior euro-zone ...

Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110217-712783.html

Google Grows In Ireland With EUR99.9M Building Buy

LONDON (Dow Jones)--Google Inc. (GOOG) is expanding its operations in Dublin by agreeing Thursday to pay EUR99.9 million for the city's tallest office building, in one of Ireland's largest property deals since the financial crisis. ...

Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110217-708617.html

More euro trouble brewing in Portugal, Ireland

LISBONâ€" AP Political and economic danger signs flashing in Portugal and Ireland threaten to punch a hole in the European Union's attempts to contain a financial crisis that has gripped the continent for more than a year. Europe has already provided ...

Read more at: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/more-euro-trouble-brewing-in-portugal-ireland/article1909794/

Ireland's Fine Gael Considers Raising $4 Billion in Asset Sales

By Finbarr Flynn - Wed Feb 16 11:33:05 GMT 2011 Fine Gael, Ireland's biggest opposition party and the likely leader of the next government, may raise as much as 3 billion euros ($4 billion) by selling state-owned assets, according to an opposition ...

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-16/ireland-s-fine-gael-considers-raising-4-billion-in-asset-sales.html

N Ireland hardest hit on home repossession

By Andrew Bounds, North of England Correspondent Householders in Northern Ireland are under more strain than those elsewhere in the UK, with almost 1 per cent of mortgaged homes likely to be repossessed this year, according to the first regional ...

Read more at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/64ee78de-3935-11e0-97ca-00144feabdc0.html

Kenny wants to 'transform and get Ireland working' as manifesto launched

FINE GAEL LEADER Enda Kenny said he wanted Ireland's public services to be “the envy of the world” as he launched his party's manifesto in Dublin today. ...

Read more at: http://www.thejournal.ie/kenny-wants-to-transform-and-get-ireland-working-as-manifesto-launched-2011-2/

Ireland's potential govt partners quarrel in debate

By Carmel Crimmins DUBLIN, Feb 14 (Reuters) - The leaders of Ireland's main opposition parties attacked their traditional partners on Monday in a bid to woo ...

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/15/ireland-politics-debate-idUSLDE71D2HK20110215

Busting North-South Stereotypes

But the reality is more complicated than this: recently bailed-out Ireland, for example, does not appear to be in southern Europe. ...

Read more at: http://blogs.wsj.com/brussels/2011/02/14/busting-north-south-stereotypes/

O'Driscoll fury as careless Ireland hand victory to France

By Niall Crozier Ireland rugby captain Brian O'Driscoll was an angry man last night after seeing his side crash to a 25-22 defeat by France. ...

Read more at: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/six-nations/six-nations-orsquodriscoll-fury-as-careless-ireland-hand-victory-to-france-15082889.html

Fine Gael stretches lead in Irish election campaign

By John Murray Brown Ireland's opposition centre right Fine Gael party has stretched its lead ahead of the February 25 general election with an opinion poll ...

Read more at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fc00cdb6-3765-11e0-b91a-00144feabdc0.html

Six Nations Ireland v France Fans key to locks hopes of victory

By Iain Morrison If Ireland play like they did last weekend and France do the same then the inaugural Six Nations match in Dublin's new Aviva Stadium will ...

Read more at: http://sport.scotsman.com/viewarticle.aspx?sectionid=6980&articleid=6717126

RBS 6 Nations: Ireland v France

by Brendan Cole The key to this match is that France are ripe for the plucking, but Ireland might not be in position to take advantage. ...

Read more at: http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2011/0212/ireland.html

Jedward to represent Ireland at Eurovision

They are the twins who lost out on X Factor glory - but Jedward have become Ireland's next Eurovision entrants with the song "lipstick". ...

Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12435094

EU Urges Ireland to Recapitalize Banks 'as Soon as Possible'

By Jonathan Stearns - Fri Feb 11 12:37:52 GMT 2011 The European Union said it expects Ireland to make capital injections into Allied Irish Banks Plc, ...

Read more at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-11/eu-urges-ireland-to-recapitalize-banks-as-soon-as-possible-.html

James McCarthy has big decision to make over Scots switch

By Moira Gordon THE Republic of Ireland's Scottish-born midfielder James McCarthy is weighing up a possible switch of nationality back to the land of his ...

Read more at: http://sport.scotsman.com/scotlandsfootballteam/James-McCarthy-has-big-decision.6715958.jp

Six dead in Ireland plane crash

By the CNN Wire Staff (CNN) -- Six people were killed and six were injured when a small plane crashed at Cork Airport in southern Ireland on Thursday, ...

Read more at: http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/02/10/ireland.crash/?hpt=T2

Mortgage debt write-off unlikely

By Niamh Hennessy HOUSEOWNERS should not expect any debt forgiveness from banks even though Bank of Scotland (Ireland) has moved slightly in that direction. ...

Read more at: http://www.examiner.ie/business/mortgage-debt-write-off-unlikely-144758.html

Anglo Irish Lost 17.6 Billion Euros in 2010

By CHRIS V. NICHOLSON Anglo Irish Bank, the lender whose huge bets on development have come to epitomize the reckless excess of Ireland's real estate bubble ...

Read more at: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/02/09/anglo-irish-lost-17-6-billion-euros-in-2010/

Relief as Ireland get back to winning ways

Rep of Ireland 3 Wales 0: A GLANCE at their recent record and depleted squad always suggested Wales might be something of a soft touch in this opening game ...

Read more at: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0209/1224289345858.html

Ireland faces jobless recovery, says report

Ireland's recovery from its fiscal crisis throughout 2011 will fail to create any jobs, with consumer spending remaining weak, according to a report on the ...

Read more at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/08/ireland-faces-jobless-recovery

Ireland Should Consider Kazakh Move

By PAUL HANNON Ireland's government-in-waiting has come up with the outlines of a plan to deal with the massive burden of bank debt guaranteed by the ...

Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704422204576130221506662118.html

Watford duo called up by Northern Ireland

By Frank Smith » Watford scholar Adam Thompson has received his first call-up to the full Northern Ireland squad where he will be joined by fellow Hornet ...

Read more at: http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/watfordfc/watfordfcnews/8837188.Watford_duo_called_up_by_Northern_Ireland/

Ireland eternally grateful to O'Gara in Rome

SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Italy 11 Ireland 13: RONAN RIDES to the rescue once more. It had looked a slightly harsh call on Jonathan Sexton to haul him off ...

Read more at: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0207/1224289181054.html

Ireland gets 3.6 billion euros from rescue fund: source

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Ireland has received a first tranche of 3.6 billion euros ($4.9 billion) from the euro zone rescue fund, slightly more than the initial ...

Read more at: http://ca.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idCATRE7150TW20110206

Newcastle striker Leon Best forced out of Republic of Ireland squad

By Luke Reddy Newcastle striker Leon Best has been forced to withdraw from Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland squad to face Wales in the Carling ...

Read more at: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/02/06/2339708/newcastle-striker-leon-best-forced-out-of-republic-of

Italy v Ireland: live

Follow live minute-by-minute commentary of the Six Nations game between Italy and Ireland at the Stadio Flaminio, Rome on Saturday Feb 5 2011. ...

Read more at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/8305750/Italy-v-Ireland-live.html

Ireland to go forward in Roman sun

And with more of the same sunshine forecast for today, so Ireland will hope for more of the same. Ireland are seeking their sixth successive win in Rome and ...

Read more at: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/0205/1224289076873.html

Ireland's Fine Gael Will Seek Agreement With EU On Bank Debt

DUBLIN (Dow Jones)--Ireland's Fine Gael party, the favourites to form the next coalition government, Friday said the next government would be forced to ...

Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110204-704645.html

IMF to visit Ireland after February 25 poll - spokeswoman

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An IMF mission will visit Ireland after the country's elections on February 25 to discuss the status of a 85 billion euro (72 billion ...

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/03/uk-imf-ireland-idUKTRE7129DY20110203

Spain is not Greece and need not be Ireland

Spain is where Ireland was a couple of years ago. In the next few weeks, it has to choose whether to use the government's balance sheet to recapitalise the ...

Read more at: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/ff2b6e34-2f8a-11e0-834f-00144feabdc0.html

S&P upbeat despite Ireland downgrade

By Brian O'Mahony Despite cutting Ireland's credit rating down a notch to A-/A-2 from A/A-1 the agency says the next government should broadly meet or ...

Read more at: http://www.irishexaminer.com/home/sp-upbeat-despite-ireland-downgrade-144044.html

S&P Lowers Ireland Rating

By ART PATNAUDE Rating agency Standard & Poor's Corp. lowered its rating on Ireland to A-minus from A on Wednesday, keeping the outlook negative due to ...

Read more at: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703960804576119722231052758.html

Winger McFadden to make Ireland debut against Italy

LONDON (Reuters) - Winger Fergus McFadden will make his Ireland debut in their Six Nations opener against Italy on Saturday. McFadden will play in a new ...

Read more at: http://www.latimes.com/sports/sns-rt-ouksp-uk-rugby-ireland-20110201,0,2254728.story

McFadden, Fitzgerald and O'Leary in Ireland XV

Declan Kidney has selected Leinster duo Fergus McFadden and Luke Fitzgerald and Munster's Tomás O'Leary in his backline to face Italy in Ireland's RBS 6 ...

Read more at: http://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/sixnations/2011/0201/ireland.html