Cerberus, the investment firm who acquired Northern Ireland's controversial 'Project Eagle' portfolio in Northern Ireland, has confirmed that it met with politicians from Northern Ireland before making the purchase.
It says that it held “substantive discussions prior to the acquisition” with “stakeholders” north of the boarder.
The New York-based firm told the Stormont committee which has been investigating the sale, that this was "part of its due diligence into the Northern Ireland economy and ongoing liaison with the stakeholders in the jurisdiction" - this included contact with former first minister, Peter Robinson, deputy first minister, Martin McGuinness - and former minister of finance, Simon Hamilton.
Speaking in the Dáil in July, TD Mick Wallace exposed the existence of a bank account on the Isle of Man which contains £7m - which he claimed is linked to the transaction to buy the Northern portfolio.
Cerberus is due to appear before the committee next week.
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Speaking to the business group IBEC tonight, Taoiseach Enda Kenny will pledge to bring unemployment to less than 6% during the lifetime of the next government - if Fine Gael returns to power.
While there have been reports that the party intends to sideline Mr Kenny during the election campaign, the party leader will set-out Fine Gael's vision for how the Irish economy will develop if his party is given a second term.
Irish Independent reports that he will also commit to returning a surplus in the public finances, while setting out a 5 year-plan for the economy.
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The Irish Fiscal Council has given its approval to the Government's budget plan, but has warned against any move to increase the package.
In a pre-budget statement it says that proposed tax cuts and spending increases of between €1.2bn and €1.5bn is economically prudent.
But it also noted that it is at the higher end of the acceptable range, and says the government should stick to the plan in order to protect the economy from potential future shocks.
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Fairfax will loan €70m to Irish insurer FBD through a 10-year bond which the lender can convert into shares.
The interested payable on the loan is 7% per year the conversion price has been set at €8.50, this is 37% above FBD's closing price on Tuesday, the day before the deal was confirmed.
The proposal is subject to approval from FBD's shareholders.
Fairfax was one of the investors which bought a significant shareholding in Bank of Ireland in 2011 at rock bottom prices, thereby preventing the need for majority state control of the bank.
It sold about half of its remaining 6% stake in the Bank last Spring at 36 cent, triple its initial investment cost.
The FBD share price closed 55c or nearly 9% higher last night at 6.75.
