Greek MPs have passed a series of painful new austerity measures into law aimed at saving the country's economy from collapse.
The reforms, including tax hikes and pensions, were backed, despite significant opposition inside the prime minister's left-wing Syriza party.
Standoff at #Syntagma right now pic.twitter.com/7OphpLtLo7
— Shona Murray (@ShonaMurrayNT) July 15, 2015
The package passed with 229 votes in favour and 64 votes against in the 300-seat chamber. Protestors clashed with riot police as the vote took place.
The bill had to pass in order for Greece to start negotiations with creditors on a third bailout worth €86bn over three years.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who got the reforms through with the help of pro-European opposition parties, said it was the best possible deal he could get from the creditors to prevent Greece from being forced out of the euro.
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Gardaí have launched an investigation into claims that cash was paid to NAMA to allow a debtor to leave the agency.
The allegations were made by Mick Wallace under Dáil Privilege yesterday. The Independent TD used Dáil privilege to claim a construction company who wanted to exit NAMA paid €15,000 to someone linked to the agency, "in a bag", twice, to do so.
He has also alleged that barristers, judges, solicitors, accountancy firm partners and bankers are in syndicates that have transferred to NAMA but have not been enforced.
NAMA says Deputy Wallace has not provided any evidence to back up his claims, but that CEO Brendan McDonagh wrote to Commissioner Noirin O'Sullivan to request an investigation.
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Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern is set to launch a vigorous defence of his economic record when he returns to Leinster House today.
The ex-Fianna Fáil leader, who served three terms as Taoiseach, is due to give evidence at the Banking Inquiry.
Among the questions he is is likely to be asked is whether he had any idea that a major financial shock was coming - and whether that might have influenced his decision to step down.
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Malin Corporation, the Irish-based global life sciences company plans to raise up to €42m before expenses, through a placing of 3.8m new shares at €10.99 per share.
The placing, equivalent to about 10 percent of the company’s enlarged share capital, will be used primarily to fund new investment opportunities and to invest in existing businesses such as the US-based company Viamet.
Malin, which was established by a group of former Elan executives, raised €330m through a listing on the Irish Stock Market in the spring – one of Europe’s largest stock market flotations of a bio-tech company.
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News broke yesterday that Irish Nationwide Building Society (INBS) admitted to widespread regulation breaches following a Central Bank investigation, which the Bank described as being "unparalleled in its degree of complexity and scale to any case which preceded it."
A €5m fine was issued to the building society - the Central Bank has decided that it would not be in the "public interest" to pursue the collection of the fine, and it will not do.
The next phase of the inquiry will explore the rolls of individuals in the collapse of the institution.
Irish Times reports that the actions of ten employees, who could face penalties up to fines of €500,000.
This is a regulatory inquiry, not a criminal investigation. Other possible penalties include disqualification from practice, or a requirement to pay part of the cost of the inquiry.
