Open competition for Honohan's successor
The government will hold an open competition for the new head of the Central Bank to succeed Patrick Honohan, according to the Irish Times.
Unlike the appointment of Honohan - who competed with senior members of the Civil Service - interested parties from outside the department will be considered.
Honohan's successor will continue the challenge of rebuilding the institution's credibility, after the extent of its ineptitude was revealed following the banking crisis.
The recruitment process will begin in a few weeks when formal expressions of interest will be sought. The process may take some time, with the official appointment being made by president Michael D Higgins following a Government recommendation.
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Irish Rail to Outsource Operations at Rosslare Port
According to the Irish Independent, Iarnród Eireann has sought expressions of interest from across Europe for a private company to operate Rosslare Port, the country’s second busiest port.
Iarnród Eireann plans to retain ownership of the facility but will lease it to an operator for an annual fee.
It’s reported that Rosslare requires up to €60m in capital investment to develop new berths for larger ships, which would be funded by the new operator.
Rosslare Port, which made profits of just over €2m in 2013, employers 73 people and preliminary discussions are understood to have taken place with staff about the new leasing plan.
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G7 leaders meet in Dresden today
The finance ministers and central bank governors of the seven wealthiest countries meet today in Dresden, Germany.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, who has invited his counterparts from the US, Britain, Japan, Canada, France and Italy
According to AFP, Schaeuble has said Greece will "certainly be on the agenda."
Other topics such as global financial instability and the financing of terror organisations are expected to feature during discussions.
International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem, European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi and the EU Commissioner For Economic and Monetary Affairs, Pierre Moscovici will all be present.
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Britain's buy-to-let scheme granted landlords £14bn in one year
As house and rent prices continue to skyrocket in many parts of Britain, it has been revealed that the government's buy-to-let scheme gave landlords £14bn tax breaks in 2013.
According to figures in the Guardian, the number of landlords has increasesd by over one-third in the last six years - 2.1m in 2012-13, up from 1.5m in 2007-08.
Chief executive of anti-homelessness charity Shelter Campbell Robb said:
"All those struggling to keep up with sky-high housing costs will be shocked to hear that a massive £14bn has been given in tax breaks for landlords in just a year."
A study published in April shows that British landlords enjoyed returns of 1,400 per cent since 1996.
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Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht faces life sentence
Ross Ulbricht, who founded Silk Road, once the largest market for drugs and illicit goods on the internet, is facing a life sentence.
Ulbricht was arrested in October 2013 and convicted in February on seven counts relating to his running of the dark-web site.
A minimum sentence of 20 years awaits him at Friday's sentencing hearing, but the prosecution are pushing for a life sentence due to six overdoses related to drugs bought off the site. Ulbricht's defence is expected to argue that the Silk Road was in fact a safer option for drug users than buying from street dealers.
During sentencing, Ulbricht said he deeply regretted his actions and asked that the judge "leave me my old age."
