Every morning, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you really need to know by 9am.
1. #BAILOUT: France is taking a hard line with Ireland over the question of corporation tax – which may in turn damage Ireland’s chances of securing a lowered interest rate on its bailout deal, the government believes. However, Germany’s stance on the matter appears to have softened, the Irish Times reports, with Minister of State for Europe Lucinda Creighton saying that the tax rate was not a “red line” issue.
2. #AIB: The Finance Minister Michael Noonan is reportedly concerned over proposed redundancy payments to be offered to 2,000 workers at AIB, which his Department has said are “too generous”. The payments could range from €50,000 to €300,000, the Irish Independent reports.
3. #WELFARE: A “commission on welfare” that will examine the welfare system and make recommendations is to be presented by the government, the Irish Examiner reports. Social Protection Minister Joan Burton said that issues such as unemployment payments and child benefit will be discussed the body.
4. #QUEEN: Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams has welcomed the pending visit by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth, saying that it offers a “unique opportunity” to build a new relationship between the UK and Ireland that is based on equality and mutual respect, RTÉ reports.
5. #COURTS: Gardaí are continuing to question a publican following a claim that he demanded another pub cease trading within 24 hours last March. Yesterday three men, all suspected dissident republicans, appeared in court facing allegations they too had threatened the operators of the Dublin pub.
6. #BANGOR: A man has been arrested following the shooting of two people in Bangor, Co Down, yesterday. One of the victims was killed and the other seriously wounded in the shooting which the authorities believe was connected to the drugs trade, RTÉ reports.
7. #PAKISTAN: Pakistan’s parliament has condemned the US raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound at the beginning of this month. MPs calling for an independent investigation into the events of 2 May also unanimously passed a resolution to ban NATO transit convoys unless US-led drone attacks in the country cease, the BBC reports.
8. #LIBYA: The International Criminal Court has announced that it intends to seek arrest warrants for three individuals in Libya thought to be responsible for crimes against humanity, RTÉ reports. Col Muammar Gaddafi is likely to be the most wanted diplomats have said.
9. #EUROVISION: Love it or loathe it, tonight is Eurovision night.
Ireland’s entrants – those indefatigable twins from Lucan – will battle it out with 24 other contestants hoping to take home the prize that has eluded this country since 1996…
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