EVERY DAY, TheJournal.ie brings you a round-up of all the day’s main news as well as the bits and pieces that you may have missed.

• Taoiseach Enda Kenny signed the EU fiscal compact treaty in Brussels today although it still requires ratification by the 25 out of 27 states that signed up to it. This of course means a referendum here in the summer.
• Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams was today advocating a ‘No’ vote in that referendum while prominent businessman Declan Ganley revealed that he will join either the Yes or No campaign for the referendum. That’s clear then.
• Meanwhile the International Monetary Fund’s latest quarterly report on Ireland’s financial outlook has raised concerns about the economic challenges the country continues to face and outlines concerns about the country’s ability to grow economically.
• The Garda Ombudsman is investigating a complaint from Ian Bailey it has been confirmed today. The Justice Minister Alan Shatter said it was “clearly desirable” that the issue of DPP documents outlining why a case was not brought against Bailey for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier 15 years ago be probed further.
• The financial regulator has said that Ireland’s mortgage arrears problem remains one of the biggest challenges of the financial crisis. Matthew Elderfield said there was no ‘silver bullets’ to solve the growing problem of people falling into arrears with their home loan repayments.
• The government’s Exchequer returns for the first two months of 2011 are in and here they are.
• The Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis kicks off at the RDS tonight with leader Micheál Martin delivering a much-anticipated speech about the future direction of the party. Though much criticised for its role in the economic collapse, there wasn’t much of a protest outside the venue earlier:

• The government spent €132,000 on ‘entertainment’ last year. New records show that the Department of Foreign Affairs had by far the highest bill while junior minister Ciaran Cannon had the highest individual spend. Here’s why.
• British Prime Minister David Cameron has admitted that he rode the horse that former News International Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks was lent by the Metropolitan Police. If you’re confused as to what this is all about, you need to click here.
• What songs do you think former Green Party TD Paul Gogarty should release to the public? There could be €100 in it if you let him know.
• The BBC has announced that 75-year-old Engelbert Humperdinck is to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest in Azerbaijan in May. Who, you may ask? Here’s seven things you need to know about him.
• Have you seen the Charlie Sheen ad for Fiat in which he pretend he’s under house arrest?
• Over 7,000 people applied to retire from the public sector last month, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin has said.
• The cathedral in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, which was badly damaged by a massive earthquake last year, is to be demolished. Officials said that the cost of restoring it coupled with a shortfall in insurance money led to the decision.
• Finally this Friday, check out this impressive Samurai who can cut a BB gun pellet in half… after it is fired through the air at over 200 miles per hour:

YouTube: manioanadrian

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