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Google shares fall on early publication of poor results

GOOGLE’S shares crashed by as much as 11pc this evening, after the web search giant published its results prematurely and exposed a 20pc fall in its profits.

Fitch latest agency to say outlook for Ireland improving

FITCH HAS become the second ratings agency within a week to signal an improved outlook for Ireland’s credit rating.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal yesterday, Fitch analyst Gergely Kiss said the agency could be approaching a point where it would remove its “negative” outlook on Ireland’s BBB+ rating.

He said, however, that it could still be some time before the rating itself would be improved. Such a move would rest on any deal the Government could secure with its euro partners on easing its debt burden.

Varadkar warns CIE that public transport system could collapse next year

Leo Varadkar has warned that the public transport system will collapse next year if the CIE group doesn’t get its house in order.

The Transport Minister says €36m in extra funding is still available for the company this year, but he Is “running out of pockets”.

The Minister has ordered CIE to develop a realistic business plan, implement cost reductions, sell-off non-core assets and secure new credit facilities.

Varadkar says the very survival of public transport depends on it: “This year I may be able to take money from one pocket and put it into the other, rob Peter to pay Paul, and kick the can down the road. But I’m running out of pockets and running out of road.

“If we don’t see progress on the four issues I’ve mentioned, I won’t be able to find the money to keep the companies operating by the middle to the end of next year.

“There will be no choice, public transport will then fail in Ireland

CSO figures show significant increase in number of people with no religion

According to the latest figures released by the Central Statistics Office about Census 2011, 277,237 of the population (6%) now describe themselves as having no religion, or being agnostic or atheist.

The number of people who describe themselves as Catholic is increasing but represents a smaller percentage of the total population.