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.

• The Croke Park Agreement saved the State €920 million in its second year in operation according to the latest report from the implementation body. The public pay bill fell by €650 million in that time, news which was welcomed by Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin.
• The Mick Wallace controversy rumbled on today as the Dáil was briefly suspended over an argument about whether the independent TD’s tax affairs could be discussed. They couldn’t. Meanwhile, an Oireachtas Committee is to write to the Wexford deputy to seek further information about his under-declaration of VAT.
• Another political controversy also remained in the news today as the economist behind the ESRI’s withdrawn working paper on the costs of working stood by the paper which said many people with children would be better off on the dole than working. The ESRI said this evening that the paper’s withdrawal had nothing to do with any government interference.
• In Mauritius, the Michaela McAreavey murder trial was postponed until tomorrow morning after counsel for the two accused men became involved in a legal debate with the court.
• Another leak to the German parliament about Ireland’s bailout programme prompted a collective sigh across the nation at yet another instance of the Germans knowing stuff before us revealed itself, but why is it happening?
• Speaking of bailouts and the eurozone, there are growing fears over Greece’s banks and the withdrawal of large deposits in recent days ahead of crucial weekend elections. We’ve also been looking at Spain’s bailout and what we know so far.

It’s THAT flag again in Gdansk today as Ireland fans descended on the Polish city ahead of tomorrow’s crunch Euro 2012 clash with Spain. Boss Giovanni Trapattoni has delayed naming his team for the match while one former Irish international has been less than complimentary about our chances. But don’t worry, he’s not really Irish any way by his own admission.

• Speaking of the travelling Green Army, the infamous Eamon Keegan, the Kildare student who was caught having a, er, personal moment with a Croatian fan at the match last Sunday, has been speaking about his adventures.
• Survivors of symphysiotomy gave testimony to an Oireachtas committee today detailing how they were never told they were undergoing a surgical procedure which widened their pelvis and left them with lifelong medical problems.
• Justice Minister Alan Shatter caused a bit of a stir on Twitter earlier when he referred to Londonderry during a statement in the Dáil.
• A Facebook page dedicated to so-called ‘Dead Baby Jokes’ has been heavily criticised by a Labour TD. Gerald Nash has now written to Facebook asking them to remove the page.
• The man who was immortalised in the hit film ‘Goodfellas’, Henry Hill, has died.
• Anyone for a Bacon Sundae from Burger King? Mmmmm, delicious.
• The suspected vandalism of a national monument at Tara in Co Meath has drawn the condemnation of the Minister for Arts and Heritage Jimmy Deenihan.
• Finally, check out this Romanian gang’s attempted truck robbery… while speeding down a motorway:

YouTube: ITN News

Making a difference

A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

For the price of one cup of coffee each week you can make sure we can keep reliable, meaningful news open to everyone regardless of their ability to pay.

Support us Learn More