Shares in Europe and Asia have fallen on fears that the Irish debt might spread to other European countries. The bail-out money will come from the European Union. Following the bail-out of Greece, this is the second country to turn to the EU for financial support. Yet again banks are being targeted as a maneouvre in the next budget to improve this sector. A four-year budget plan should be tabled on...

Bloomberg reported last week that the Euro-zone’s smallest economy – Malta, and the largest economy – Germany, were the only two to register a boost in their “competitiveness and fiscal sustainability” during the past five years. Allianz chief economist Michael Heise claimed that “virtually all Euro-zone countries still face a massive task in getting their public...