The country's unions will meet this afternoon to discuss proposals on the new Croke Park deal
The Executive Committee of the Civil Public and Services Union spent all day yesterday going through the provisional agreement and will decide today if they'll put it to their members for a ballot.
IMPACT's Central Executive meets today, to discuss the revised Croke Park Agreement. The leadership is known to support the deal, having been central to the talks.
IMPACT officials admit the proposal will result in loss of earnings for some - but say they successfully reduced the severity of some measures.
The meeting comes as opposition to the deal intensifies. The 24/7 Alliance will also meet later. They're hoping to reach out to other affected unions, with the aim of mounting the "strongest campaign possible".
And the country's largest civil service union will decide whether to ballot its members on the proposals.
Ulster Bank has reported a loss of just over £1 billion for 2012
That's up £56 million on the previous year. It's due to falling interest income and higher charges for bad loans. The bank set aside 1.3 billion for bad loans in 2012, roughly unchanged on the previous year.
Chief Executive Jim Brown says Ulster Bank is making good progress on the restructuring of the business, as the economic environment in Ireland begins to stabilise.
Our Business Editor Ian Guider says Ulster Bank has given details on the compensation paid out to customers affected by the technical glitch last year.
Bankers' bonuses are to be capped at two times their salary
This cap is part of a new EU deal agreed at the European Parliament. The deal to implement new rules for the banking sector, which was struck early this morning, was brokered by Ireland as holders of the EU presidency along with the European Parliament.
The new regulatory framework sees the establishment of a set of rules which tighten up bank capital requirements, after negotiations that have dragged on for some 10 months.
Under the terms banks will also be subject to a strict transparency regime. The move marks the most severe pay crackdown since the 2008 financial crisis.
MEPs have agreed a mandatory 1:1 ratio on salary relative to pay, this can can rise to 2:1 if there is shareholder approval.
The accord reached overnight will now go forward to EU finance ministers when they meet next week in Brussels.
But some in Europe are saying the cap won't tackle the problem of excess pay.
Marie Fleming to hear State defend decision to uphold ban on assisted suicide later
Seven Supreme Court judges are hearing the 59-year-old's appeal to that decision
She is terminally ill with multiple sclerosis and wants to die at a time of her choosing.
Her lawyers say they believe the High Court could have modified the law to accommodate a small group of people like her who are mentally competent, terminally ill and suffering enormous pain.
They argue this can be done without increasing the risk of involuntary deaths.
But the State holds that one exception might lead to an eventual shift in behaviour.
Today is the last day of Pope Benedict's papacy
The Pope will make history today when he resigns after nearly eight years at the head of the Catholic church.
Benedict the 16th will meet his cardinals for the final time just a few hours from now.
He'll leave the Vatican by helicopter this afternoon - and then, tonight, will bless the crowd at the Papal retreat, Castel Gandolfo.
