European Commissioner Jose Manuel Barroso has denied reports that euro area member states are putting pressure on Portugal to ask for external financial aid. Speaking in Paris today, Barroso said there was no talk of a Portugal bailout and no application had been made. “I can tell you that it’s absolutely false, completely false,” commenting on a report in the Financial Times Deutschland today. The FT Deutschland said some euro area states want Portugal to follow Ireland’s lead and apply for external aid to ensure no further contagion is experienced. “If Portugal were to use the fund, it would be good for Spain, because the country is heavily exposed to…

As part of its National Recovery Plan the Government has increased the student registration fee from €1,500 to €2,000. Increase in Student Registration Fee Minister for Education Mary Coughlan said the Government had protected Education as much as it could This 33pc increase in the student contribution to the cost of third level education comes after numerous student protests against the introduction of further charges. However, the increase is less than expected. The figure of €3,000 had been touted in the media. Other measures Seventy percent of programme expenditures outside of Social Protection are on Health and Education Spending, outlined the plan. Allocation of Expenditure and Reduction in Education Supports…

European Commissioner Olli Rehn EU Commissioners Olli Rehn and Michel Barnier have emphasized the importance of strong economic co-ordination and robust EU-level regulation in light of the Irish situation. Speaking to the European Parliament’s economics committee, Barnier stressed the need for unity, stating that the Irish situation demonstrates the strength that comes from working together. EU Commissioners Call for Bold Steps in Economic Co-ordination and Regulation EU Commissioners Olli Rehn and Michel Barnier have said the Irish situation has stressed the need for “bold steps” to be taken for tight economic co-ordination and strong EU-level regulation. Speaking to the European Parliament’s economics committee last night, Barnier said, “The Irish situation…

Ireland’s trade surplus in September was €4.2bn as exports increase by 2pc in the month. According to official figures from the Central Statistics Office, Ireland’s exports rose 2pc in the month and 4pc in the year, when compared with September 2009. At the same time, imports increased by 1pc, resulting in a trade surplus of €4.2bn. Exports for the eight months between January and August increased by 2pc to €58.2bn when compared to the same period in the previous year. The most notable increases occurred in the exports of metal ores and scrap metal, which increased by a massive 89pc. Exports to the US, Belgium and Great Britain account for…