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Charlie Weston: Another fine fudge as credit unions work lobbying magic to prevent forced mergers

HOW do you make fudge? One way involves mixing together milk, sugar and butter.

Charlie Weston: Radical plumbing key to repairing house market

WE need a powerful drain cleaner for the mortgage market. This is because property lending is like a blocked sink at the moment.

Charlie Weston: Farcical blitz by Revenue generates tears not taxes

THE Revenue Commissioners have treated us to a masterclass in the past few days on how not to tackle the thorny issue of taxation and pensioners.

Charlie Weston: Well-thought-out personal insolvency scheme urgently needed

IT is a sad fact that thousands are going to lose their homes over the next few years. And most of those in mortgage distress would be better facing that reality now rather than getting themselves deeper into debt.

Charlie Weston: Price slashing to grab market share has ended

Householders have not faced a rise in utility bills for more than two years -- mainly due to the breakout of a healthy price war among energy suppliers.

Charlie Weston: PTSB -- a very middle-class mortgage meltdown

THE collapse of Permanent TSB into State ownership is a direct consequence of middle Ireland getting too heavily into debt.

Charlie Weston: Eliminating welfare poverty trap easier said than done

SOCIAL welfare rates were controversially cut in the last two Budgets -- but they are still so generous that many low to middle-income families would be better off on welfare.

Charlie Weston: If you want bad advice, call to your local bank

HAD a call from your bank lately suggesting you are in need of some financial advice?

Charlie Weston: Price war in life cover, but beware the crossfire

THERE is a price war raging at the moment among life assurance companies. That is great for consumers -- or is it?

Charlie Weston: Safeguard the family's health in tough times

HEALTHCARE is dropping down the list of affordable priorities for many families, as people delay or put off essential visits to their GPs and other healthcare providers.

Charlie Weston: Devising fair property tax system a major challenge

COMING up with a fair property tax that gains greater acceptance than the household charge is going to require the powers of Merlin the magician.

Charlie Weston: More treats, fewer tricks as ECB's Trichet retires

IT seems appropriate that the president of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, ended up retiring on Halloween.

Charlie Weston: Latest hardship will push many over the edge

WITH the continuing crash in house prices and the squeeze on incomes, the revelations that homeowners will be hit with a property tax of up to €600 a year will be about as welcome as a burst pipe in the bathroom.

Charlie Weston: A chill wind blowing as the year begins

THEY say April is the cruellest month, but for consumers January is proving to be a stinker. We all knew it was going to be a rough year, but few expected it to be quite as bad as this.

Charlie Weston: Banks happy to play role of pantomime villain - for a fee

IF you thought the banks could not impose any more pain on already hard-hit consumers, then think again. For next year is set to become the year of the revenge of the bankers.

Charlie Weston: Three ways you can ease the pain of savage VHI price hike

JUST a week into January and the VHI has piled on additional pressure on families by announcing savage price rises yesterday.

Charlie Weston: Measures will push many households over the edge

Large numbers of households are just one or two bills away from financial collapse. . . and the pity of it is that there is more to come

Charlie Weston: Workers left with burden while retired all sit pretty

ONE of the more surprising survey findings we came across recently was that most of those approaching retirement consider themselves financially secure.

Charlie Weston: Don't expect savers to spend in uncertain times

PANICKY consumers are not spending for a number of reasons. They have less money to spend, but economic uncertainty also means they are hoarding every spare cent they can lay their hands on.

Charlie Weston: Changes to pension tax reliefs will fail everyone

MIDDLE-income workers will effectively end up having to take a pay cut if they want to continue investing the same amount of money into their pensions, if proposed changes to tax reliefs are put in place.

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Dublin Sightseeing Reaches New Heights

Ireland’s most iconic venue, Croke Park Stadium, announced the opening of the much anticipated Etihad Skyline tour on the roof of the historic ground. Sponsored by Etihad Airways and opening to the public on Friday 1st June, the tour offers access to a unique Croke Park rooftop walkway and spectacular panoramic views of Dublin city.

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McAreavey suspect accuses police

Avinash Treebhoowoon, 30, confessed to police about his involvement in strangling Michaela McAreavey, but now insists he was forced to sign the statement.Treebhoowoon and co-accused Sandip Moneea, 42, deny murdering the 27-year-old teacher on her honeymoon at the Legends Hotel.

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