Full coverage: Covid-19

Thousands of business owners breathed a sigh of relief when the Government eased the repayment terms for €1.72bn in tax liabilities parked since the pandemic but the “cheapest finance” scheme has multiple costs, too.

A mystery investor with “significant experience in the hospitality industry” is eyeing up the debt-laden Cornstore and Coqbull restaurant chains in Cork and Limerick, which applied for urgent court protection on Tuesday.

Moderna claims its patented mRNA innovations have been breached by Pfizer, the US pharma giant with a big footstep in Ireland. It is one of several patent infringement suits lodged by the US biotechnology firm.

During pre-trial talks, Paul Gallagher, now attorney general, is said to have struck a costs deal for his client FBD that would save the insurer a seven-figure sum. But the High Court has heard opposing counsel Michael Cush has a different recollection.

The HSE halted payments to the Mater Private amid concerns that it was being billed for hefty intercompany interest bills paid to a Luxembourg entity. The High Court has largely ruled in its favour.

Ed Brophy was in government when Covid-19 hit the country. He talks to the authors of a book on that time about the decisions made, the personalities who drove Ireland's response and why they matter more than policy in Ireland's system.

Airlines have cut losses in 2021 but remain exposed to the pandemic and dependent on government supports. Yet KPMG's aviation finance chief Joe O'Mara explains that successive Covid-19 waves have revealed the aviation industry's ability to rebound.

The former journalists failed in their attempts to challenge the constitutionality of emergency Covid-19 restrictions and had a significant costs order awarded against them. They took their case to the Supreme Court.

It has been a year and a half since large live music events were allowed to take place. After a week when the live entertainment industry's pleas were ignored by government again, there is a restlessness from those working in it.

Four publicans won their test case against FBD Insurance over business interruption claims. Now the court has to determine what they can recover under their policies. Early closing hours, table-only service and staff costs are all at issue.