The Daily Fix: Thursday

In tonight’s fix: A bad day for jobs, a good day for the government – and for some primary teachers, and which important group want help from JobBridge interns?

EVERY EVENING, TheJournal.ie brings you a roundup of the day’s main news – plus any bits and pieces you may have missed…

It’s been a pretty gruesome day on the jobs front. Ulster Bank has announced it is to cut 950 jobs – with just under two-thirds of that number coming from the Republic – while Diageo has also announced it is losing 100 jobs by closing breweries in Kilkenny and Dundalk.
There’s been some decent news for Fine Gael and Labour though – the first opinion poll of 2012 has shown each party’s support growing by 1 per cent, while Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin have dropped one point each. The Paddy Power/RedC poll also showed that nearly a quarter of people aren’t sure if they must pay the household charge.
Enda Kenny spent the day in London, where he met David Cameron and addressed a Reuters audience in the City. Here’s his full remarks at the latter – and an audio of the former. While he was in London, Kenny “absolutely” ruled out plans for Ireland to seek a second bailout.
Education minister Ruairí Quinn has asked for a review of cuts to teacher numbers in disadvantaged schools, after coming under pressure from the opposition and from his own back-benches.
It’s been described as Ireland’s “best-kept secret” by one TD: 12 independent members of the Seanad are receiving over €23,000 each in a ‘leader’s allowance’.
Ivor Callely could hit the State with a legal bill for up to €500,000 if the Seanad loses its Supreme Court appeal against his victory over a 20-day suspension. Callely has yet to submit his legal bill, pending the outcome of the appeal.
TDs have asked Leinster House authorities to consider hiring JobBridge interns on their behalf, after being told they can’t hire them directly. TDs say extra legislation means they are short of manpower – and think JobBridge staff could sort the problem.

If you’ve been on Grafton Street in the last few months, you’ll recognise this banner outside Korky’s shoeshop reminding Fine Gael of its pledge to allow businesses have their rent reviewed in 2011. The banner now has an extra feature… (Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)

The government has received less than 800 claims for damages from its €10m flood emergency assistance fund – with claims totalling less than €360,000.
US defence secretary Leon Panetta has promised a full investigation+ into a video which purports to show four US marines urinating on the bodies of Taliban militiamen.
Hungary has asked the EU to explain its threats of legal action over its new constitution – which removes some of the independence of the central bank and the judiciary.
The ECB has left its main interest rate unchanged at 1 per cent, as expected. The Bank of England has also left its main rate static at 0.5 per cent.
Ryanair has announced another new charge – of 25c on all flights – blaming a new EU tax against climate emissions.
The mayor of Ennis says the town is not racist.
Put the laptop dowwwwn. A Chinese study has pointed to the possibility of an ‘internet addiction’ which destroys some brain fibres in the same way as additions to alcohol or cocaine.
Apostrophe, we hardly knew ye. Waterstone’s is becoming Waterstones.
Leigh Steinberg – the real-life Jerry Maguire – would really like you to show him the moneeeeeey. He’s filed for bankruptcy.
So that’s where Mary Hanafin got to…
Turning the lights off during the night, in a house, is a good idea. Turning it off overnight on motorways? Well, one TD thinks that’s a good idea too.
We assume, by now, you’ve gotten rid of your Christmas tree… but we don’t think you did it with quite as much teutonic manliness as this lot.
Basketball trick videos are ten-a-penny. Frisbee ones too. But the two together?

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Staff leave Ulster Bank's headquarters at the IFSC on the day they were told that 600 jobs were being cut in the Republic of Ireland, with another 350 being lost in the North. Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland

Daily Fix