McCREEVEY RATTLES HIS SABRE Internal markets commissioner Charlie McCreevy threatens to sue the Irish government over the delay in restructuring the Irish health insurance market.

DAA LETS GO OF HAMBURG What's good enough for Dermot Desmond is good enough for the Dublin Airport Authority as . . . like the billionaire Dublin financier . . . it decides to take advantage of a frothy market for airport assets and sells its stake in Hamburg Airport for 300m.

AIB SLIPS BACK INTO THIRD AIB discovers the pressure to perform in Europe's most profitable banking market. After confirming that it will hit its target to deliver 20% full-year earnings growth, AIB'a shares on the Irish Stock Exchange dropped 3%. With BoI and Anglo beating their respective earnings forecasts, AIB finds itself, for once, the poor relation in the sector.

TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE The seemingly unstoppable Quinn Group, which announced a 22% rise in pre-tax profit last week, says UK and Irish property is losing its appeal. The real returns, apparently, are to be had in locations such as the Ukraine, Poland and Bulgaria where Quinn is already building up substantial portfolios.