CARBON IS TAXING Business group Chambers Ireland broke a taboo last week when chief executive John Dunne alowed the words 'Carbon Tax' to escape his lips. While it was part of a comprehensive proposal for an energy strategy for Ireland and was phrased in a way so as to be debated rather than endorsed, the genie is now out of the bottle.

BRUSSELS GETS SPROUTY The EU announced plans to get tougher on polluters, with measures aimed at punishing a schedule of "environmental crimes". It was not clear whether species of flora particular to Brussels, however, would have standing to bring prosecutions.

VERN GOT LITTLE Magnet, the internet company, announced that it would make a Euro25m investment in building up its customer base and offer to businesses, while scaling back its offer to the consumer market. New CEO Vern Kennedy said the company would still sell DSL services to consumers, but only if asked really nicely.

Separately it was learned that the brothers Ardagh have left Magnet for pastures new.

Bloomberg