A parade for former finance ministers, including the present Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will provide a fitting finale to the high-profile Dail Committee of Public Accounts inquiry into DIRT evasion this week - once the six inquisitors finish with AIB, that is
The hearings have done well to keep by and large within a very demanding schedule; it will be interesting to see if that remains the case when the politicians get a chance to comment on the near-universal evidence that there was a distinct lack of political will to enforce the legislation on DIRT from its inception in 1986.
Bank of Scotland: Bank of Scotland, due to report first half figures on Wednesday, will be in the spotlight following its £21 billion sterling (€33 billion) hostile bid for NatWest.
And with the possibility of a counter-bid from another party, Bank of Scotland's figures will be scrutinised to see if it has the capacity to up its £12.50 a share bid, brokers Greig Middleton said.
But aside from the corporate activity, the bank is set to report a healthy set of figures with pre-tax profits forecast to come in at £450 million sterling, up from £420 million last time.
Monday
Results: Brands Hatch Leisure (H1), Caldwell Investments (H1), Close Brothers, Global Group (H1), T.J. Hughes (H1), Semple Cochrane, Topps Tiles, Ulster TV (H1).
A.G.M.: Banesto, Break for the Border (e.g.m.), Farepak, ISA Int'l, Syltone.
Meetings: Dail Committee of Public Accounts DIRT hearings continue; LIMRA conference on trends in distribution and financial services (Dublin Chamber of Commerce); World Bank Development Committee meets (Washington); ASEAN Economic Ministers' meeting (Singapore to Sat).
Indicators: US existing home sales (Aug).
Others: ESRI presents pre-Budget study; IRTC public hearings on licence applicants; Trintech shares to start trading in Germany and on Nasdaq; British Labour Party conference (Bournemouth to Fri).
Tuesday
Results: Alpha Airports (H1), Aquarius Group (H1), Arcon, Barr (AG) (H1), Breedon (H1), Freeserve (Q1), GBL (H1), Hampden (H1), Hanover Int'l (H1), ICM Computer, Sportsworld, Wolseley.
Meetings: World Bank and International Monetary Fund 54th annual meetings begin (Washington
to Thurs); National Centre for Partnership annual conference (Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin); Chamberlink Business Conference (Canal Court Hotel, Newry).
Indicators: Irish industrial production (Jul); US consumer confidence (Sep); Japanese industrial production (Aug).
Others: IRTC public hearings on licence applicants continue; Freeserve issues trading statement; British gilt auction.
Wednesday
Results: Accor (H1), Bank of Scotland (H1), Brookes Service Group (H1), House of Fraser (H1), Silentnight (H1), Smiths Industries, Swiss Life (H1), FW Thorpe.
A.G.M.: Leica, Volvo (e.g.m.), WF Electrical.
Meetings: Wall St Journal technology summit (Washington).
Indicators: British consumer credit (Aug) and M4 (Aug); US durable goods orders (Aug).
Others: Italian government presents budge for 2000.
Thursday
Results: Ardagh (H1), Clarins (H1), Cultor
(H1), Definance (H1), Lonmin (H1), Maiden Group (H1), Marriot Int'l (Q3), Menire (H1), Pfleiderer, Pladent (H1), Quadrant Healthcare (H1), Quality Software Products (H1), Renishaw, Richards, Ryan Hotels (H1), Selfridges (H1), Uniwear (H1).
Meetings: Irish Association of Pension Funds seminar of "What you should ask your investment manager?" (UCD Industry Centre).
Indicators: EMU trade balance (Jun & Jul prel); Irish balance of payments (Q2) and industrial employment (Dec); British consumer confidence (Sep); US GDP (Q2) and Chicago purchasing managers' index (Sep); Japanese unemployment (Aug); French unemployment (Aug).
Others: Baldonnel Business Park is formally opened.
Friday
Results: Arthur Wood (H1), Hartwall (H1), Norcor Holdings (H1).
A.G.M.: Abbey.
Indicators: EMU purchasing managers' index (Sep); Irish Live Register statement (Sep) and tourism and travel data (Q2); British manufacturing purchasing managers' index (Sep); US personal income/spending (Aug), National Association of Purchasing Managers (Sep) and Michigan Sentiment Survey (Sep); Japanese consumer prices (Aug/ Sep).
