A roundup of today's other stories in brief

Providence may buy Irish assets

PROVIDENCE RESOURCES has emerged as another likely buyer for natural gas supplier Marathon's Irish assets.

Texas-based Marathon has been supplying natural gas to the Irish network from wells off the south coast since 1978. Last year it produced 8 per cent of the country's needs.

Six days ago the company said it was planning a review of its Irish businesses that could lead to their sale if it gets an acceptable offer.

Yesterday, it emerged that Providence Resources, in which Sir Anthony O'Reilly and his family have a stake, could be interested in purchasing Marathon's interests.

Sources said that the company will look at Marathon's businesses "at the appropriate time" and then decide on making an offer.

Providence will join other interested parties, including State-owned Bord Gáis, Marathon's biggest customer, and Island Oil and Gas, which yesterday confirmed that it was interested as well.

Marathon owns and operates the Kinsale Head and Ballycotton gas fields off the Cork coast.

Ryanair web 'glitches' Ryanair said "glitches" temporarily reduced access to its website yesterday, a day after the site reopened following an upgrade.

"Ryanair and its software supplier are continuing to work intensively to eliminate these bedding down issues," the company said in a statement to the stock exchange.

While the site took as many as 20,000 reservations an hour yesterday, according to Ryanair, the glitches meant bookings were a quarter of that at some times. - (Bloomberg)

Entrepreneur nominations

Nominations for the 2008 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Programme close on Friday.

Nominations are accepted from anyone, including employees, company advisors and entrepreneurs themselves.

A nominee must be an owner or manager who is primarily responsible for the recent performance of a company that is at least two years old.

A panel of judges, chaired by Denis O'Brien, will select the shortlist, to be announced in May, and then the overall winner will be announced at a ceremony in October.

For official forms contact Ernst & Young on 01 4750555 or visit www.eoy.ie

Quay sale falls through

The sale of a €32 million Waterford quayside site that was earmarked for development almost a decade ago with an estimated investment tag of €200 million has fallen through.

The 13-acre site was to be sold by the Port of Waterford Company to Cork property developers O'Brien & O'Flynn.

Banks cut loan rates

Bank of Ireland and ICS Building Society have reduced their fixed rate mortgages for new and existing business.

The bank is offering 4.7 per cent on one-year fixed rate for new customers, 4.65 per cent on two-year rates and 4.79 per cent on three-year rates.

It is offering 5.39 per cent on one-year, 4.89 per cent on two-year and 4.99 per cent on three-year fixed rates for existing customers.