Niel increases stake to over 70% in Eir

French billionaire Xavier Niel is nearing full ownership of Eir, having increased his stake to over 70%. This follows the sale of an 8.9% share by Davidson Kempner to Niel's holding company, Carraun Telecom. Paddy McKillen's company, Frenchgate Interchange Ltd, has defaulted on loans and ceased operations. The company, linked to a shopping center in the UK, admitted it cannot meet its financial obligations. State payments to private healthcare firms in Ireland have surged over 700% since 2016, reaching nearly €250 million in 2023. This increase has raised concerns about the public health system's capacity and reliance on private services.