Examiner Publications (Cork), which publishes the Examiner and Evening Echo newspapers, made a pre-tax profit of £4.057 million (#5.15 million) for the year to December 31st, 1998. It compares to £2.2 million in 1997 and represents a 77 per cent increase. The company's turnover was £29.3 million. The figures do not include a profit-sharing scheme agreed with staff last year.

Company secretary, Mr Anthony Dinan told The Irish Times sales of the Examiner had increased from around 55,500 per day in 1997 to 60,000 last year. Sales of the Echo had also risen.

The company, which employs 360, is currently rationalising part of its business through the introduction of an automated inking system. This will reduce staff by around seven.