Ryan Tubridy performing the Late Late Toy Show: RTÉ's payments scandal has triggered a financial crisis at the broadcaster. Photograph: Alan Betson / THE IRISH TIMES Kingspan sought a combination with US-based Carlisle, in what would have been a mega-merger in the building materials sector. Carlisle rebuffed Kingspan‘s informal approach, but signalled possible interest if the Cavan firm presented an improved offer. Irish tech companies raised a record €963 million in funding from venture capital firms in the first half of the year, but the figures were heavily influenced by a small number of big deals while start-ups struggled to…