A vast spinning exercise meant few surprises on the day Political CorrespondentA large number of well-flagged cutbacks will make for uneasy backbenchersTue Dec 06 2011 - 00:00
Blanket cut in child benefit and €50 fee for medical card scrapped for BudgetANALYSIS: Late changes to the Budget as Government changes tack to arrive at €3.8 billion savingsMon Dec 05 2011 - 00:00
First budget not 'most difficult', claims FFTHE COALITION’S first budget next week could be its least difficult during its term of office despite imposing almost €4 billion…Thu Dec 01 2011 - 00:00
Minister sees Ireland returning to 1950s standards if euro failsCOMMITTEE: A MINISTER yesterday painted a dramatic picture of living standards in Ireland regressing to the 1950s in the doomsday…Wed Nov 30 2011 - 00:00
Fianna Fáil condemns 2% VAT riseFianna Fáil in government would not include the 2 per cent increase in VAT in its budget, its finance spokesman has said.Wed Nov 30 2011 - 00:00
Increase in carbon tax planned for budgetCARBON TAX which applies to domestic heating and motor fuels will be increased by a minimum of €5 per tonne in the budget despite…Tue Nov 29 2011 - 00:00
Coillte head to take 15% voluntary pay cutCHIEF EXECUTIVE of Coillte David Gunning, has announced he will take a voluntary pay cut of 15 per cent, two days after being…Tue Nov 29 2011 - 00:00
Opposition claims of conflict over contents of budget dismissedTHE GOVERNMENT has dismissed claims by Opposition parties there are tensions or conflicts between both Coalition parties over…Thu Nov 24 2011 - 00:00
Coalition considers cut in social chargeTHE GOVERNMENT is considering reducing the rate of the universal social charge for lower paid workers as part of an effort to…Wed Nov 23 2011 - 00:00
Labour's promises refuse to go awayBACKGROUND: WHEN TÁNAISTE Eamon Gilmore was reminded recently of his oft-quoted “it’s Frankfurt’s way or Labour’s way” warning…Tue Nov 22 2011 - 00:00
Cut to child benefit still 'live' option for budgetTHE CONTROVERSIAL proposal to cut child benefit by €10 a month remains a “live option” for Government ahead of three successive…Tue Nov 22 2011 - 00:00
Document detailed plans for taxes, jobs initiatives and credit union sectorBERLIN LEAK: THE GOVERNMENT document made public by a German parliamentary committee contained new information on taxes, job…Sat Nov 19 2011 - 00:00
Real decisions about Ireland's future being made in Berlin and elsewhereLEAKED DOCUMENTS: When you are a programme country you no longer have full control of your destinyFri Nov 18 2011 - 00:00
Budget 'leak' in Berlin sparks complaint by GovernmentTHE GOVERNMENT has complained to the European Commission over the release in Germany of a document disclosing confidential details…Fri Nov 18 2011 - 00:00
Howlin rejects criticism of extent of quango cullALMOST 50 State quangos will be abolished or amalgamated by the end of 2012 under the programme for public service reformFri Nov 18 2011 - 00:00
Rabbitte warns of potential benefits for debtTREATY CHANGE: A SENIOR Minister has said that while the Government does not want to hold a referendum on further change to …Thu Nov 17 2011 - 00:00
Awaiting the 'unknown unknowns' in budgetDirt tax, old reliables and VAT set to be hiked but Michael Noonan will have to do more than that to find €3.8bnThu Nov 17 2011 - 00:00
A wobble within Labour but full-scale mutiny not on cardsBACKGROUND: A GOVERNMENT with a huge majority can sometimes find itself in a more perilous place than one defending a wafer-…Wed Nov 16 2011 - 00:00
Minister to tell Dáil of response to regulator's position on interest ratesTHE GOVERNMENT will give its first formal response in the Dáil today to a letter from Financial Regulator Matthew Elderfield …Tue Nov 15 2011 - 00:00
Lenihan wanted radical FF reformsTHE LATE Fianna Fáil TD Brian Lenihan proposed radical organisational changes for Fianna Fáil in a document he was working on…Mon Nov 14 2011 - 00:00
Prison and metro plans put on hold as cutbacks take effectSOME OF the most ambitious infrastructure projects ever planned by the State have been deferred for at least five years as part…Fri Nov 11 2011 - 00:00
Major banks rebuff Government over mortgage rate cutsTHE THREE major banks in the State rebuffed the Government’s efforts to get them to lower interest rates during a “tense” and…Thu Nov 10 2011 - 00:00
Projects scrapped by €750m capital cuts to be namedTHE GOVERNMENT will disclose details today of the major infrastructure projects that are to be dropped as a result of a €750 …Thu Nov 10 2011 - 00:00
Budget to cut social protection spending by €700mTHE DEPARTMENT of Social Protection will bear the brunt of cuts in next month’s budget, accounting for €700 million of the €2…Wed Nov 09 2011 - 00:00
€700m cut for social protectionThe Department of Social Protection will bear the brunt of cuts in next month’s budget, accounting for €700 million of the €2…Wed Nov 09 2011 - 00:00
Ministers indicate rate cut possible on Anglo bailoutTWO SENIOR Ministers have raised expectations of substantial reductions in interest on the €47 billion bailout deal for Anglo…Mon Nov 07 2011 - 00:00
Coalition's climate policy shift condemnedTHE GOVERNMENT’S shift of policy on climate change has been criticised by the Green Party and environmental bodies but praised…Fri Nov 04 2011 - 00:00
Hogan seeks break for farm emissionsANALYSIS: Climate change policy and economic growth are not at odds in the Minister’s 38-page reportThu Nov 03 2011 - 00:00
Noonan urges ECB to provide 'wall of money'CONTAGION: MINISTER FOR Finance Michael Noonan has said the European Central Bank must put up a “wall of money” to prevent contagion…Thu Nov 03 2011 - 00:00
Hogan shifts policy on climate change as Bill 'not a priority'A RADICAL shift in policy on climate change is to be outlined by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan today, when he announces…Thu Nov 03 2011 - 00:00
Officials criticised over €3.6bn errorThe Department of Finance has this afternoon released its file of correspondence with the National Treasury Management Agency…Thu Nov 03 2011 - 00:00
Who could want this for Ireland, asks KennyIRISH REACTION: TAOISEACH ENDA Kenny has said he is not surprised the Greek government has decided to put the rescue package…Wed Nov 02 2011 - 00:00
Five reasons why referendum was lostANALYSIS: THE REFERENDUM on giving Oireachtas committees strong powers of inquiry was lost for many of the reasons the first …Tue Nov 01 2011 - 00:00
Coalition reflects on ambitious referendums target after defeatTHE GOVERNMENT may have to delay ambitious plans to hold at least 10 referendums during its term of office following the defeat…Tue Nov 01 2011 - 00:00
Howlin says sorry for criticising commissionTHE MINISTER FOR Public Expenditure and Reform has apologised unreservedly for what he said was a “cack-handed” criticism of …Tue Nov 01 2011 - 00:00
Electorate sends complacent Fine Gael a stark reminderTHE MOMENT the presidential prize slipped from Fine Gael’s grasp can be pinpointed to the afternoon of Saturday, July 9th, in…Mon Oct 31 2011 - 00:00
Confusion of rumours with fact is a dangerous developmentTHE MINI-BLOG site Twitter has been highly influential in shaping political events in Ireland over the past few years.Mon Oct 31 2011 - 00:00
Higgins first choice in almost all constituenciesANALYSIS : Michael D Higgins topped the poll in all but seven of the 43 constituenciesSat Oct 29 2011 - 01:00
First shoots of recovery for FF and Greens but FG loses touchANALYSIS: The tradition in Irish politics that byelections are always won by an opposition party has come to an endSat Oct 29 2011 - 01:00
Writedown for Greece queried as Ireland shoulders full debtOPPOSITION PARTIES have questioned why Greece will benefit from a 50 per cent writedown of its debt while Ireland will still …Fri Oct 28 2011 - 01:00
Turbulent race for Áras ends as polls openVOTERS WILL go to the polls today to elect the country’s ninth president as well as to decide two referendums on reducing judicial…Thu Oct 27 2011 - 01:00
Independent candidate claims McGuinness and SF ambushed himGALLAGHER CONTROVERSY: INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE Seán Gallagher yesterday accused Martin McGuinness and Sinn Féin of mounting an…Wed Oct 26 2011 - 01:00
Echoes of 1990 in Gallagher's defining momentANALYSIS: RECENT ELECTION campaigns have thrown up dramatic defining moments when a candidate with a seemingly unassailable …Wed Oct 26 2011 - 01:00
Treaty changes should not be taboo, says German chancellorAMENDMENTS: GERMAN CHANCELLOR Angela Merkel again raised the sceptre of changes to the European Union treaty to harden governance…Mon Oct 24 2011 - 01:00
Praise for courage of Libyans in removing GadafyFOREIGN POLICY: EUROPEAN LEADERS have said that the death of the former Libyan leader Muammar Gadafy has brought to an end “…Mon Oct 24 2011 - 01:00
Gallagher threatened to sue enterprise board over alleged remarksLEGAL THREAT: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Seán Gallagher threatened to sue the Louth County Enterprise Board earlier this year for…Fri Oct 21 2011 - 01:00
Government satisfied with bailout progressThe Government has said the latest review by the EU and IMF of Ireland’s adherence to the bailout programme has been a success…Thu Oct 20 2011 - 01:00
The many faces of Seán GallagherThe would-be president shows many sides to the public but his real identity has been hard to pin downThu Oct 20 2011 - 01:00
Arás rivals target Gallagher in penultimate TV debateIndependent candidate Seán Gallagher came under regular attack from his presidency rivals over his past links with Fianna Fail…Tue Oct 18 2011 - 01:00
Dublin West may halt a 29-year trendANALYSIS: THE LAST time a government party won a byelection was in 1982 when Noel Treacy of Fianna Fáil was the victor in Galway…Tue Oct 18 2011 - 01:00
