Employers' group IBEC has said a new report shows that Ireland is rapidly regaining the competitiveness it lost during the boom years.

IBEC have said a new national agreement will help to maintain the maximum number of jobs in the country.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has warned that public sector workers will have to face up to changes in their work practices.

THE weeks since the election and the start of the silly season have seen some interesting exchanges between the Government and the opposition, and indeed within the Government, about political policy and positioning.

I don’t want to suggest that Ireland’s EU presidency wasn’t important, or that it wasn’t a great success.