Opposition parties have criticised the Government's new jobs plan today.

Rather than using expert knowledge to sign our death warrant, those who create ideas in Ireland should be given the means to move forward, writes Tom O’Connor.

THE Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment’s spending potential was increased by just under 3% to €1.427 billion in the pre-budget estimates for 2008.

HOME-PRODUCED crafts generated almost €130 million for the Irish economy last year.

THE County Enterprise Boards have helped create close to 27,000 full-time and almost 4,000 part-time jobs across the country over the past decade, Defence Minister, Michael Smith, said yesterday.