The downturn in construction was today blamed for the highest unemployment levels in eight years.

THE trend of wholesale job losses in the manufacturing sector continued yesterday with the announcement of 360 job losses at Allergan in Arklow.

A COMPANY that manufacturers PCs has been ordered to pay €5,000 to a Nigerian national after racist graffiti was sprayed on a toilet wall.

Thirty-seven new jobs will be created in Dundalk by PC manaufacturer iQon Technologies as a result of a €4m expansion programme.