It remains to be seen if Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar is capable of shaking off the complacency

Irish firms require improved training to boost productivity in key industries, according to the latest scorecard from the National Competitiveness Council.

The country’s competitiveness watchdog has warned that Ireland’s economic recovery and the Government’s commitment to reaching full employment are under “serious and imminent threat” amid an increasingly uncertain global outlook.

A war of words has opened up between the Government and local councils as to whom is to blame for the delay in the building of social houses.

Ongoing increases in domestic costs — such as wages, utility prices, property and business services — pose a large threat to the country’s sustainable recovery, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has warned.

Today, Kehlan Kirwan looks back on a good week for Ireland, with a number of job announcements and positive growth figures suggesting the economy is powering up. Kehlan argues, however, that all is not what it seems.

The Government’s competitiveness watchdog yesterday warned the bedrock of the country’s recent economic revival was under threat, on the same day Ireland’s mantle as Europe’s fastest growing economy was further cemented by "spectacular" growth figures.

The competitiveness underpinning Ireland’s economic growth — which has seen more people return to work — is under threat from a range of factors that need to be urgently addressed.

It’s the stuff of Republican nightmares: Fox News runs out of advertising time.

Peter Clinch, one-time advisor to former taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has been appointed chair of the National Competitiveness Council.

Further structural reforms are needed to improve Ireland’s competitiveness, according to the annual report from the National Competitiveness Council.

Any erosion to Ireland’s cost competitiveness could jeopardise job creation, damage living standards and undermine the economic progress of recent years, a new report has found.

Despite increasing exports the private sector has experienced a dramatic decline in investment from over 23% of GDP in 2005 to 7% in 2011.

The economy has stabilised but has still not recovered, with further reform essential to restore competitiveness, said the National Competitiveness Council.

IRELAND’s “competitive scorecard” is improving but there remains a lot to be done, according to the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

MUCH done — more to do. That’s the verdict on the cost of doing business in Ireland, according to the latest study by the National Competitiveness Council.

Ireland still needs to work on its competitiveness in order to recover from the recession, according to a new study by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

THE return of the National Show Jumping Championships to Ennis Showgrounds can only be described as a victory for the sport and that misnomer that is common sense.

The regular disclosure of incidents of domestic and sexual violence has led to one professor describing this ongoing problem as a national crisis, writes Cormac O’Keeffe

THE state awarded the contract to build and operate the new National Convention Centre in Dublin at a cost of €416 million, despite receiving a bid for about €200m less.

IRELAND’S cost competitiveness has improved but property and broadband prices as well as legal fees are still too high.

The cost of doing business here has fallen relative to other countries but certain key products and services remain stubbornly expensive, according to the National Competitiveness Council.

UNLESS the tax base is broadened to repair the public finances income taxes will have to be raised, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has warned.

CLOTHES and food costs plunged in the last year with experts predicting prices are set to fall even further.

ECONOMIC recovery and job creation will in future be led by boosting exports and not by the struggling construction sector.

ELECTRICITY suppliers must reduce costs to ease the pressure on Irish business, according to an energy report issued yesterday by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

THIS week’s report into the lack of competitiveness in the economy made for grim reading against the backdrop of the financial pressures facing the country and the difficulties surrounding Liam Carroll’s crumbling property empire.

GOVERNMENT charges are a major factor in making Irish business uncompetitive against international peers.

THE Irish economy needs to recover its lost competitiveness rapidly if it is not to slip into a long period of recession.

The National Competitiveness Council says Ireland's competitiveness has not changed dramatically over the past year.

Government advisors today urged Taoiseach Brian Cowen to bring in a raft of new taxes including a property tax, university fees and water bills.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) today called for the prioritisation of investment in Dublin and our other main cities to enhance and ensure Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.

The National Competitiveness Council is highlighting four key areas where action must be taken to help the Irish economy become more competitive.

Fine Gael’s enterprise spokesperson, Leo Varadkar, is to introduce a private members’ motion in the Dáil next week calling on the Government to Reduce inflation and introduce regulatory reform.

Most restaurants push diners to buy expensive bottled water instead of serving free tap water, a consumer group in the UK said today.

A fast food chain is encouraging pester power by giving youngsters free Transformers toys with kids’ meals, a consumer group said today.

Banks were accused today of presiding over a current account “jungle” that disadvantaged vulnerable customers in the UK.

IN your editorial (May 17) you commented on the criticisms by some women’s groups of the new body being set up by the Government to deal with domestic violence.

THE Department of Justice and the courts service are to look into the establishment of community courts to deal with anti-social crime like vandalism, disorderly conduct and petty theft.

The Government's National Crime Council is recommending the introduction of so-called community courts in Ireland.

A consumer group will today highlight the plight of people stuck in the fuel poverty trap in Britain.

REDUNDANCY is increasingly becoming an everyday experience in Ireland with the manufacturing sector bearing the brunt of the losses.

Virgin Media said it believes customers back its battle with Sky but it will not stop them switching to another TV provider if they are unhappy about losing several popular channels.