Sinn Féin has been against the involvement of civil servants in mediating or attending some of the government formation negotiations.

If Ireland can keep improving its migrant-integration strategies — particularly in the labour market — then the country has real long-term growth potential, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

Many communities remain scarred by high levels of unemployment. Kyran Fitzgerald reports that many people could secure jobs if they were provided with the right tools.

The first homeless liaison nurse at one of the country’s busiest hospitals says that half of the homeless people who attended the emergency department in the first four months of this year left before they received full treatment.

The success of the Ireland 2040 strategy will depend on the extent to which Cork succeeds at an increasingly important national role, argues William Brady.

The rental home is the gift that keeps on giving to the landlord, writes Victoria White

Fresh proposals for rent certainty and ways to regulate the rental sector are set to give the Government a major headache after the last coalition blocked similar plans for legal reasons.

Ireland’s rental sector is under “enormous pressure” and is becoming a threat to job creation, according to the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).

A report to the Taoiseach has warned that thousands of families won't be able to buy their own home for years to come.

Almost a quarter of Irish households are jobless — either none of the occupants are working or have very limited access to work — and there is a real danger those households will "transmit" joblessness and poverty across generations.

The cost of renting across the country rose by 3.5% over the past year, but tenants are still paying 23% less than they were at the height of the boom in 2007.

Political leaders failed to adequately address the problems of unemployed and disadvantaged groups during the Celtic Tiger boom while economic progress was less comprehensive and sustainable than believed, according to a major report.

THE one form of opposition this austerity-monger Government fears most is to hit the Dáil today — grey rage.

The €370m further education and training sector could face a major change in focus as a review examines how well it is addressing the needs of the unemployed.

Nearly a quarter of Irish households are now jobless according to a new report out today.

Far from encouraging positivity on climate action, Victoria White (Opinion, Feb 21) instead promotes effective denial of climate science and increases my despair for our future.

AM I part of the problem?

Irish people have lost trust in the public service, despite a series of reports outlining significant progress and reform in the sector.

A new report has found that policing in Ireland would benefit from taking on lessons learnt by local Garda initiatives.

The Irish Co-operative Organisation Society has named Seamus O’Donohoe as its new chief executive officer.

Official jobless figures showing almost half a million people are out of work are too low, an economic think-tank has warned today.

LEADING economist Jim Power has supported the call for a Strategic Investment Bank in order to free up credit for the small business community.

THE National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has called for the establishment of a Strategic Investment Bank, saying it would be “a key step” towards providing finance for business investment.

IRELAND escaped the worst of the global recession thanks to its membership of the European Monetary Union (EMU); but it must still become more disciplined as a eurozone member, according to a new report.

Ireland would have fared much worse in the economic crisis had it not been a member of the European Union, according to analysis by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).

THE Government will attempt to avert the threat of escalating industrial unrest by inviting the social partners back for talks on a national response to the economic crisis.

SOCIAL partnership talks on a new economic recovery plan appeared to be floundering late last night after unions rejected demands by IBEC for a pay pause to the end of 2011 and a more employer-friendly inability to pay clause.

The board of the National Economic and Social Council is meeting this afternoon to set out a road map for renewed talks between the social partners.

THE National Economic & Social Council (NESC), the Government-linked economic consultancy and advisory board, has said that an integrated policy approach is the most effective way of dealing with the current economic crisis.

A LEADING Government think-tank has recommended the introduction of a property tax to replace stamp duty as a measure to counteract a major slowdown in the housing market.

The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) says investment in infrastructure must be maintained if Ireland is to withstand the current economic downturn.

Meeting Ireland's climate-change targets while ensuring economic growth will come under the spotlight today at a major conference in Dublin.

The arrival of large numbers of immigrants in recent years has led to significant benefits, according to a new report published today.

A €200m strategy was today launched by Focus Ireland to tackle homelessness in cities across the country.

IRELAND’S economy is in good health but could be at risk from a slump in house prices, weaker export markets and a US recession, according to key Government advisers.

Child poverty is a blight on society that must be eliminated, Social Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan insisted today.

The Government's National Economic and Social Council (NESC) has reportedly recommended the imposition of a special tax on second homes.

HOUSING Minister Noel Ahern is “hopeful” of brokering a deal with developers that will allow more than 25,000 middle-income earners squeezed out of the property market to buy their first homes.

UP to 350 architects, planners, engineers, developers, builders and state and local authority representatives will attend National Housing Conference 2005.

AN overhaul of social housing policies is urgently needed, CORI (the Conference of Religious of Ireland) has warned.

Despite their best efforts, co-op housing associations and voluntary and non-profit organisations just simply cannot keep up with the pace of demand for social housing.

THE Government’s plans for social and affordable housing fall well short of meeting society needs, it was claimed yesterday.

The Labour Party has accused the Government of failing to provide the money needed to fund a proper affordable housing programme.

OVER €10 billion must be invested in social and affordable housing over the next eight years to tackle the problems in this end of the market, a new economic report has recommended.