Minimum rates of pay for workers in the construction sector are set to rise by 5.4% while rates in the electrical sector will increase by 2.7%.

Philip O’Leary, managing partner of Cork law firm FitzGerald Legal & Advisory, has been appointed as a board member to the Irish Banking Culture Board (IBCB), funded by Ireland’s five main retail banks with the aim of rebuilding trust in the sector.

Chemists, electrical goods retailers and hardware outlets are the big winners from a continued rise in consumer spending levels over the past three months, while pubs and bars largely lost out.

The business body says recent increases are costing small companies over €20,000.

It says there's been too much focus on foreign direct investment from multinationals, despite the fact that small homegrown businesses account for 98% of companies here.

"The discussions were very, very positive so I look forward to having something to announce."

Former Scotland striker Charlie Nicholas has labelled the Scottish Football Association an "embarrassment" over its failed pursuit of Michael O’Neill.

The Scottish Football Association has been granted permission to talk to Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill regarding its' vacant manager's position, it is understood.

Michael O'Neill has earned the right to hold talks with the Scottish Football Association, according to his Northern Irish compatriots in Scotland.

Northern Ireland face a huge battle to keep hold of in-demand manager Michael O’Neill after the Scottish Football Association yesterday made an official approach for the Armagh man.

Scotland began life after Gordon Strachan with a friendly defeat by Holland at Pittodrie after Memphis Depay netted a controversial winner.

The Government has said it will provide further details of its €300m Brexit loan scheme for SMEs in the coming weeks amid mounting uncertainty among industry groups.

The Small Firms Association has said economic growth cannot be taken for granted.

The Small Firms Association (SFA) has urged the Government to be more “ambitious” in its spending approach, in the October budget, by increasing capital expenditure to 4% of GDP.

Police are probing "threatening comments" made against Neil Lennon after the Hibernian head coach's eventful return to Ibrox.

Irish banks continue to charge Irish small firms the highest interest rates in the eurozone, with a new Central Bank report suggesting the problem may have gotten worse for many SMEs, despite wholesale funding of banks resting at rock-bottom rates.

The Small Firms Association has said most of its members plan to give pay rises this year based on their ability to do so, after the Government raised the minimum wage by the 30c.

An 81-year-old man has been arrested by police in Scotland investigating alleged historical sexual abuse in youth football.

Larry Ryan dons his Santa hat to dole out Christmas presents to the sporting world.

Police in Scotland have said they have received reports of historic child abuse within football.

Juno McEnroe meets unions, employers groups, and politicians who give their take on the wave of pay disputes

England 3 Scotland 0: On a day when both teams took on FIFA and won, the 113th match between England and Scotland ended, as it has done rather often in recent history, with three points for the men in white but frustration for those north of the border who left Wembley ruminating on missed chances and wasted opportunities.

Kehlan Kirwan finds little in the Budget that will inspire entrepreneurs and start-ups. The Government’s priorities appear to be fixed on multinationals and not domestic small businesses.

Even in a budget with very little room for manoeuvre, this Government has missed an opportunity to address the many issues facing entrepreneurs, which would assist them in providing additional employment and driving prosperity all parts of the country.

Joey Barton has been issued with a notice of complaint by the Scottish Football Association after being accused of betting on football matches.

The Small Firms Association (SFA) has urged the Government to bring capital gains tax (CGT) back down to 20%.

The Small Firms Association has called for a new 10% capital gains tax rate and said that spending on capital projects remains at dangerously low levels.

HAVE you ever pulled a sickie? If so, you’re not the only one. 

AMIDST the layers of uncertainty surrounding Brexit, one thing is for sure: Ireland’s business environment must be fit for purpose and as attractive as possible to potential investors and existing businesses, both large and small, writes Linda Barry.

Raising the national minimum wage, at this time, would threaten the country’s small business community, a leading representative body has warned.

Business representative bodies called for the Government to ensure that Ireland is at the forefront of upcoming negotiations as the fallout from the UK’s decision to leave the EU began to hit home.

Mike Ashley has been ordered to pay the costs of Rangers chairman Dave King and the Scottish Football Association after abandoning a legal action.

Police are continuing to investigate fan violence at the end of the Scottish Cup Final as Rangers hit out at the handling of the trouble.

Here’s a briefing on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com today

Ireland’s economy is the “most vulnerable” to Britain’s potential exit from the EU, with a 2.2% impact on growth rates a possible consequence of the fallout.

The survival of small businesses across Ireland hangs in the balance because of the Brexit issue, an industry body has warned.

There is never a good reason not to watch a football match, writes Liam Mackey

Outgoing Central Bank governor Patrick Honohan has admitted that while the recovery is “solid” and delivering plenty of jobs, small businesses are starved of credit.

The Small Firms Association has submitted a list of 28 measures on which it wants government action to help create the next 100,000 jobs across the economy.