IRELAND'S infrastructural deficit has weakened its competitiveness and businesses are concerned that the poor exchequer finances will lead to investment cuts.

ON analysis of the election results a very interesting fact becomes apparent.

HOLIDAYMAKERS are heading in droves to the United States thanks to SSIA bonuses pouring into their bank accounts and rock-bottom prices due to a weak dollar.

Despite a slowdown in housing activity, the prospects for much of the economy are still quite favourable, the AIB said in a statement today.

Bank of Ireland has urged all savers in the Cork region to seek advice when their SSIA matures next week.

IS THERE a danger that the legacy of Charlie McCreevy will go sour for the Government?

The ISEQ industry of Irish shares was down 93.52 points this morning, following a report predicting that economic growth will slow down in 2008.

Ireland's economic growth is expected to slow considerably next year, according to the latest assessment from the ESRI.

World stock markets have continued to fall today, hitting people’s pension plans and final SSIA payouts.

MOTORISTS buoyed by the prospects of bumper SSIA windfalls are increasingly splashing out on new cars, latest figures show.

ALMOST 80,000 SSIAs were prematurely closed because the holders could no longer afford contributions, wished to end their participation or breached scheme rules.

Home and garden search engine HomeWise.ie is set to benefit from the expected surge in spending on home improvements over the coming months when the remaining two-thirds of SSIAs are due to mature.

THE Financial Regulator has been monitoring the SSIA maturity process as part of its consumer protection role.

EDDIE HOBBS is back on television screens, but the beleaguered Government can rest easy — the consumer champion is taking aim at the SSIAs.

SAVERS who are enjoying their SSIA bonuses have been warned to keep their hard-earned cash away from murky pyramid schemes, charity frauds and free holiday offers.

JUSTICE Minister Michael McDowell probably did not appreciate the irony when, in relation to the Garda Rep-resentative Association’s intention to target government deputies with dodgy majorities, he said most association members were intelligent and would not be dictated to.

I READ recently that a report from the ERSI has indicated that 8% of the population, or approximately 300,000 people, including many children, are living in consistent poverty.

IN almost exactly a year’s time — probably on Thursday, May 3, 2007 — the Taoiseach will go into the Dáil, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, and say something like this:

IF, as Shakespeare once almost remarked, you have any SSIAs to shed, prepare to spend them now.

IF, as Shakespeare once almost remarked, you have any SSIAs to shed, prepare to spend them now.

WITH the first of the SSIA saving funds maturing next month, car dealerships are not the only businesses licking their lips.

DOMESTIC demand will be the key driver of economic growth, AIB, the country’s largest bank, said yesterday.

CONSUMER spending was the main driver of economic growth last year, new figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) reveal.

CONSUMERS were warned yesterday to make sure they are well-informed before taking decisions on what to do with their SSIA money.

EUROPE must have a single market in services for it to compete globally.

THE Irish Association of Investment Managers (IAIM) yesterday expressed concern about the advertising of overseas properties.

HARDLY a day goes by without a politician or a financial guru spouting advice on the radio about how best we can spend our SSIA windfalls.

People are squirreling away €1.8bn in over 150,000 SSIA accounts in Credit Unions, it emerged today.

STRONG growth in the Irish construction sector is forecast again for 2006 in a new review by a top stockbroking firm.

BANK of Ireland Life increased new business sales for last year by 27%, making it a contender to be top performer in the Irish market for 2004.

WE have reached a point in economic forecasting which suggests fair winds ahead for several years to come.

THE Government was last night accused of engineering the biggest voter bribe in history as €9 billion of SSIAs will mature just a month before the likely date of the next general election.

Overall predictions

AFTER splurging €4 billion in the run-up to Christmas, shoppers were out in force yesterday for the traditional winter sales.

SPECIAL Savings and Investment Accounts (SSIAs) have added a further €1 billion to their projected final value, according to a report from actuaries, Life Strategies.

IN recent days the Taoiseach has been at pains to reiterate that he will not go into coalition with Sinn Féin after the next election, no matter what way the electoral math works out.

THE Government is to announce a series of measures to reduce the crippling costs of childcare for working parents in next month's Budget.

THE maturity of 1.2 million SSIA accounts over the next two years will create problems for the Irish economy according to Ulster Bank chief executive, Cormac McCarthy.

THE Irish Insurance Federation has called on the Government to give tax breaks to SSIA holders to encourage them to continue saving.

HERE’S a Nostradamus prediction that can’t go wrong. It may not seem like it at first glance, but it’s good news and it’s bad news.

Minister for Social and Family Affairs Seamus Brennan is facing strong opposition over plans to roll-out a pensions package for the national savings scheme.

Bank of Ireland has reported a sharp decline in the number of its customers who intend to spend all of the money in their Special Savings Incentive Accounts.

FORMER head of research at Merrion Stockbrokers, Rory Gillen, has launched a service to entice ordinary punters into buying shares.