The newly-elected Government at its meeting today, on the nomination of the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, has appointed Ministers of State and assigned them to departments with the particular areas of responsibility set out below.

TRADE unions have emphasised the positive role the Croke Park deal on public sector reform can play in correcting the state’s finances.

TRADE union group IMPACT is to blame for most of the delays, inefficiency and dysfunctional nature of the new centralised system for medical card services, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

TRADE unions are more culpable than bankers in this country for what has happened over the last two decades, according to one of the country’s top businessmen.

TRADE union leaders opposed to the Lisbon treaty have called for the group tasked with providing objective information on both sides of the Lisbon debate to step down amid claims of pro-treaty bias.

TRADE ministers will meet in New Delhi today and tomorrow to inject new impetus into the faltering Doha round trade talks in the run-up to a G20 summit in Pittsburgh, USA, later this month.

TRADE unions representing workers at Peel Ports operations across Europe are gearing up for a co-ordinated protest against the company’s treatment of its staff in Dublin Port.

TRADE union membership is indeed abused by the few fortunate enough to have it.

TRADE union leaders meet in Dublin this morning to discuss what public sector workers can contribute to economic recovery.

TRADE union reaction to the public service plan was largely negative last night with IMPACT, the largest union in the sector, claiming it would result only in job cuts, not reform.

A TRADE union official has warned of catastrophic consequences if non-nursing workers vote in favour of industrial action at Cork’s Mercy University Hospital.

TRADE unionists have demanded a blanket ban on the imports of Israeli goods and services.

TRADE union leaders clashed yesterday over the Lisbon treaty and its implications for workers.

TRADE unions representing 60,000 employees in the community sector have demanded that their members are fully and fairly represented in the upcoming round of national pay talks.

TRADE unions representing nurses and orderlies in the psychiatric health sector are to ballot their members on industrial action following the collapse of talks with employers on a compensation scheme for workers assaulted by patients.

TRADE and Commerce Minister Michael Ahern has confirmed he is increasing the audit exemption threshold, the level below which companies are relieved of the obligation to engage an independent external auditor.

ENTERPRISE Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin opened a new business incubation centre at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology’s Castlebar Campus.

TRADE ministers from 148 countries are meeting in Hong Kong at the WTO talks where they will make decisions that could radically change the lives of millions of poor people.

TRADE union leaders said the childcare package was distinctly underwhelming and were also critical of the decision to retain tax reliefs for private hospitals.

TRADE and Commerce Minister Michael Ahern launched a Chambers of Commerce initiative to encourage business in China yesterday.

TRADE Minister Micheál Martin yesterday launched a distribution agreement between Phoenix IT&T Consulting and Irish financial software developer Ci3 for its flagship Sword operational risk software in Australia.

TRADE ministers headed to Geneva for crucial WTO negotiations this week with lowered expectations of finalising a first blueprint for a crucial December meeting in Hong Kong.

A TRADE union official told an Employment Appeals Tribunal that a problem regarding a Dunnes Stores employee in Tralee could have been resolved if the store manager agreed to meet him.

A TRADE union official last night stood over his claim that the Health Services Executive (HSE), southern area, was flouting the law by allowing smoking in a hospital unit for which it is responsible.

TRADE union leaders in Waterford city have called on the Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to reverse a decision to deport a South African woman involved in the promotion of cultural diversity and racism awareness in the city.

A TRADE union movement wants all workers in Waterford city to lend their support to almost 140 contract cleaners who were laid off on Monday in a festering pay dispute with their employer.

TRADE unionists nationwide are being urged to back the anti-bin tax campaign as Dublin prepares for a mass protest today outside Mountjoy Prison where Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins and his colleague, Councillor Clare Daly, are being held.

By Michael O’Farrell, Political Reporter TRADE unions are failing to respond to workers’ needs as membership remains low when compared to the number of people working, SIPTU said yesterday.

A TRADE body has instructed the country’s leisure centres to ban mobile picture phones amid fears of paedophiles preying on children in swimming pools.

TRADE ministers in Asia-Pacific countries are to endorse an emergency SARS recovery plan, as China reported no deaths for the first time in seven weeks.