One step forward on tackling poverty

When organisations as disparate as IBEC, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Association of Pension Funds and the Society of Actuaries in Ireland find common cause and warn Government of a looming crisis then only a foolish politician would look the other way and hope the problem will resolve itself.

A pensions expert has said it would be “grossly unfair” on members of defined contribution schemes if the Government were to impose a another pension levy on all schemes to fund the insolvent ones.

For the first time in its 56-history, the EU agreed to cut its budget, a move hailed by austerity-focused northern countries as a victory and by others as a case of European’s being the losers.

IRELAND marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks with a simple yet moving ceremony hosted by the US embassy in Dublin.

TÁNAISTE Mary Coughlan has been accused of failing former SR Technics workers with delays while she was in charge of the Department of Enterprise meaning that much of a €7.5 million retraining fund supplied by the EU may have to be returned unspent.

THE EU is in discussions with the Government over protecting pension schemes from bankruptcy, as happened with Waterford Glass.

IT is wonderful that Waterford Crystal yesterday returned to centre stage in the city it defined for so many generations.

THERE are currently three vacancies in the Dáil brought about by resignations. Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher stood down in 2009 after his election to the European Parliament. Earlier this year George Lee of Fine Gael resigned his South Dublin seat in a tizzy and Martin Cullen stepped down from his Waterford seat due to health reasons.

Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer was one of the success stories of the Celtic Tiger economy, especially with the development of the wonder drug Viagra.

FORMER Dell workers have expressed dismay at delays in distributing EU funds earmarked for helping former employees back into the workforce.

Ladies of the night, keystone cops and political Pinocchios all featured in the swirl of intrigue as Willie O’Dea battled for his Cabinet life.

SOME young Irish people are emigrating “to enjoy themselves” according to Tánaiste Mary Coughlan.

THE discussion, if you could call it that, over recent days on the prospect, or even the possibility, of cutting the minimum wage gives just a flavour of the great arguments and potential for deep bitterness that lie ahead. Hard choices, as we face ever fewer options, will make for difficult times and fraught, fiery relationships.

GREEN party leader John Gormley claims if we taxpayers let a bank fail similar to Lehman Brothers in the US, then the consequences could be catastrophic.

Recent public opinion polls have provided a clear indication of the public disillusionment at the way the government has been handling the economy. This was further reinforced by the turnout of more than 100,000 people at the protest march in Dublin on Saturday.

More than 80 former workers of Swissco, which closed suddenly in December, have today protested at the company building in Little Island, Co Cork, demanding redundancy money.

IN the early stages of this recession, politicians assured us we were not returning to the 1980s. Now we are facing something much, much worse. How bad will it get? How long will it last?

FRENZIED brainwashed loyalists ready to die for their Emperor, they were manic in their patriotic determination to destroy American shipping.

MORE Irish people are taking holidays outside the eurozone because of the strengthening euro, the Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) revealed yesterday.

MICHAEL MOYNIHAN’S hatred and disapproval of the Ryder Cup 2006 (Irish Examiner, GolfPlus, September 22) has given me immense psychological comfort — there are now two people in the whole country that truly believe this event is nothing short of a vulgar portrayal to the outside world of our so-called economic success.

WATERFORD Wedgwood’s top management team has been granted share options worth almost €16.5 million.

WATERFORD Wedgwood's nightmare year has continued with first half sales and profits sliding further.

THE number of people employed rose by a record 72,400 in the past year - and more than half of these were women, according to the Central Statistics Office.

THE shockwaves hitting Ireland’s Olympic gold medallist Cian O’Connor reach far beyond the allegation that his horse, Waterford Crystal, was given a banned substance.

TWO businessmen who ran a major mail order business from Ireland serving the US market have become multi-millionaires.

WOULD you pay in to see an attack containing Brian Begley, Ken McGrath and Joe Deane or the full-forward line of Dara Ó Cinnéide, Colm Cooper and Declan Browne?