There is no coherent strategy for universal health insurance, there is no Government consensus, and, in light of swingeing health cuts, any commitment seems disingenuous, says Ray Kinsella.

The Government has said it expects to meet its deficit target under the EU-IMF bailout this year, despite missing its target for tax revenue.

STRICT new laws must be introduced to force Ireland’s €30 million cosmetic surgery industry to protect patients at risk of marketing ploys, punitive cancellation polices and clinics with little or no emergency supports.

A ban on risky trading activities by large British banks could be needed to stop them taking advantage of UK government support, MPs said today.

Banks will face penalties if they fail to curb “irresponsible” pay policies, the British Chancellor Alistair Darling said today.

Next week's package of British government reforms to the banking system will not hand over responsibility for regulation to the Bank of England, City minister Paul Myners indicated.

All of Ireland’s prisons are currently full but 400 new places will be made available by mid-2009, it was claimed today.

IRFU Chief Executive Philip Browne vowed his union will ‘not be held to ransom by contracts’ as it begins a review of Ireland’s disastrous Rugby World Cup campaign.

Sustainable Energy Ireland (SEI) commented today on the Government's Energy White Paper "Delivering a Sustainable Energy Future for Ireland".

If you drive east out of Los Angeles towards Palm Springs, you cross a vast desert. It is arid. It is monotonous.

More than 1.75 million booklets on the Government’s Irish Aid policy will be sent to every household next month, it emerged today.

LOCATING Irish aid supplies like tents and blankets at a UN hub in Italy will save thousands of lives in natural disasters, a leading UN aid coordinator said yesterday.

A TOTAL of 75 people applied to leave the Navy in the first three months of this year, and the union which represents sailors claims the situation will get worse unless the Government implements an agreed maximum time on sea patrols.

ANTI-SMOKING campaigners yesterday called on the British Government to follow the lead of Ireland by introducing a complete ban on smoking in the workplace.

FINANCE Minister Brian Cowen will have to bring income tax relief of €750 million a year to eliminate the 15% in stealth income taxes imposed by his predecessor, Charlie McCreevy, Ulster Bank economist Pat McArdle calculates.

Smoking will be banned in the majority of enclosed public places in England within four years, the British government confirmed today.

The National Trust in England today added its weight to a campaign against plans to expand Stansted Airport saying a “unique” 1,000 acre forest would suffer significant damage if the proposals became reality.

In its Aviation White Paper the UK government chose Stansted airport as the site for a new runway to meet the demands of expanding air traffic in the southeast of the country.

TAX returns for the 11 months to the end of November show a far healthier position than many had forecast.