Ireland’s unemployment rate is better than the eurozone average for the first time since 2008, according to the latest figures released by Eurostat, the European Commission’s data service.

The Government has been allocated over €63m by the EU to help with its youth employment initiative and is expected to double that amount with money it receives from the Social Fund.

British threats to deprive EU workers of allowances, including child benefit, would hit Irish families worst after the Poles, according to the latest available figures.

The EU has sought to calm fears in countries such as Britain, France, and Germany that they face a mass influx of Romanians and Bulgarians following the lifting of restrictions, a change that risks fuelling anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe.

The latest eurozone unemployment figures, showing an increase of 1m more people out of work, has caused global alarm.

Ireland has the highest proportion of children in jobless households in the EU, and they are threatened with a poverty-filled future as austerity damages their prospects, a report has said.

Too much austerity is being prescribed in the current crisis and a better way must be found to ensure growth, the European Commission’s employment and social affairs commissioner, László Andor, has said.

Ireland was one of just four EU countries with tax on low-incomes at under 30%, and was an example for others countries on how tax could be used to help create employment and fight against poverty.

A RECESSION is now very likely in the EU next year, and the outcome of last week’s summit is unlikely to change this, according to Laszlo Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

THE Government has just seven months in which to spend the latest money approved under the European Globalisation Fund.

THE British-based call centre, Talk Talk, could be facing an investigation by the EU Commission over its controversial decision to shut down its Irish operations in Waterford in the space of 30 days.

The EU Commissioner for Employment is to investigate the planned closure of the TalkTalk call centre in Waterford, with the loss 575 jobs.

JOBS Minister Richard Bruton has ordered state agencies to come up with a south-east employment action plan after admitting he is “not happy” with the Industrial Development Authority’s job creation performance.

HALF of all those unemployed risk being “permanently excluded from the jobs market”, the European Commission has warned.

European Employment Commissioner Lázló Andor has said that the Government's jobs initiative

THE number of people losing their jobs in Ireland could have been less had the Government and employers adopted a more flexible approach, an EU study suggests.

GOVERNMENTS have been warned they are reforming pension schemes on the basis of unreliable projections and the result will be devastating for the elderly in the future.

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

MEP Alan Kelly, who was to the fore in forcing the EU Commission to approve the European Globalisation Fund (EGF) to assist workers hit by the Dell pull-out, remains very unhappy at the way the fund has being managed in this country.

EU Employment Commissioner Laszlo Andor is to visit the mid-west region to inspect progress on the distribution of a €22 million European Globalisation Adjustment Fund to former Dell workers.

POVERTY is something we cannot afford, according to the European Commissioner with the not very sexy portfolio of employment, social affairs and inclusion.