Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe today said it was possible that a referendum on whether or not to abolish the Seanad could take place on the same day as the General Election.

Government-backed agencies will create 30,000 jobs next year, Minister for Enterprise and Trade, Batt O'Keeffe has claimed today.

A €17m fund is being launched to encourage new firms to create jobs.

US bank Citi is to create 250 jobs next year in Dublin and Waterford..

Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe said the Government’s four-year plan will restore confidence, create jobs and drive economic recovery.

The Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe has categorically denied that an increase in the corporation tax rate is on the cards.

The Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe will today move to reassure international investors in Ireland that there will be no change to corporation tax rates here.

The Cabinet is meeting this morning to discuss the billions of euro in cuts that have to made in December's Budget.

The Government expects to create 450 new jobs with the allocation of extra funds to the country's network of city and county enterprise boards today.

The Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Minister Batt O'Keeffe has said the Government is looking at overhauling laws as part of the clampdown on rogue bankers.

The Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe has said the people who are gaining in the polls now "are not the ones who have to make decisions and put policies together".

Taoiseach Brian Cowen tonight insisted he was not "on probation" as speculation over his leadership reached fever pitch.

The Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe has said he has told AIB's top brass of the serious difficulties their businesses customers are having with them.

One of the Taoiseach's Cabinet colleagues has described his apology for his performance in a radio interview as "manly, courageous and the right thing to do".

Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe is set to give in to the IDA's demands for more staff.

The Union of Students in Ireland has said the majority of the 150,000 graduates Ireland produces in the next five years will be forced to emigrate to find work.

Government enterprise chiefs were tonight urged to fight for a new investor at a business site which is to close its doors for a second time.

The Government is announcing extra funding for start-up firms.

At least 15 cases being investigated by the Director of Corporate Enforcement following the banking crisis have been referred to the Garda Fraud Squad, it has emerged.

A €360m research investment unveiled by the government today will create almost 2,500 jobs and help drive Ireland's economic recovery, the Taoiseach pledged today.

A top US global financial security firm is to create up to 117 new jobs in Clare over the next three years.

Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe said today that he is very concerned by reports that up to 4,000 jobs could be lost in eircom and the country's two main banks.

A top US medical devices firm is to create 100 new jobs with a €6.7m expansion of its plant in Galway, it was announced today.

The Enterprise and Innovation Minister Batt O'Keeffe has said he has rejected plans from the banks on lending to business.

Analog Devices has announced a €23m investment in Research and Development at their operation in Limerick.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Batt O'Keeffe has said he is confident Ireland will not suffer from a reduction in the UK's corporation tax.

Some 240 new jobs are being created in Ireland by Zurich Insurance.

Fifty new jobs are to be created by global company MFG.com in Co Louth.

PRESSURE grew on Senator Ivor Callely last night to follow the example of his Seanad colleague Larry Butler and resign from the Fianna Fail parliamentary party over the expenses controversy.

A senior Fianna Fáil minister has said Ivor Callely should resign the party whip pending an official inquiry into his expenses - before he is forced out.

There is good news on the jobs front today with the annoucement of 100 new jobs at an aircraft maintenance firm at Dublin Airport.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Batt O'Keeffe is expected to announce a significant number of jobs for Dublin Airport later this morning.

AIB is making €500m available to lend to small businesses to support them through difficult economic conditions.

A Cork-based lighting firm is to create 25 new jobs after securing a major contract with Tesco.

The Small Firms Association has welcomed Enterprise and Innovation Minister Batt O'Keeffe's meeting with top bankers to discuss lending to small and medium-sized businesses.

Enterprise and Innovation Minister Batt O'Keeffe is to meet top bankers to discuss lending to small and medium- sized businesses.

A joint North-South application to Europe is to be made to support people losing their jobs at Quinn Insurance.

A total of 50 new jobs are on the way for Leitrim, it was announced today.

Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Minister Batt O'Keeffe has confirmed cutbacks of more than €20m to a fund for businesses in crisis during the recession.

A new drive is getting underway to create 117,000 jobs here over the next ten years.

Minister Batt O'Keeffe has today announced that former Enterprise Ireland chief executive Dan Flinter is to chair the Quinn Insurance inter-agency team.

Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe will meet with Quinn Insurance workers in Cavan this morning.

There was further pressure today on Ireland's EU commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn to give up her Irish ministerial pension of €108,000.

The Enterprise Minister Batt O'Keeffe has said he is committed to assisting any workers at Quinn Insurance who are made redudant.