LOOK out for Feirm Factor. The third series begins at 8.45pm next Sunday on TG4, with a repeat on Wednesday night at 10.30pm.

A HISTORY of the Workers’ Party written by Irish Examiner journalist Scott Millar and historian Brian Hanley has won the prestigious Brian Farrell prize for the best political science book published last year.

AS the final cost of the Anglo Irish Bank bailout is set to be revealed later today AIB has been warned it may have to raise more than the original figure of €7.4 billion in fresh funding to strengthen its capital base.

THE Government is under pressure to explain why the former Fás chief, Rody Molloy, got to keep an expensive company car along with his pension and golden handshake when he left the agency following an expenses scandal last year.

A group of trade unions joined forces today in a final bid to convince workers the Lisbon Treaty was essential for their rights.

The Government is being called on to help first-time buyers with their deposits for an affordable housing mortgage.

DURING the extended interregnum between Bertie Ahern’s resignation and the election of the new Taoiseach, one question went largely unanswered: what does Brian Cowen believe?

PROPERTY speculators trying to make a fast buck in the Irish housing market would be better off dealing in oil and cocoa beans from now on, the Minister of State for Housing said last night.

Property speculators trying to make a fast buck in the Irish housing market would be better off dealing in oil and cocoa beans, a Government minister said tonight.

The Government has today launched an information booklet to help people who qualify for affordable housing.

MORE THAN 375 acres of Government-owned land have been assigned for use as affordable housing, the latest official figures show.

ENVIRONMENT Minister Dick Roche yesterday pledged the State would deliver more affordable homes of high quality and do so at "a faster pace" than before.

A new Government think-tank will fast-track affordable housing in the greater Dublin area, it was claimed today.

DEVELOPERS have been warned legal action will be taken against them if they do not help provide more land for cheaper housing under an affordable homes strategy.

WEALTHY property developers stand to gain the most from a new Government scheme to provide affordable housing, the Opposition warned last night.

The Government is reportedly planning a new scheme under which property developers will be given prime State-owned land in return for building cheaper houses elsewhere.

THE Enterprise Strategy Group draws on expertise from across the Irish business landscape, with high-fliers from industry and trade unions as well as academics, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.

A COUPLE of years ago the Independent MEP Dana Rosemary Scallon was thrown out of the European People's Party grouping in the European Parliament.

A MUCH-LOVED traditional musician who brought joy to many people during his long life was laid to rest in his beloved Sliabh Luachra, yesterday.

AER LINGUS managers have come out in favour of selling the State airline next year.

IRELAND’s increasing levels of racism and a rising intolerance of foreigners came in for severe criticism yesterday from South African’s Education Minister, Kadar Asmal.

IRELAND’S largest trade union may take a class action lawsuit against multinational companies which have lost significant amounts of employee pension funds through malpractice or inside trading.

GLOBAL corporate greed and dishonesty combined with corruption and unscrupulous profiteering at home have caused our current economic problems, SIPTU president Des Geraghty said yesterday.

Hundreds of trade unionists from throughout Ireland are gathering for SIPTU's biennial national delegate conference, which gets underway today in Galway.

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan will be reminded of SIPTU’s mounting opposition to the break-up of Aer Rianta and CIÉ as members gather for the union’s bi-annual conference.

THE country’s biggest trade union warned yesterday it will back strikes in Aer Rianta and CIÉ unless the Government gives proper consideration to the workers’ demands.

THE hard-working Irish get five days less paid holidays than the average employee in Europe, a survey has revealed.

SIPTU has blasted the International Monetary Fund's stance on Irish wage agreements.

CIÉ has received €2 billion in funding from the taxpayer in the past six years, the Taoiseach said yesterday.

The airports are threatened with disruption this afternoon at the height of what has already been a difficult tourist season.

THE country’s largest union has complained to the advertising watchdog about “bullyboy” advertising by Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary.

Ryanair is trying to fool the public with misleading advertisements, according to SIPTU General President, Des Geraghty.

SOARING childcare costs are forcing thousands of women to abandon their jobs and return home, figures from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) have revealed.

SIPTU General President, Des Geraghty has attacked the Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan's approach to resolving public transport problems claiming that workers in the sector were not responsible for the 'chaotic' public transport policy.

WORKERS are desperately looking to the trade union movement to sort out the housing crisis, a SIPTU official claimed yesterday.

Thousands of anti-war protesters were gathering for peace marches in towns and cities across Ireland today.

THE National Executive Council of SIPTU, which has more than 200,000 members, has recommended support for the proposed new national agreement — Sustaining Progress.

PEACE campaigners are planning a series of vigils and demonstrations to coincide with attacks on Iraq if war goes ahead.

TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan admitted yesterday the taxi trade was a “jungle” that needed to be brought under control urgently.

THOUSANDS of low-paid workers are to be offered cheap houses on State-owned land from next year.

By Mary Dundon, Political Reporter FARMERS would have received more public support for their campaign if they confined their protest to just one day in Dublin, according to a leading union official.

UNION leaders have demanded an urgent meeting with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern after claiming that ordinary workers will bear the brunt of Government spending cutbacks.

THE number of people on waiting lists for local authority houses is set to soar following government spending cutbacks, it was warned yesterday.

SIPTU has called on employers to co-operate with the establishment of a Worker's Charter to secure best practice in the areas of pay, pensions, training and working conditions.