A major report has cleared the external audit firms of any substantial failings in the audits carried out of the banks here on the eve of the financial crash in 2008.

Official figures yesterday showed that the annual rate of home price increases has eased in some regions, but the headache for the Government in considering a potential overhaul of the local property tax has far from lessened, according to an analysis by the Irish Examiner.

The decision by the Government to effectively freeze property tax to current levels will be welcomed by the hundreds of thousands of householders fearing that an increase in the value of their properties would mean they would have to dig even deeper to keep a roof over their heads.

Homeowners will not face any “shock” increases in property taxes next year, Finance Minister Michael Noonan yesterday pledged —provided the Coalition was returned to power.

The CSO figures published yesterday will bring no relief to the Government as it seeks to reform the local property tax before the election.

A slowdown in the explosive rate of house price increases in Dublin shows a tough Central Bank regime on mortgage lending is biting, but comes too late to have any effect in lessening the huge hikes looming in household property tax bills.

Much has been written in recent months about the fact that Fine Gael or a Fine Gael government has never been re-elected in back-to- back elections, writes Paul Mills.

The Government has been advised to freeze property tax levels until 2020 amid concerns that homeowners are facing hikes in their bills after rises in home values.

Homeowners are facing significant property tax hikes, particularly those living in apartments, as the recovery in the market continues.

Constructing and implementing an austerity property tax at the height of the slump may have been brave. 

A cap on property tax is being considered by the Cabinet in a bid to head off a surge in charges, Tánaiste Joan Burton has revealed.

Michael Noonan says he is prepared to go to court to defend Ireland's Corporation Tax rate.

Peter Clinch, one-time advisor to former taoiseach, Brian Cowen, has been appointed chair of the National Competitiveness Council.

Further structural reforms are needed to improve Ireland’s competitiveness, according to the annual report from the National Competitiveness Council.

The Government is missing out on savings of around €55m a year due to its failure to tackle workplace absenteeism.

Any erosion to Ireland’s cost competitiveness could jeopardise job creation, damage living standards and undermine the economic progress of recent years, a new report has found.

Almost a third of all illness benefit payments are for sick days lost through joint, muscle or bone pain, figures show.

Homeowners remain in the dark about the level of property tax they will face after the Government said no decision has been made on how it will be charged.

The economy has stabilised but has still not recovered, with further reform essential to restore competitiveness, said the National Competitiveness Council.

The Fianna Fáil leader has warned of very negative repercussions if the Government is found to have been “sitting on bad news” ahead of the referendum.

FURTHER transparency concerning NAMA transactions is needed, the National Competitiveness Council has urged.

IRELAND’s “competitive scorecard” is improving but there remains a lot to be done, according to the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

IRELAND’S cost competitiveness has improved but property and broadband prices as well as legal fees are still too high.

MORE focus on the quality of teachers is a critical factor in improving the education system, a former top civil servant has claimed.

UNLESS the tax base is broadened to repair the public finances income taxes will have to be raised, the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has warned.

ECONOMIC recovery and job creation will in future be led by boosting exports and not by the struggling construction sector.

THIS week’s report into the lack of competitiveness in the economy made for grim reading against the backdrop of the financial pressures facing the country and the difficulties surrounding Liam Carroll’s crumbling property empire.

THE Irish economy needs to recover its lost competitiveness rapidly if it is not to slip into a long period of recession.

IRELAND’S overdependence on cash is harming the economy and the country’s competitiveness.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) today called for the prioritisation of investment in Dublin and our other main cities to enhance and ensure Ireland’s long-term competitiveness.

THE promotion of teacher quality through pay and training can help Ireland rebound, the chairman of the National Competitiveness Council said yesterday.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) has called for the re-introduction of third-level fees and a broadening of tax bands.

THE Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) yesterday announced the appointment of Dr Don Thornhill as the organisation’s first independent chairman.

SPIRALLING consumer prices and poor infrastructure are threatening the Irish economy, a new report has found.

A FORMER senior Revenue official yesterday told the Moriarty Tribunal that he disagreed with a decision of the tax authorities to wipe out interest payments worth £62,450 for Dunnes Stores in 1987.

ENTERPRISE, Trade and Employment Minister Micheál Martin has said Dr Don Thornhill will take over as chairman of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

IRISH universities must undertake radical changes to help Ireland prosper socially and economically, University College Cork president Professor Gerry Wrixon told a conference yesterday.

THE governing bodies of third-level colleges are not flexible enough and should be made smaller but with more business representation, the Enterprise Strategy Group recommends.

TÁNAISTE Mary Harney has announced the board of Science Foundation Ireland, the body set up to fund research and development.

THE Higher Education Authority (HEA) yesterday announced 1,100 extra places on third-level information and communications technology (ICT) courses.

EXISTING jobs and future investment could be lost if more public funding is not put into research in our colleges, an expert has warned.