It is important that tax reliefs — particularly the costliest ones — are scrutinised and that there is proper parliamentary debate to ensure they remain cost-effective and fit for purpose, writes Eamon Murphy.

There were 24,500 people earning less than the minimum wage at the end of last year, according to the Central Statistics Office.

So that’s nearly Monday wrapped up. Here are some of the stories we published on irishexaminer.com today which we hope will help you make sense of it all this evening.

The Government needs to raise up to €3bn in additional tax revenue per year to fund a fair, equal and progressive future for Ireland according to a new book published today by Social Justice Ireland.

More than 104,000 people with a job are at risk of poverty.

Around one in seven people in poverty have jobs but low rates of pay and loose contracts mean they can’t make a living wage.

The Government’s new pensions plan has missed the opportunity to provide a Universal Pension as a basic right to all citizens, a new study finds.

One million people in Ireland are either poor or deprived, despite a booming economy, according to Social Justice Ireland. Among them are 250,000 children and 100,000 “working poor”.

Social Justice Ireland has said it is seriously concerned about the gap between the minimum wage and the living wage.

An international conference has heard a proposal for a Basic Income of €150 a week for everyone of working age in Ireland to resolve welfare and work challenges in the country.

Limerick City planners have been left red-faced over their objection to two neighbours restoring their roofs to their original red slate colour.

A local authority has called in the country’s top planning referee to decide if two suburban neighbours should get a yellow card over painting their roofs red.

Kildare 2-15 Dublin IT 0-9

Champions Kildare will play Dublin in the Bord na Móna O’Byrne Cup final in Newbridge next Sunday.

Sunday’s Well 9 Ards 10

A senior judge said yesterday that he believes “bouncy castles were created by lawyers and supervised by barristers”.

UL and Kerry advanced to the quarter-finals of the Waterford Crystal Cup following wins over Waterford and IT Tralee respectively this afternoon.

A romp in the park for Clare in this Bord Gáis Éireann Munster U21 HC semi-final last night as they simply swept aside the feeble challenge of Waterford.

The opening round of group games in the Waterford SHC dominate the GAA scene in the Déise this weekend, with four of the six scheduled ties set to go ahead in doubleheader programmes at Dungarvan’s Fraher Field.

A MORE mature and experienced Waterford side deservedly retained their Waterford Crystal senior hurling tournament trophy in Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

A POINT on the call of full-time in extra-time by Paudric O’Mahony earned Waterford a draw in this throbbing, absorbing ESB Munster MHC semi-final at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday night.

PAURIC Mahony scored 2-8 as former champions De La Salle maintained their perfect record in this season’s Dr Harty Cup.

Gorey's David James has so far lived up to his top billing by thundering through the opening stage of the Fethard Rally fifteen seconds quicker than his nearest rival.