IT Carlow just prevailed in this Fitzgibbon Cup group tie at the IT grounds in Carlow yesterday after a competitive contest which featured a shootout between the respective centre-forwards – the home side’s TJ Reid and NUIG’s Niall Burke.

It may have been a senior development squad team on duty, but the New Year began as the old one finished for Kilkenny — a victory, albeit a hard-earned one.

FURTHER painful and difficult cuts are likely to be introduced over the next two years, according to analysts.

RYANAIR chief Michael O’Leary believes children’s allowance should be scrapped as it is subsidising people to have sex.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny today insisted that no decisions have yet been made in relation to cuts to welfare in the upcoming Budget.

Reports of a proposal to cut €10 from Child Benefit have caused some concern amongst Labour TDs.

There is increased speculation that the Government is to slash Child Benefit in next month's Budget.

ECONOMISTS have cut their forecasts for Ireland’s mid-term growth, a Reuters poll showed yesterday, underlining the challenge facing the government as it tries to cut its debt mountain.

HOUSE prices fell by an average of 3.1% during the first three months of the year, according to the latest report by property website Daft.ie.

REACTION to the latest bailout of the banks has been broadly positive with analysts pointing out that the €24 billion will add no more than €2bn to the gross national debt. This is equal to about 1.5% of GDP.

IRELAND has been stripped of its last ‘A’ rating based on future risks to bondholders, but the one-notch cut was less severe than feared and gave the thumbs up to the State’s bank bill.

IRELAND avoided slipping back into recession in the third quarter, but its modest growth rates underline the huge challenge ahead in tackling its financial crisis.

PERNOD RICARD boss Richard Burrows - the world’s biggest maker of Irish whiskey - is to discuss the impact of the smoking ban and other government regulations at a conference in Dublin.

A leading economist has warned mortgage interest rates could double over the coming three years.

THOUSANDS of homeowners will struggle to meet mortgage repayments as interest rates double over the next three years, a leading economist has warned.

THE Central Bank has cut its forecasts for the Irish economy this year saying rising unemployment and a weak international environment will mean that growth will be subdued.

ECONOMISTS have warned the finance minister not to increase taxes in the next Budget.