Tony Killeen and Pat Carey have been promoted to the Cabinet in today’s reshuffle, as was widely anticipated.

Union officials at collapsed Waterford Wedgwood are to hold further talks about safeguarding their pensions with Government ministers later this week.

Focus Ireland has said that Budget 2008 is a missed opportunity to take further action to increase the provision of social housing and to tackle growing inequalities in Irish society.

The growing economy helped the Government save up to €20m in dole payments so far this year, it emerged today.

Brian O’Mahony, Chief Business Correspondent