A refusal to bring welfare payments in line with inflation would lead to higher rates of poverty and a rise in inequality, according to new research from the ESRI.

New research published by Inland Fisheries Ireland has revealed that angel shark stocks have declined in Irish waters.

There have been calls for the Department of Agriculture to boost its monitoring of fish farms after new research showed sea trout carry significantly higher levels of sea lice infestation when closer to marine salmon farms.

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) says Ireland's economy has now turned the corner - and it predicts the recovery will speed up significantly next year.

Companies with equality policies are more productive than companies without, according to the ESRI.