WORKERS face waits of up to six months for redundancy payments as the number of claims lodged soars to 1,600 per week.

SIPTU has held talks with the IDA today to discuss the future of the SR Technics operation at Dublin Airport.

The Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister, Mary Coughlan, has rejected criticism of the Government's response to rapidly rising unemployment levels.

ST PATRICK is not only responsible for making snakes disappear from Ireland, he also manages to get rid of the majority of ministers as well — at least for a few days in March anyway.

Workers at SR Technics will today meet Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan regarding the closure of the troubled aircraft maintenance firm and the loss of more than 1,100 jobs.

The Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister Mary Coughlan has reiterated her threat to introduce legislation to control prices if retailers fail to reduce prices on their own.

Three university research centres will receive more than €60m euro in funding over the next five years, it was announced today.

The Taoiseach has told his party colleagues there are no quick fixes to the country's economic situation at an annual conference in Co Offaly today.

HEALTH Minister Mary Harney has defended the expenses she incurred while on a trip to the US organised by Fás.

THE Green party called yesterday for changes in the way senior appointments are made to state agencies.

A company that makes transformers for the wind energy market has announced plans to create 70 jobs in Cavan over the next two years.

The Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister has reportedly ordered a review into the management of FÁS amid concerns about the agency's spending controls.

Some 444 jobs are to be created in Dublin’s Dundrum Town Centre by November, it was revealed today.

An IT services company is to create 15 new jobs at its Dublin headquarters.

FINE GAEL last night called on the Government to make a “full and honest statement” about the alleged misuse of taxpayers’ money at state agency FÁS.

The Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister, Mary Coughlan, is meeting representatives of Retail Ireland today to discuss the latest outcry over the 'rip-off' of Irish consumers.

THE Government’s refusal to guarantee a €39m loan for Waterford Crystal was “unimaginative and potentially devastating to the Waterford area”, the Dáil has heard.

THE country’s hi-tech sector was dealt another major jobs blow yesterday with the loss of almost 50 top-end IT posts.

THE Diageo announcement saw Mary Coughlan walking into her first row since being appointed Tánaiste and Enterprise Minister less than 48 hours earlier.

GENERAL Semiconductors Ireland, which closed in Macroom with the loss of 670 jobs made losses of almost $56 million in its final year of operation, accounts lodged with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) reveal.