If tax on Irish workers was increased to the EU average, the Government would not have to borrow to run the state each year, a thinktank claims.

The Government’s plans to give householders a free allowance of water — after which they will have to pay for consumption — have been described as “costly” and “unfair” by one of the country’s top thinktanks.

Reforms to the Universal Social Charge will leave 330,000 low-paid and part-time workers €201 better off this year, the Government has said.

Independent think-tank Tasc has criticised what it called a 'budget of missed opportunities'.

An independent think-tank has today urging the Government to show evidence that it has 'poverty proofed' next month's Budget.

The economy will not be able to cope with a multibillion-euro onslaught of public spending cuts in December's Budget, a leading think-tank claimed today.

MORE than 500 quangos — bodies, agencies and task-forces set up at local government level — are eroding democracy by removing councillors from decisions that affect their communities, a think-tank has warned.

ONE evening a couple of weeks ago a TD showed me a copy of an invitation he had received to the launch of a democracy commission. The invitation said this commission would conduct an audit of democracy in this country.