The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, has confirmed her support for the Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is holding a conference in Dublin this morning to look at ways of creating jobs in the Irish economy.

A sum of €109,000 has been paid to 275 claimants in the initial emergency assistance response to assist flood victims in Limerick, said Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan yesterday.

The Minister for Social Protection said the development of the community policing model in Ireland is vital.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, has published a plan aimed at improving employment prospects for young people.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said she would like to see a Charities Regulator selected as soon as possible.

Unemployed people who take up temporary work over the Christmas period will have their jobseekers payments restored as soon as the work ends.

The Social Protection Minister's been compared to a former Tory Minister in the 1980s who effectively told people to get on their bike and look for work.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, says the drop in the numbers on the Live Register has prevented harsher cuts in her Department.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has again hinted that proposals on a two-tier child benefit system may be shelved.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, said she is confident that neither weekly social welfare rates nor the bus pass will be hit in the budget.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton is welcoming today's announcement from FAZTech to set up a research facility at Park West in Dublin.

The government is getting tougher on job seekers who are not ready and available for work.

The Minister for Social Protection and deputy leader of the Labour party Joan Burton 'can't stress' how important Tánaiste's job is.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton says she has full confidence in the Justice Minister Alan Shatter.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has said that the Government is examining the possibility of using money from the child benefit payment to extend the free pre-school year.

There will be no let-up in the freezing and snowy conditions over the Easter break.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said children at risk of poverty must be protected under the social welfare system.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said she has made no decision on the findings of a report which recommends a two-tier payment system for child benefit.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton says the government needs to examine whether or not we need a permanent - or semi permanent - Referendum Commissioner.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton will today open 'Employer Briefing' - a new initiative which has been set up to help employers support their business.

The Minister for Social Protection has said it is her understanding that of the 65,000 students who applied for grants online, around 50,000 applications had to be queried because of incomplete data.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said it is her intention not to cut core social welfare payments in December's Budget.

The Minister for Social Protection has confirmed that "core" social welfare rates will not be cut in December's Budget.

The Minister for Social Protection has invited a number of voluntary and community groups to discuss their needs ahead of the upcoming budget.

The Minister for Social Protection says cutting social welfare payments will do more harm than good to Ireland's economic recovery.

Disability benefit interviews have changed, and the emphasis has moved away from the patients' illness, according to one man whose wife has lost her allowance.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton is being urged to rethink proposals to make employers responsible for the first four week's of an employee's sick leave.

The Minister for Social Protection says Labour are happy with Eamon Gilmore but admitted she would one day like to become the leader of the party.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton has confirmed that birth certs will soon have to include the identity of the father.

The Minister for Social Protection says the Mahon report suggests we need to toughen up the code of ethics for people who hold public office.

The Minister for Social Protection has signalled a referendum on the European Treaty will be held before the summer, saying there are "two windows" in which to hold the vote.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said discussions with the European Central Bank aimed at reducing Ireland's bank debt are continuing, despite indications that the ECB is opposed to a deal.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said she will press on with plans to change the sick pay system, despite concerns voiced in the Cabinet.

The Minister for Social Protection has admitted that the Government did not know the exact number of public servants retiring in February until last week.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said the Government has been engaged in "continuous planning" on a weekly basis for retirements from the public service.

More than 500 Community Employment Scheme supervisors from across the country are meeting in Portlaoise this evening over cutbacks to the sector.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said she would like to see a Debt Ombudsman to oversee the growing debt problem.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said the Labour Party wants a clampdown on tax exiles.

The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, has announced the establishment of a new Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said her department is working with the Prison Service to further clamp down on benefit fraud.

The Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton has said stamping out tax fraud could save the exchequer half a billion euro.

HISTORY was made yesterday when Barry Dignam and Hugh Walsh became the first gay couple to undertake public civil partnerships, with the number of guests almost outnumbered by the media.

Senior Fianna Fáil minister Eamon O'Cuiv has said that anyone in the Cabinet who does not believe or trust in Brian Cowen should resign.