There could be significant job losses if the Government scraps Section 481 tax relief for television and film production in Ireland, the Audiovisual Federation believes.

Calls to the Samaritans are expected to be free of charge from next year onwards after the charity concluded an agreement with Ireland's six largest telecoms companies.

Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte today launched the Report of the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce.

Retailers are warning that the proposed introduction of a packaging levy would mean higher prices for consumers.

Submissions to the Government in advance of its introduction of a statutory code of practice for the retail sector will be accepted until September 1. Oliver Moore describes the background and what stakeholders will be hoping to see in the code.

SUPERMARKETS are focusing more on matching and not beating their competitors on price.

IRELAND’S reputation as a rip-off destination has been reinforced after it was revealed that food, drink, hotel and restaurant prices are among the EU’s highest.

HARD-PRESSED Irish shoppers are paying some of the highest prices in Europe at a time when their household budgets have never been more strained.

Consumer sentiment slipped this month and is at its lowest level since February, according to new data.

Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton has denied that proposals to cut the pay of low earners would cause a rift between the coalition partners.

A REVIEW of the legally binding agreements which set the wages for more than 200,000 workers has concluded that the current system should be maintained to protect the employment standards of vulnerable workers.

CONSUMERS are cutting back on petrol purchases with sales at the country’s forecourts down almost 13% in the last year.

Retail sales fell 1.7% in March 2011 compared with the same month last year, according to new data released by the Central Statistics Office today.

Retailers say there will be further closures and job losses this year unless the 'upwards-only rent system' is tackled.

ONE of the main representative bodies for the retail industry has called on new Attorney General, Maire Whelan, to tackle the ongoing issue of commercial rent rates by introducing legislation ending upward-only rent reviews for existing leases.

MANAGEMENT at the Blanchardstown Centre in Dublin have denied that a row over rents is to blame for the loss of more than 100 jobs.

Retail Ireland has said that new CSO retail sales figures for February continued to deteriorate, as core retail sales headed into their fourth year of decline.

THERE are indications that spending may not be as weak as feared with figures showing a slight improvement in consumer mood last month.

Despite figures today indicated a rise in consumer confidence for February Irish retailers remain pessimistic about the trading outlook, according to a new survey.

Retail Ireland is calling on the incoming Government to introduce legislation which will address unsustainable commercial rents.

THE dash by bargain hunters for money-saving deals is delivering some post-Christmas cheer to the struggling retail sector.

Retail Ireland, the group that represents the Irish retail sector, today said that the post-Christmas sales are strong so far, but it remained cautious with regard to the outlook for 2011.

Retail Ireland, the IBEC group that represents the retail sector, has said that new CSO retail sales figures for November were not as bad as feared.

WELL over half of retailers surveyed expect employee numbers to fall in the coming months with many saying business is down by a third due to the weather.

The arctic weather is adding to the worries of the crippled retail sector, as would-be Christmas shoppers stay at home.

Retail Ireland has welcomed the fact that the Government has not increased the excise on alcohol in today's Budget.

Retail Ireland, the IBEC group that represents the retail sector, today welcomed the seizure of two million smuggled cigarettes at Rosslare Harbour yesterday.

Retail Ireland has said the loss to the Exchequer through cigarette smuggling is more than €500m.

Retail Ireland have described as "positive" the new consumer sentiment figures for November which stabilised during the month.

BAR sales jumped last month as did hardware and clothes sales but shoppers remain cautious about splashing their cash.

Retail Ireland, the IBEC group that represents the retail sector, have said that new CSO retail sales figures for September show that the sector is still in negative territory.

Cross-border shoppers spent €418m in the North over the last year, it emerged today.

CONSUMERS are planning to beat the recession blues with a Christmas spending splurge that would see them pour €1.5 billion into festive gifts, food and entertainment.

Retail Ireland is calling on local authorities to reduce 2011 commercial rates by 20% to help retailers remain viable.

CONSUMER confidence plunged last month with experts saying the Government must make clear the extent of pain that is on the way.

Consumer sentiment fell nine points in September, the largest monthly drop in over four years.

FEARS that an economic recovery has stalled were expressed when figures showed retail sales fell in July.

The IBEC group that represents the Irish retail sector today said that new CSO retail figures for July are "very disappointing".

EVEN though grocery prices have fallen by 14% over the last 18 months, the National Consumer Agency (NCA) wants restrictions to be lifted to allow the entry of foreign retailers to increase competition.

MOSCOW was engulfed yesterday by the thickest blanket of smog yet this summer, an acrid, choking haze from wildfires that have wiped out Russian forests, villages and a military base.

DESPITE a 1% fall in general consumer prices last month, food and beverage costs actually increased, confirming Ireland’s unenviable tag as one of the most expensive countries in Europe for food and drink.

IRELAND is showing no sign of shedding its Rip-Off Republic tag as figures reveal the cost of filling a shopping basket is almost 30% higher than the EU average.

Retail Ireland, the IBEC group that represents the Irish retail sector, have said that the UK VAT rate increase is "a further nail in the coffin of cross-border shopping".