Report: Government’s spend target of 2% of GDP not enough

The staff and management of Irish Water have “an incredibly difficult task ahead of them”, according to the head of the engineering profession’s representative body, who said the true scale of the underinvestment in the nation’s water supply is only now coming to light.

THE recent sunny spell brought bees out in force; bumbles are flitting between flowers in my garden.

The Coalition is under increased pressure to meet its budgetary targets for 2013 after the latest figures show the tax take for 2012 was behind expectations.

Raising taxes on cigarettes will boost the illegal trade and reduce revenue to the State, according to a Government report.

The sound of Christmas choirs resounded around Leinster House yesterday but Enda Kenny was not interested in tenors, he was only after tenners — from child benefit payments to the neediest families in the State or anywhere else he could snatch them.

Enda Kenny has reiterated Ireland’s intention to maintain its 12.5% corporation tax rate.

WHEN Ministers Noonan and Howlin announce Budget 2013 later today, they will be going through the motions: most of the headline-grabbing measures have been leaked over the past week.

There was a further deterioration in tax returns in November, particularly income tax, which could increase the pressure on the Government to meet its 2013 budget targets.

The number of parents emphasising the long-term value of maths to their children when it comes to their future career prospects has almost doubled in less than a year.

A South African mother-of-eight who acted as a drugs mule to bring over €130,000 worth of herbal cannabis into Cork was sentenced to 10 years today with the last four years suspended.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern yesterday rejected the Provisional movement’s claim that it alone continues the tradition of Irish republicanism.