Social partnership talks on a National Recovery Plan are to resume next Wednesday, it was confirmed this evening.

Talks among the social partners on a national economic recovery plan have been suspended until this afternoon's Budget is revealed.

Employers and trade unions are expected to resume talks on an economic recovery plan at Government Buildings in Dublin today.

The social partners are expected to be presented with a draft agreement for a national economic recovery plan this afternoon.

Direct talks between the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the employers' group IBEC on a national economic recovery plan have concluded for the evening.

The executive council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions is meeting today to discuss its strategy in the latest round of social partnership talks.

The Taoiseach today ruled out an early return to social partnership talks despite unions threatening a massive national strike next month.

Union leaders have warned employers that they will face widespread industrial unrest if they do not engage in local bargaining on pay.

Substantial flat rate pay increases are essential for low paid workers if we are to counter increased gas and electricity according to Mandate trade union general secretary John Douglas.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has voted to accept the new partnership agreement Towards 2016.

The business and employers group IBEC today said that its members have accepted the terms of the new social partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions is holding a special conference today in a bid to ratify the new social partnership deal.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern tonight welcomed the new Social Partnership Agreement.

Social partnership talks between the Government, IBEC and ICTU have reached an agreement.

The Amalgamated Transport and General Workers' Union (ATGWU) has called for all Irish workers to be granted pay increases every year at the same level of economic growth.

A leading business group is demanding that any pay increases agreed under the social partnership process be fixed at two percentage points below economic growth.

The President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions says employers will have to pay up if they want a new partnership deal.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy has hinted that a possible new social partnership deal under discussion in Dublin Castle might not include commitments to reduce income taxes.

The Conference of Religious in Ireland has said social partnership talks, which began in Dublin this morning, must produce a generous package for the less well-off in Irish society.

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has officially launched talks between the social partners on a successor agreement to the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.

The Government, trade unions and employers will meet in Dublin today to discuss a new social partnership agreement to replace the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.