Austerity measures - The ‘why’ is now the challenge

Today’s Irish Examiner carries four reports which, while addressing very different issues, should be seen by those charged with charting the way forward for this Republic in very much the same context.

We report how small businesses in Ireland have seen a spiralling level of shop lifting and employee theft.

We report how over 1,500 Cork citizens took to the streets on a bitterly cold Saturday in protest at a fresh round of cuts to home help hours.