Across-the-board pay rise will do little to help fill key public sector posts
Public sector pay deal won’t attract workers to areas where posts have been hard to fill, such as in the Naval Service, special care, and IT
Looming elections place burden on Ireland to find EU budget compromise
Government has the unpalatable task of possibly having to trim agricultural supports to secure agreement
Budget reversal of policy on tackling climate change was a mistake
While its capital investment plans are welcome, more should have done to mitigate the impact of rising fuel prices for those on low incomes
Rising debt burden poses threat to economic growth
Ireland and the other ‘PIIGS’ find themselves in a better position than the US, UK and France
The budget is now like a children’s party, with a prize for everyone
It may be some time before the ‘winners’ realise that the budget goodies were a costly mistake
How can we get the measure of an Irish economy that defies conventional metrics?
It would be helpful if CSO explained underlying reasons for surprising GDP numbers on publication
State must hold firm on carbon tax, which helps protect the most vulnerable
Policy has effectively been dictated by small group of protesters with little concern for wider impacts on society
Quality public childcare and dependable dads key to boosting fertility rates
Changing position of women in society seen to be closely connected with falling birth rates globally
Temporary excise tax cuts undermine the greening of Ireland’s transport
Fossil fuel price rises on the back of Iran war have delivered surge in EV sales, so why blunt the message?
John FitzGerald: My wife was sceptical, but retrofitting our 1970s semi with a heat pump was a smart move
Not only have we saved on heating bills, but we have dramatically reduced our carbon emissions
The Irish emigrant journey now: Graduate from college, spend 10 years abroad, move home
Last census showed 9% of Irish-born population had come back from living abroad, suggesting a high return rate
Government sums leave little scope for tax cuts in Budget 2027
Vital public investment has too often been sacrificed to protect current services and minimise tax bills
Little evidence that Andy Burnham’s plan to devolve power to the regions will work
While devolution has worked in Manchester, there have been mixed results in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s education system fails children from disadvantaged backgrounds
Professor Vani Borooah of the University of Ulster, who died this month, provided vital evidence for policymakers on tackling poverty
State must ensure an adequate return on assets
Whether it is data centres tapping the energy grid of social housing tenants’ rent, the Government needs to manage its balance sheet