Monday Blog: Some data on public sector pensions in the Republic of Ireland
The Government in the Republic of Ireland spends just over €3 billion a year on pensions to retired public servants (or their spouses). This represents approximately 2% of GDP, 6% of total ‘voted’ public expenditure or 16% of the total public service payroll. These payments are made to persons who...
Monday Blog: Tábhacht Postanna, Pá, Tithe
An príomh rud atá in easnamh sa tír seo faoi láthair ná dóchas – dóchas atá bunaithe ar fhírinní agus ar fhéidireachtaí na sochaí. Tá teipeadh le straitéis na déine san Eoraip. Tá an tuarascáil is nua ag an gcomissiún Eorpach Ní thugann an cháipéis aon tuarthaí nua dóchas agus athrú bunúsach do...
Donal Nevin Lecture on Banking in Ireland
Professor Stephany Griffith-Jones gave this year’s annual Dónal Nevin lecture on the future of banking in the EU and in Ireland. The lecture focused on the role a public development bank can play in boosting growth and job creation. Professor Griffith-Jones cited the success of the Kreditanstalt für...
Monday Blog: Jobs, Wages, Homes
Following 6 years of declining or stagnant living standards many people are wondering what the future holds. The gathering crisis of accommodation and social housing has caught many by surprise. While there has been a welcome pick up in employment and a very modest fall in unemployment these changes...
Monday Blog: Universal Private Health Insurance: Terms &Conditions will apply
Recently the Government in the Republic of Ireland issued a White Paper on Universal Health Insurance . In it, the Government states: ‘it has set out an ambitious plan for the most far-reaching and fundamental reform of our health system since the foundation of the State.’ It describes the proposed...
NERI Housing inBrief
Housing and Ireland’s Economic Recovery Housing has been one of a number of issues that has sat at the core of Ireland’s recent economic collapse. The very expensive lessons of recent years must not be lost; excessive house prices were not good news for the economy or society generally. The latest...
Time to think about the type of Ireland we want to live in
The impact of the various austerity measures over recent years has been, and continues to be, felt by families in every corner of the country. Whether it is pay, public services or social welfare; all measures point towards a drop in living standards that has been hard felt. Recent data from the CSO...
Monday Blog: We have a problem on low skills and we need to talk about it
Have you difficulties reading and understanding your telephone bill? How will you fare on the forthcoming Water charges bill if you live in the Republic of Ireland? Today, on the island of Ireland, there are approximately one million adults with serious challenges in relation to reading and the...
Labour Market conference held in UCC
On 1st May 2014 the NERI held a labour market conference in association with the UCC School of Economics. The conference included presentations from labour market experts working in academia, public institutions, and the trade unions. The NERI would like to thank all those who took part, and those...
Monday Blog: Work, Pensions and Living Incomes
The topic of pensions is not the most exciting matter to consider on a bright spring Monday morning. If you are below a certain age you are more likely to be preoccupied about other matters including getting employment that pays an adequate and sustainable income in the near-term. If you are above a...