Pay restoration
The Tánaiste has said the restoration of pre-austerity wages for the State's top paid public servants should not be misrepresented as a pay rise.
Speaking during Leaders Questions on Thursday afternoon, Leo Varadkar said those characterising the move as a salary increase for the richest in society were factually incorrect.
Wages across public services were cut a decade ago following the financial crash and the vast majority have been restored since legislation was passed in 2017 to reinstate the original pay rates.
The group earning above €150,000, which includes hospital consultants, judges and top-grade civil servants, is the final cohort to have their pay reinstated, with the restoration due to take effect at the start of July.
AIB fine
AIB has been fined over €83 million for its role in the tracker mortgage scandal.
The banking group apologised for the distress and financial losses suffered by customers and described the matter as a “very large stain on the reputation of the bank”.
The Central Bank of Ireland announced AIB has been fined €83.3 million on Thursday morning. EBS, which AIB acquired in 2011, has been fined €13.4 million.
Census 2022
The population of the Republic of Ireland is over 5 million for the first time since 1841.
The latest Census data from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) shows the State's population on April 3rd, 2022 hit 5,123,536.
This equates to an increase of 7.6 per cent from Census 2016, with population growth noted in all counties.
The data also showed that housing stock increased to 2.1 million (up 6 per cent) since the last Census, while vacant dwellings (excluding holiday homes) fell to 166,752 ( down 9 per cent).
Leaving Cert results
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has confirmed it will issue this year's Leaving Certificate results on Friday, September 2nd.
The exams began on Wednesday, June 8th and are due to finish next Tuesday.
This year's inclusion of additional sittings of the exams for students impacted by bereavement or illness, as well as a shortage of examiners, and the Minister for Education's commitment that results will not be lower than last year, has delayed the final issuing of results.
