The Social Protection Minister says the government has been engaged in “continuous planning” on a weekly basis for retirements from the public service.
The coalition has been under fire after the Taoiseach admitted the Cabinet will only establish implementation teams in each department at the Cabinet next week.
More than 8,000 public servants will leave at the end of the month to take advantage of better retirement terms.
Taking leaders questions in the Dáil Minister Joan Burton rejected Fianna Fáil claims the handling by government of this has been shambolic and last minute.
“This has been an on-going matter of continuous discussion between individual ministers and the secretary-generals of their departments” she said.
“I can speak for myself – but I know I also speak for other ministers – I have discussed this on a regular basis with my secretary-general, on a weekly basis” she added.
A 26-year-old man is due in court today in connection with an assault on a woman in Dublin on Sunday.
The 28-year-old victim suffered head injuries in the attack which happened at a house on Reuben Walk in Rialto.
She remains at Beaumont Hospital where she is in a serious condition.
The man is due before Dublin District Court later.
Gardaí are investigating the death of a man who was struck by a truck in Tipperary this morning.
It happened at 8:10am when the man was leaving his home in Thurles.
He got out of the oil truck he was driving to close a gate but it is understood the truck then rolled and hit the 50-year-old.
He suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
His body has been removed to South Tipperary General Hospital in Clonmel.
A post mortem is expected to be carried out.
Solicitors need to be more transparent about their pricing policy.
That is according to the National Consumer Agency (NCA).
In a survey of routine fees charged by the legal professionals the agency found huge variations in price.
The cost of conveyancing ranged from over €1,000 in Leinster to a high of €4,000 in in Connaught/Ulster.
The Agency also says solicitors appear reluctant to reveal their prices.
Fergal O’Leary is with the NCA.
“I suppose what we’ve mainly come out of as a result of this survey is that – like anything else – there is real value and real potential for big savings to be made for shopping around for legal services” he said.
“The other thing that we found was it was quite difficult to get quotes”.
“We would be looking for I think greater transparency and greater ease of access for quotes for consumers when it comes to legal services”.
“That’s something we’d be hoping to work with the relevant bodies” he added.
Apple is facing demonstrations at some of its world-wide retail stores.
Some customers are concerned over how suppliers to the technology giant treat their factory workers.
Newstalk’s Jack Quann has more.
