merrion street

Economy

Reversal of Minimum Wage cut from July 1

Lower rate of employers PRSI halved from July 1

VAT on tourism-related services cut by a third from July 1

New National Internship Scheme with 5,000 places to commence in July

Extra 15,900 places for further education and training programmes

New National Employment and Entitlements Service to replace FÁS

Extra €75m for shovel ready transport projects to create/sustain 1,000 jobs

Extra €40m for 2011 Summer Works Scheme for 453 schools to create 2,400 jobs

Extra funding committed for an applied research centre in Cloud Computing and also for a new energy research centre

New support programme for home energy retrofitting to create c. 2000 jobs

Visa Waiver Programme for certain short-stay visitors

Substantial work completed on the implementation of the NewEra investment plan

New memorandum of understanding between China and Ireland on sharing expertise in food safety, laboratory controls, veterinary systems, animal husbandry and the seafood sector, which will foster stronger trade links

Launched National Procurement Service website for buyers and suppliers

Comprehensive restructuring and recapitalisation plan for the banking system to release at least €30 billion in new domestic lending in 2011-13

Merger of AIB and EBS

Commenced tendering for temporary partial credit guarantee scheme for SMEs, to be introduced in the Autumn

Significant advances in burden-sharing with bond-holders

Ongoing replacement of pre September 2008 bank directors

Legislation published to tackle White Collar Crime

Comprehensive Review of Expenditure commenced

Review of the Capital Programme commenced

Borrowing targets on track

Enactment of Finance Bill No. 2 ("Jobs Initiative")

Publication of Finance Bill No. 3 ("Civil Partnership")

Delivered targeted payroll reductions under the Croke Park Agreement

Successful completion of the first and second quarterly programme review mission with the EU Commission, the ECB and the IMF

Renegotiated the Programme of Support to accommodate the Jobs Initiative

Secured support of Troika for interest rate reduction

Secured Troika support for a managed and orderly downsizing of the banking system to avoid excessive fire-sale losses and to limit taxpayer support

Ambassadors recalled to Dublin for summit on Ireland's response to the crisis

Extensive Programme of bilateral meetings aimed at repairing Ireland's international reputation and re-engaging with key EU and international partners is underway

Pay cuts for the Taoiseach, Tanaiste and Ministers

Halving the cost of ministerial transport

New legislation for the effective banning of corporate donations

New legislation to cut the number of TDs at the next election

New legislation on other political reform (female participation in politics, new six month time limits for bye elections, lower spending limits for presidential elections,

Measures to increase in Dáil sitting days by over 33% by cutting Dáil holidays

Cut in the number of Dáil Committees

Replacement of the Board of the HSE, ahead of legislation to abolish it

Reforms for the Top Level Appointments Committee (TLAC)

Additional staff allocated to Garda Vetting Unit to tackle backlog

In the Department of Agriculture, consultants have been engaged on a pro-bono basis to assist in both the Comprehensive Spending Review and State Assets Review; agreement to pay a dividend to the State in 2011 has been secured from Coillte; while the local office reorganisation has been completed, saving €30m annually

Initiated design of new agency for child protection and family support

New Special Delivery Unit (SDU) to tackle unacceptable hospital waiting lists

Cabinet approval for a Universal Health Insurance (UHI) Implementation Group

€5m allocated to alleviate difficulties in unfinished housing estates, and new National Co-ordination Committee on tackling problem of ghost estates

Established a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in schools

‘Write to Read’ pilot scheme extended

Ryan Implementation Oversight Group now chaired by Minister for Children

New dialogue with NAMA on use of some empty buildings for cultural purposes

Agreement with stakeholders that turf-cutting cease on designated Special Area of Conservation bogs – new compensation scheme and a Peatlands Council

Approved the deployment of approx. 440 army personnel to Lebanon at end June

Competition underway for appointment of Doctors to Defence Forces Medical Corps

Introduced mandatory breath testing law at accidents resulting in injury