Beijing's desperate efforts to cool the country's enormous property bubble may have come too little, too late; a worrying sign for the global economy. By Joe Galvin.

On April 23, the Carnegie UK Trust launched a new report into the creation of a 'good society'; their findings suggest radical change is needed.

In one particular episode of The Simpsons, Homer exclaims jubilantly to his long suffering wife: "Hey Marge! Look at me, I'm reading the Economist! Did you know Indonesia is at a crossroads?" Today, you don't need to read the Economist to realise Ireland is at a crossroads or, as Peter Cassells called it, a "turning point".

(Pictured: North Clondalkin CDP protest)

A socialist politician and a proponent of free markets came together on Saturday 17 April to agree on one thing; the failure of the government's economic policies. Joe Higgins, the Socialist MEP for Dublin, and Dr. Constantin Gurdgiev, a finance expert and lecturer at Trinity College Dublin, are situated at opposite sides of the political spectrum but both agreed that decision making at the highest level of government has been deeply flawed.

(Pictured: Constantin Gurdgiev speaking at Wynn's Hotel)

The  European Parliament's two largest groups, the European People's Party and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, joined forces to suppress a report into the management of the parliament's enormous €1.6bn budget. Some of the most critical aspects of the report were removed from the final draft.

The Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI) held a protest in Galway this afternoon against what it sees as attempts to cut the minimum wage in the catering industry. 

The protest, which was organised by the MRCI founded Restaurant Workers Action Group, was held at 1pm outside Supermacs restaurant in Galway's Eyre Square. It follows on from the launch of the MRCI's campaign for the reform of Ireland's work permit system earlier this week. 

A new live/work housing project in Kerry aims to give people a better balance between their life and their work.

Topic: NAMA and the financial regulator, the public sector pay deal

As George Lee’s detachment from party politics is questioned, Fine Gael’s former poster boy will have moved from the backbench to RTE’s backroom when he returns to the national broadcaster next month. By Joe Galvin.

Next month, George Lee will return to RTÉ after his brief and unsuccessful dalliance with politics. Already, before he has even begun, he has been criticised for partisanship.

Ireland's current work permit system is unjust and needs urgent reform, according to the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI).

Speaking at the launch of a new campaign, the deputy director of MRCI, Bill Abom, said that "the restriction of movement [in employment]...is the primary factor in employment exploitation". The MRCI is calling for the reform of the current work permit system in order to allow permit holders to change employers within a particular industry.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen is due to announce the make up of his new cabinet in Dáil Éireann at 15.40 today, and Politico.ie will deliver live updates throughout the afternoon as information becomes available.