Good news on the employment front from recovering Ireland, where the jobless rate has dipped below 10% for the first time in more than six years.

From a high of 15.5% in 2012 unemployment has steadily fallen as Ireland turned its economy around with the help of an international bailout.

That has now been ended, and Ireland has the EU’s fastest growing economy today.

Businesses created 12,500 new jobs in the first quarter, compared to 13,000 in the last quarter of 2014.

The government is targeting unemployment of 8.8% for 2016, when it will seek re-election.