Officials feared workers would be compelled to join schemes offering employer contributions of just 1 per cent

Nasser Hussein (35) had residency in the UK and as on temporary release there when he came to Dublin, having travelled to Ireland from Belfast.

TDs debated a Social Democrats' motion earlier on Wednesday, calling for the means test for the Carer's Allowance payment to be removed

Tánaiste Simon Harris said that he was not convinced there was a need for a ‘significant rise in the dole’.