‘Prolonged period of high inflation’ possible – McGrath
The country may be facing in to a “prolonged period of inflation” according to Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath, who said measures to help with the rising cost of living must be timed wisely to have maximum impact. He was responding to calls from Sinn Féin for an emergency budget amounting to […]
Changes to Community Employment schemes to boost recruitment
The Government has announced a number of changes to Community Employment schemes in a bid to boost the recruitment and retention of applicants. The schemes are designed to provide long-term unemployed participants with work experience in their local communities to help them find employment. “We now have record employment in Ireland with over 2.5 million […]
Dalata says hotel recovery continues to beat expectations
Dalata Hotel Group said today that the faster than anticipated recovery in hotel markets over the last four months has continued to surpass its expectations. In a trading update for the second quarter of 2022, Dalata said that group Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) is expected to be 18% ahead of 2019 levels for the […]
Govt to make changes to rules for tips and service charges
The Government is expected to make changes to new tipping legislation, which will effectively ban so-called ‘service charges’ on bills unless the money goes straight to staff. The new law, the Payment of Wages Bill, is currently making its way through the Oireachtas. It is designed to prevent employers from using tips or gratuities to […]
Mortgage switching activity hits record high ahead of rate hikes
Mortgage switching volumes and values more than doubled in May compared to the same month last year, according to new figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland. Over 1,200 households switched their mortgage last month, up over 111% on the same time last year, while the value of these mortgages increased by over 129% year-on-year […]
New voucher scheme for remote working goes live
A new voucher scheme that will give remote workers free access to local digital hubs has begun operating. The initiative was announced by the Government earlier this month. Under the plan, at least 10,000 ‘hot desk’ facilities are being provided free of charge to existing hub users and those availing of the facilities for the […]
Three to create 175 jobs in Limerick
The Three telecommunications and data company is to expand its customer contact centre in Limerick, taking on an additional 175 employees there over the next four years. The new jobs will bring the company’s workforce at its Castletroy plant to 570. Three is the country’s largest telecommunications provider, with over 3 million customers. Its base […]
One third of households ‘just making ends meet’
Consumer sentiment dropped in June, while the mood among businesses was mixed, according to the latest Economic Pulse report from Bank of Ireland. As cost of living pressures intensify, the survey reveals that one third of households now say they are ‘just making ends meet’, up from a quarter at the start of the year. […]
Home prices up 3.8% in Q2 but stock levels rising – Daft.ie
Average home prices rose by 3.8% in the second quarter of this year, the largest three-month gain in nearly two years, while the stock of homes increased slightly, property website Daft.ie’s latest report shows. Daft’s latest sales report for the three months from March to June also reveals that the average listed price nationwide in […]
Some Aer Lingus flight cancellations due to air traffic control strikes, Covid
Aer Lingus had to cancel 13 flights yesterday and another three today due to air traffic control strikes in France, Italy and Spain as well as an outbreak of Covid-19 among its staff. The airline has apologised for the cancellations. In a statement, Aer Lingus said it had anticipated the return of demand for travel […]
Asking prices for homes up almost 11%, growth rate slows – MyHome.ie
Cost-of-living concerns and rising interest rates will slow the demand for houses in the second half of the year, according to the latest house price report from MyHome.ie. It reveals that a “minor” fall in house prices could be on the way as a result, but states that a ‘Celtic Tiger’ crash in unlikely. Asking […]
AIB’s share trading plan extended up to January
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said today he was extending AIB Group’s share trading plan, which was first announced in December. Since then the Government’s stake in AIB has been reduced from about 71.2% to about 68%. The plan aims to gradually reduce the State’s investment in the bank, while it is also improving liquidity […]
Expleo Ireland announces 200 new jobs for Cork
Expleo, a global technology, engineering and consulting service provider, has announced 200 new jobs and the opening of its first regional hub in Mahon in Co Cork. The company is investing €10m in the expansion of its workforce from 800 to 1,000 over the next two years. The majority of the 200 jobs will be […]
AIB set for record tracker mortgage fine from Central Bank
The Central Bank is set to hit AIB with a record fine later today for its role in the tracker mortgage issue. The banking group, which includes EBS, is said to have set aside €70m to cover the fine, which resulted from an enforcement investigation that has been running since 2017. Over 9,000 AIB customers […]
More Irish companies sign low carbon pledge
70 of Ireland’s biggest companies have now committed to setting carbon-reduction targets based on climate science, by signing a low-carbon pledge overseen by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI), a not for profit organisation. The number of companies signed up to the pledge has increased from 47 in 2019, when it was first launched. Companies […]
Toast to create 100 jobs as it opens new Dublin office
US restaurant management platform Toast said it plans to create 100 jobs this year as it opens its new office on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin. Toast said the new jobs will be across several functions including software development, sales and customer support. Launched in 2013 in the US, Toast powers restaurants of all sizes […]
Lidl launches new EV and HVO vehicles into Irish fleet
Lidl has today started the rollout of its first electrical truck and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) heavy goods vehicle (HGV) into its logistics fleet. The pilot scheme will see the sustainably powered vehicles join Lidl’s logistic fleet at its Newbridge Regional Distribution Centre. It marks the start of the retailer’s transition from fossil fuel commercial […]
AIB’s €400m non-performing loan sale cuts NPE ratio to 4.4%
AIB has sold a non-performing loan portfolio in long-term default to Everyday Finance, part of a consortium that includes Everyday, affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management and LCM Partners Limited. AIB said the €400m loan sale cuts its non-performing loan ratio to 4.4%. It added that it remains on track to reach its 3% target by […]