Consumers encouraged to compare, switch and save with CCPC Money Tools
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has launched a new Money Tools campaign which aims to provide consumers with information on how to compare and switch various financial services including mortgages, current accounts and credit cards. The CCPC Money Tools allows consumers to quickly and easily compare features, including maintenance fees, charges and interest rates, […]
Jobseeker payments to be collected in post office again
Recipients of jobseekers’ payments will soon have to attend a post office again in order to collect them, under plans announced by the Minister for Social Protection. In 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic hit, recipients were given the option of having the payments made electronically directly into their bank accounts. This was to try to […]
€10m investment fund for sustainable start-ups launched
A new €10m fund has been established to invest in socially-conscious start-ups on the island of Ireland. The Impact Syndicate, which is being launched by the Halo Business Angel Network, will look to back firms that are seeking to make “positive and measurable social and environmental change alongside financial returns”. Its members will make investments […]
Consumer confidence improves on easing of Omicron fears
Consumer sentiment in January recovered much of the loss it suffered in December in the face of a surge in the highly contagious Omicron variant, a survey showed today, with a further improvement expected next month. The KBC Bank Ireland consumer sentiment index climbed to 81.9 in January from 74.9 in December, falling short of […]
Number of mortgage drawdowns in 2021 hit 12 year high
Last year saw the highest number of mortgage drawdowns since 2009, worth a total value of €10.5 billion. 43,994 mortgages were drawn down in 2021, a 9.4% increase on the previous year. Figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show the value of mortgage drawdowns last year was the highest since 2008, when the financial […]
Consumers lack awareness of credit card interest rates, survey reveals
New research suggests that 65% of consumers don’t know how their credit card interest is calculated. The survey carried out by the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) shows that this figure is up 7% on the previous survey conducted in 2020. Of the respondents who said they are familiar with the credit card interest […]
Economy expected to continue to grow strongly this year, Central Bank forecasts
The Central Bank has said the economy is expected to continue to grow strongly this year. Its latest Quarterly Bulletin forecasts growth in the domestic economy of just over 7% in 2022. However, inflation is expected to be higher for longer than previously thought, although it is expected to wane in the second half of […]
Central Bank chief warns of inflation risks
The Governor of the Central Bank has said “the prospects for Ireland’s economy appear bright” but warned that the risks to inflation in Ireland remain “on the upside”. Gabriel Makhlouf made his remarks at on online webinar hosted by the Institute of Directors. On inflation, the Central Bank Governor said it is expected to remain […]
Cabinet to sign-off on €100 electricity credit scheme
The Cabinet is set to sign-off on a €210 million legislative plan at their weekly meeting this morning, which aims to assist households struggling with the rising cost of electricity bills. Under the scheme, all domestic electricity customers will receive a once-off €100 credit, which will be operated by ESB Networks. The scheme will not […]
Oil prices rebound as growing geopolitical tensions fuel supply fears
Oil prices bounced back today, recovering some of the previous day’s losses, as growing tension in Eastern Europe and the Middle East fuelled concerns over possible supply disruptions. Brent crude futures rose 61 cents, or 0.7%, to $86.88 a barrel this morning after touching a session high of $87.27 a barrel earlier, reversing a 1.8% […]
Phased return to the workplace begins
Employers can start bringing staff back into the workplace from today onwards, following the announcement of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions on Friday. However, unions have urged businesses to exercise caution and consult with staff as the process begins. Announcing the changes on Friday, the Taoiseach said the return to physical attendance in workplaces should […]
Euro zone recovery stuttered in January as Omicron hit services – PMI
The euro zone economic recovery weakened further this month as renewed restrictions imposed to contain the Omicron coronavirus variant put another dent in bloc’s dominant services activity and as prices continued to soar. With the variant sweeping across Europe governments have been encouraging citizens to stay home and avoid socialising or meeting in groups. IHS […]
Swift rebound in spending forecast in Irish economy
A swift rebound in consumer and business spending is in prospect for 2022 as almost all pandemic restrictions come to an end, according to Goodbody’s latest quarterly outlook. The Back in Business report predicts growth in domestic demand of about 5.8% this year. The forecast tallies with that of Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe who […]
Dublin Port volumes dip just 5.2% despite Brexit hit
The volume of goods passing through Dublin Port last year only dropped marginally, despite the impact of Brexit on Irish Sea trade. Overall, 34.9 million tonnes went through the facility, down 5.2% on the previous year. Roll-on-Roll-Off, or Ro-Ro units dropped by 9.3%, equivalent to 99,000 trailers, according to the port. But Load-On-Load-Off containers rose […]
Cabinet to consider NPHET recommendations on restrictions
The three Coalition leaders will meet this morning at Government Buildings to consider recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team on the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, in advance of a full Cabinet meeting at 3pm. NPHET has given the green light to ending most of the restrictions and, because it did not specify any […]
Return to workplace can be done a bit faster – Ibec
Danny McCoy, the chief executive of Ibec, has said the lifting of most Covid restrictions is a “positive development” and that a gradual return to the workplace can be done “that little bit faster”. Speaking on Morning Ireland, Danny McCoy said employers and employees would have to decide how best to proceed on returning to […]
Job vacancies for HR roles soar by 420% – IrishJobs.ie
Employers are seeking to hire more of the people who hire people to work in their companies. Job vacancies across Talent Acquisition and Human Resources saw an unprecedented 420% year-on-year increase in Q4 2021, according to the latest IrishJobs.ie Jobs Index. “2021 was a particularly busy year for recruitment and we anticipate this trend will […]
European firms make slow progress in appointing more women to boards
The proportion of women in leading positions at major European companies rose last year, but fell behind schedule to reach the European Commission’s proposed target of 40% for 2025. This is according to a study by an EU-sponsored non-profit organisation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this month she would try to […]