Taoiseach to discuss trade, Ukraine and Gaza in meeting with Canadian PM
The Taoiseach is in Canada for a bilateral meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The two leaders are expected to discuss trade, Ukraine and Gaza. US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada have cost Canadian exporters five billion dollars so far this year, and have soured relations between the two, as have President […]
How employee ownership trusts allow workers to own their business
Imagine you’re the owner of a successful Irish small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). You’ve built your business over decades and you’re now nearing retirement so the time has come to decide who replaces you. There’s no manager who can afford to buy you out, and no family to succeed you. Your options are limited: sell […]
Cyber attacks impacting consumer trust in online retailers – survey
More than half of Irish consumers would stop buying from an online retailer following a cyber-attack, according to a new survey. Just over a third of shoppers say they would make an informed decision based on the circumstances, while one in ten say they would be willing to return if the retailer resolved the issue […]
No timeline to resolve check-in, baggage issues at T2 after cyber attack – daa
Dublin Airport operator daa has said there is currently no timeline set for a fix to be implemented following a Europe-wide cyber attack last weekend which is impacting check-in and boarding systems at Terminal 2. The issue arose early on Saturday and impacted major airports across Europe, including Heathrow, Brussels and Berlin. In a statement […]
Nvidia to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI, linking two AI titans
Nvidia will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI and supply it with data centre chips, the companies said today, marking a tie-up between two of the highest-profile players in the global artificial intelligence race. The move underscores the increasingly overlapping interests of the various tech giants developing advanced AI systems. The deal gives chipmaker […]
Why big business wants you back in the office full-time
Another wave of return-to-office orders made headlines recently. Large technology and media companies, including Microsoft, Paramount and Comcast have joined firms such as Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Nike, and even the US federal government in announcing policies limiting employees’ opportunities to work remotely. This is not solely an American phenomenon: major Irish banks, including Bank of […]
First winter fuel allowance payments to start this week
The first of this winter’s Fuel Allowance Scheme payments are set to start this week. The means-assessed payment will be paid for 28 weeks to 410,000 households across the state. It is made at the weekly rate of €33 or, if preferred, by way of two instalment payments of €462 each. The scheme was recently […]
Should the Budget reduce the VAT rate for the restaurant sector?
When Budget 2026 is announced on 7 October, it will be the first time the current government will have an opportunity to show the people where its priorities lie when money is on the line. One thing, heavily tipped to happen in this Budget is for restaurants and food-serving businesses to see their VAT rate […]
€12 Budget pension hike rejected as Dept plays hardball
The framing of the budget has stepped up a gear in recent days. The message is already clear that this is going to be a very different set of figures to those of recent years. It will instead be more akin to the conservative offerings unveiled in the period from 2016 to 2020. Prudence and […]
New campaign warns students of money mule recruiters
As the college year begins, FraudSMART is launching a campaign warning students to be on alert for money mule recruiters, particularly through social media advertisements. Almost €9.4 million was laundered through money mule accounts in the 12 months to June this year, according to FraudSMART, the fraud awareness initiative led by Banking & Payments Federation […]
58% of contactless payments made using mobile wallets – BPFI
The use of smartphones and smartwatches, as the preferred payment method in Ireland, is continuing to grow. New figures show that contactless payments accounted for 87.9% of all point-of-sale (POS) card payments during the first half of the year. Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) said 58.2% of the payments were made using mobile wallets […]
Commission to recommend 5% increase in minimum wage
The Low Pay Commission is expected to recommend to the Government an increase of 5% to the National Minimum Wage. The rate is currently at €13.50 per hour. An increase of 5% would bring the rate to €14.17 per hour. The Government usually follows the Commission’s recommendations. The national minimum wage rate was last changed […]
What are the new security rules at Dublin Airport?
The operator of Dublin Airport has announced new security rules surrounding liquids and gels in hand luggage, due to come into effect at midnight tonight. The changes are the result of a multi-million euro upgrade of the airport’s scanning technology. Thirty new C3 scanners, which make it easier to detect what is inside passengers’ bags, […]
Central Bank warns Govt Budget package ‘too large’
The Central Bank has warned the Government’s planned Budget package of €9.4bn of additional spending is “too large” and “unnecessary”. The bank said the “sharp increase” in Government expenditure would impact on the public finances. It also said there would be a larger underlying deficit than had been expected this year when one-off factors are […]
A guide to AI models: do you know your ChatGPT from your Grok?
Choosing an AI model to use means making a call between different ecosystems and tools based on issues of data, privacy, cost and trust Artificial intelligence has moved from novelty to necessity. The systems we once treated as party tricks are now drafting essays, analysing data, generating code and even advising governments. But there is […]
Bank of England set to leave interest rates unchanged
The Bank of England looks set to slow the £100 billion a year pace at which it reduces its government bond holdings following increased volatility in bond markets, while keeping its main interest rate on hold. Although the Bank of England views the pace of quantitative tightening as having little impact on the economy, the […]
UK inflation stable ahead of Bank of England rate call
British inflation held at 3.8% in August, remaining the highest of any major advanced economy, according to official data that underscores why investors believe the Bank of England is unlikely to cut interest rates again this year. High inflation is a problem for Britain’s government as well as the Bank of England. Finance minister Rachel […]
Planning permissions drop by 12.5% in second quarter of 2025 – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show a 12.5% fall in the total number of homes granted planning permission in the second quarter of this year, with approvals falling to 7,447 units from 8,513 units the same time last year. The CSO planning permission figures give an indication of future building activity. The CSO […]