Author: splash

Oil prices slipped today but remained within touching distance of three-month highs as fears over new Covid-19 lockdown measures in Shanghai outweighed solid demand for fuels in the United States, the world’s top consumer. Brent crude futures for August were down 77 cents, or 0.6%, at $122.30 a barrel as of 0448 GMT after a […]

The Minister for Finance has said he is not considering the introduction of price caps to deal with soaring inflation. Paschal Donohoe was speaking after the Central Statistics Office (CSO) said that annual rate of inflation rose to 7.8% in May. This is the highest rate in 38 years, and up from 7% in April. […]

The cost of everyday items is continuing to rise, with a recent estimate from the Central Statistics Office suggesting consumer prices were 8.2% in the year to the end of May. That translates into higher costs at the shopping tills, leaving many households with less money at the end of the week – and forcing […]

Telecoms company eir has said around 25% of its customers will be impacted by price hikes from August. The changes in fees will impact households and small to medium sized businesses using the company’s landline, broadband, TV and mobile services. eir said current customers will see a €5 increase to their bills per month. “eir […]

European shares slipped today ahead of the European Central Bank’s meeting later in the day, with investors awaiting clues on the central bank’s policy tightening plans. The ECB will announce its decision just before 1pm, followed by a press conference this afternoon. The pan-European STOXX 600 index fell 0.5% by 0709 GMT. The index is […]

The Government is announcing a series of new initiatives to support remote working. A voucher scheme will give remote workers free access to local digital hubs and provide at least 10,000 hot desk facilities free of charge to existing hub users and those availing of the facilities for the first time. The scheme will initially […]

Cliona, a mother of three, was recently quoted €4,500 a month for childcare. She simply cannot afford it. “I don’t know who can afford €4,500 a month and pay a mortgage and have any kind of a life, and put food on the table,” she told Prime Time. “I don’t know anyone who could do […]

The fuels industry has said that the Government needs to look at the overall approach to taxation on fuel because the argument that increasing fuel taxes results in decreased demand “just doesn’t follow.” The chief executive of Fuels for Ireland said despite the excise duty cut on petrol and diesel earlier this year, users are […]

Ireland is among a number of countries taking part in a worldwide initiative trialling a four-day week with no loss of pay. More than 3,000 workers at 70 companies will begin a four-day week with no loss of pay in a trial lasting six months in Britain. The UK experiment is running alongside similar, smaller […]

A proposed 20 cent levy on single-use coffee cups “sends the wrong message on sustainability” and the Government needs to rethink its strategy, according to a body representing the retail industry in Ireland. The measure was announced earlier this year by the Government as part of the Circular Economy Bill, which is aimed at reducing […]