Author: splash

IMF: Irish economy set to return to growth next year

The International Monetary Fund is forecasting that Ireland’s economy will decline by 6.8% in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) terms this year, as a result of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The figure is contained in the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, published today. The IMF believes that unemployment in Ireland will average 12.1% this year and 7.9% in 2021. […]

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Measures announced to ensure delivery of capital projects

The government has announced measures to ensure the delivery of Exchequer-funded capital projects under Project Ireland 2040. The public health measures, introduced at the end of March to halt the progress of Covid-19, imposed restrictions on many areas of the economy including the construction sector.  In a statement this evening, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, […]

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Over half a million receive Covid Unemployment Support Payments

533,000 people have today been issued payments of the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support payment – up 26,000 on the figure a week ago, according to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Around 54,000 of those are receiving payments for the first time.  These Covid Pandemic payments first introduced on 16 March are in […]

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Insurers agree measures to ease Covid-19 burden

The insurance industry has announced a suite of measures aimed at helping personal and business customers through the difficulties posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. They include a reduction in premiums for business customers that will reflect the reduced level of exposure they have as a result of the restrictions as well as flexibility for those […]

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IMF approves debt relief for 25 poor countries over Covid-19

The International Monetary Fund has announced immediate debt relief for 25 poor countries to help them free up funds to fight the coronavirus pandemic. “This provides grants to our poorest and most vulnerable members to cover their IMF debt obligations for an initial phase over the next six months and will help them channel more […]

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45,000 mortgage breaks granted by Irish banks

More than 45,000 mortgage payment breaks have been or are about to be given to borrowers suffering financial difficulty as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) this represents approximately 5% of the total mortgage market here. The initiative is being operated by all five of the […]

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Covid-19 unemployment payments to cost Exchequer €5bn for three months

The Covid-19 unemployment payments will cost the Government just under €5bn for three months, according to an analysis by the Economic and Social Research Institute.  The ESRI also warns that the cap on higher earners in the wage subsidy scheme may encourage firms to lay off those employees rather than retaining them.  The Government has introduced […]

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World faces ‘worst economic fallout since Great Depression’ – IMF

The global coronavirus pandemic is causing an economic crisis unlike any in the past century and will require a massive response to ensure recovery, International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva said today. She warned that “global growth will turn sharply negative in 2020,” with 170 of the International Monetary Fund’s 180 members experiencing a decline […]

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Fed will continue to act ‘forcefully, proactively and aggressively’ – Powell

The Federal Reserve will continue to use all the tools at its disposal until the US economy begins to fully rebound from the harm caused by the novel coronavirus outbreak, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said today, even as he acknowledged the limits of the bank’s powers.  “Many of the programmes we are undertaking to support […]

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EU fails to reach deal on Covid-19 bailout plan

EU finance ministers have failed to agree on a bailout plan to help hard hit member states face the coronavirus outbreak, after Italy refused to abandon its plea for “coronabonds” to share the burden. “After 16 hours of discussions, we came close to a deal but we are not there yet. I suspended the Eurogroup […]

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