Category: Syndicated

For richer, for poorer: The wedding business is booming

After a pandemic imposed shutdown, the wedding sector is booming once again. But that surge in demand, coupled with inflation means those looking to say ‘I do’ can expect to pay higher prices for their big day. Those working in the industry say the price of hosting a wedding is up around 20% compared to […]

Continue Reading

Decision on VAT rate for hospitality expected next week

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there will be further meetings this week in relation to the hospitality VAT rate, involving the key ministers of finance, public expenditure, social protection and the party leaders. The 9% VAT rate for the industry is due to expire at the end of the month, when it will revert to 13.5%. […]

Continue Reading

Further health insurance price hikes this year ‘cannot be ruled out’ – expert

Further increases in health insurance premiums cannot be ruled out later this year, according to one health insurance expert. Laya Healthcare followed rivals Irish Life Health and VHI in announcing a hike in the cost of some of its premiums late last week. It means all of the providers in the market have recently increased […]

Continue Reading

€18m support scheme for haulage businesses proposed

Minister of State Jack Chambers is set to bring proposals for the Licensed Haulage Support Scheme to Cabinet that will provide €18 million to assist licensed haulage businesses with cost pressures. According to research conducted by the Department of Transport, for the last six months of 2022, fuel prices for operators continued to be just […]

Continue Reading

European Commission raises Irish, euro zone growth forecasts

The European Commission has revised upwards its forecasts for economic growth this year in Ireland. In its Winter 2023 Economic Forecast, released today, the Commission predicts the economy here will grow in GDP terms by 4.9%, compared to its Autumn forecast of 3.2%. Growth next year has been revised upwards to 4.1% compared to an […]

Continue Reading

Commercial semi states paid out dividends of €199.4m

Commercial semi-state companies last year paid out aggregate dividends of €199.4 million to the exchequer. The €199 million paid out in 2022 is a 31.4% increase on the €151.7 million dividends paid out by the semi-state companies to the exchequer for 2021. However, in a written Dáil reply to co-leader of the Social Democrats, Catherine […]

Continue Reading

Commercial semi states paid out dividends of €199.4m

Commercial semi-state companies last year paid out aggregate dividends of €199.4 million to the exchequer. The €199 million paid out in 2022 is a 31.4% increase on the €151.7 million dividends paid out by the semi-state companies to the exchequer for 2021. However, in a written Dáil reply to co-leader of the Social Democrats, Catherine […]

Continue Reading

Call for extension and streamlining of ‘extremely complex’ TBESS application process

IMSE, the group representing small and medium sized firms, has called for the continuation of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme beyond the end of February and for the streamlining of the application process which it says is ‘extremely complex’ to apply for. The scheme – known as TBESS – covers 40% of the additional […]

Continue Reading

Call for extension and streamlining of ‘extremely complex’ TBESS application process

IMSE, the group representing small and medium sized firms, has called for the continuation of the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme beyond the end of February and for the streamlining of the application process which it says is ‘extremely complex’ to apply for. The scheme – known as TBESS – covers 40% of the additional […]

Continue Reading

Consumer spending in January up 17.8% – Revolut

Consumer spending last month rose by 17.8% compared to the same month a year ago, according to the latest data released by online bank Revolut. However, the growth in spending by the company’s two million customers here is likely to have been heavily influenced by rising inflation, as the cost of living last month was […]

Continue Reading