News

The incoming government intends to cut the VAT rate to 9% for food-based hospitality, entertainment and hairdressing in the next budget. It is also understood the new programme for government will contain a commitment to continue work on enacting the Occupied Territories Bill. The move follows commitments in the document, which will be published later […]

There has been a 40% drop in public liability claims between 2019 and 2023, the body which resolves personal injury claims has said. The development follows the introduction of new guidelines in 2021 recommending lower awards for many injuries and new anti-fraud measures. Close to half of all trip, slip and fall accidents occurred on […]

The US government said it would further restrict artificial intelligence chip and technology exports, divvying up the world to keep advanced computing power in the US and among its allies while finding more ways to block China’s access. But Ireland and a number of other countries including the UK and the Netherlands will essentially be […]

New figures show that, as expected, Monday 23 December was the most popular shopping day of 2024, with consumers spending €107m on that one day alone, an increase of €11.9m on the busiest trading day in 2023. The latest figures from Kantar show that take-home value sales over the four weeks to 29 December increased […]

China’s exports gained momentum in December, with imports also showing recovery, though strength at the year-end was in part fuelled by factories rushing inventory overseas as they braced for heightened trade risks under a Trump presidency. Exports have been a vital growth engine for the $18 trillion economy, which is still burdened by a prolonged […]

Irish food and drink makers feel “broadly positive” about current economic conditions, but the mood is slightly less positive than other industries, and likely to turn more negative in the months ahead. That is according to Food Drink Ireland, which is part of business group Ibec. Food Drink Ireland’s latest report found that 58% of […]

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said that plans remain on track for the partial reopening of Holyhead Port next Thursday. Mr Harris spoke by phone with Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan earlier. Speaking to media afterwards, Mr Harris said that while Holyhead Port will have to make adjustments to its schedule, it hopes to operate the […]

875 corporate insolvencies were recorded last year – the highest number since 2016. New figures from Deloitte show that SMEs continue to be the worst affected. The services sector recorded the highest number of insolvencies, followed by hospitality and retail. There was a significant increase in the retail and hospitality sectors, up 64% and 48%. […]

New figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland (BPFI) show that first-time buyer mortgage approvals hit a record high last November. BPFI said that first-time buyer volumes rose to 31,049 in the 12 months ending November 2024, while the value of these approvals was almost €9.5 billion. A total of 4,400 mortgages were approved in […]

The share of electricity in Ireland supplied by wind fell during 2024 due to grid constraints, an energy company has said. Wind Energy Ireland said that despite wind supplying nearly a third of all electricity to the island of Ireland last year, the share of electricity provided by wind was down by 3% compared to […]