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New laws to screen investment from ‘unfriendly’ governments

The Government will introduce new laws to screen foreign direct investment (FDI) coming to Ireland, Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Leo Varadkar has confirmed. The legislation will be brought in to give effect to a European Union regulation and is seen as an important tool to tackle concerns that strategically important assets – including research […]

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Imperative to avoid second lockdown ‘if possible’ – Varadkar

ánaiste Leo Varadkar has said Ireland may be close to the level “at which we can live with the virus”. He said the overriding imperative right now is to keep the virus suppressed to avoid “if possible” a second lockdown.  The Tánaiste made his remarks at the Dublin Economics Workshop this afternoon.  He said he did […]

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Imperative to avoid second lockdown ‘if possible’ – Varadkar

ánaiste Leo Varadkar has said Ireland may be close to the level “at which we can live with the virus”. He said the overriding imperative right now is to keep the virus suppressed to avoid “if possible” a second lockdown.  The Tánaiste made his remarks at the Dublin Economics Workshop this afternoon.  He said he did […]

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‘Too much stimulus cash is now saved in banks’ – Ibec

The Government has pumped too much cash to households during the Covid-19 crisis and should find a way to “extract” money that has ended up in savings accounts, according to the head of employers’ group Ibec. Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy told an event organised by the Dublin Economics Workshop that the best way to […]

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UK agrees first major post-Brexit trade deal with Japan

Britain today said it had secured its first major post-Brexit trade agreement – a free trade deal with Japan – the day after bitter wranglings with the European Union.  The Department for International Trade said the deal will increase trade with Japan by some £15.2 billion.  The UK-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement was agreed in […]

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UK economy grows by 6.6% in July, extending recovery from Covid crash

The UK economy grew for a third month in a row in July as pubs, restaurants and other sectors reopened after the coronavirus lockdown, but it remained around 12% smaller than its pre-pandemic level.  After crashing by a record 20% in the second quarter, output expanded by 6.6% in July, slower than June’s monthly rate, […]

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Covid-19 impact on labour market ‘staggering’ – McGrath

he Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has said government spending this year will be in the region of €86 billion, some €16 billion more than was planned in last year’s Budget.  Michael McGrath said the current estimates process in the run up to the Budget is a “complex one”. He also said it was […]

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EU warns Brexit trade deal at risk if UK violates Withdrawal Agreement

European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic said violating the Withdrawal Agreement would break international law and jeopardise trade deal talks, according to an EU statement. He told British Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove “in no uncertain terms” that the “timely and full implementation” of the divorce deal is “a legal obligation”. “Violating the terms of the […]

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Consumer prices see biggest fall since 2010 in August – CSO

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that consumer prices on average were 1% lower in August compared with the same month last year.  This marked the sharpest annual fall since 2010, when the economy was hit hard by the global financial crisis. Consumer prices have dropped on an annual basis for five months […]

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Central Bank finds weaknesses in some credit unions

Weaknesses have been identified in a number of credit unions as part of a supervisory analysis conducted by the Central Bank. The difficulties, found as part of the fourth Credit Union Supervisory Commentary Report, were found in a number of risk categories, including governance and credit underwriting. “We acknowledge that some credit unions have made […]

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