News

Under-investment by small and medium-sized businesses was at over 30pc in 2016, with financial issues the biggest contributing factors, research has found. The study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) stated that there was “clear evidence” that actual investment is below what would be expected, given how companies are currently performing. ESRI researcher […]

Almost four in 10 Irish businesses would be willing to pay higher energy costs if their energy was coming from renewable sources, according to a new survey. Half of those businesses would pay a premium of more than 5pc. The survey carried out by Behaviour & Attitudes on behalf of Calor found that only 11pc […]

Dunnes Stores has completed a major corporate restructuring process by assimilating 40 individual companies into a principal entity within the group via a merger process. The move comes just months after it became apparent that the secretive retailer has been undergoing significant change as matriarch Margaret Heffernan (who turns 76 tomorrow) increasingly cedes control of […]

Freezing temperatures pushed gas demand far above the seasonal norms at the end of February. The monthly energy report from Vayu shows that average Irish wholesale gas prices increased by 15pc on January 2018. Wholesale electricity prices saw a 14pc increase month-on-month. This is likely to lead to new price rises for businesses and households, […]

They say it is an ill wind that does not benefit someone. And with people now dying sooner than expected in Britain, the slowing gains in life expectancy are boosting returns at one of Britain’s leading life insurance and investment companies. Legal & General, the UK’s largest manager of pension assets, has just reported record […]

Irish software company Intercom is to create 350 new jobs. The company, which provides a personal messaging service for businesses and their customers, will create 150 of the roles at its Dublin office, with the remainder being created in its London and San Francisco offices. The roles are set to be created over the next […]

The DAA is planning to leverage data from tens of thousands of passengers in an effort to significantly boost the €400m-plus annual retail and ancillary sales generated at Dublin and Cork airports. The semi-state agency is aiming to use existing data from 60,000 shoppers who have used its Loop retail space in both airports. It […]

Cork and Dublin are to benefit from a €200m deal to increase student resident accommodation in both cities. The deal, a joint venture between Harrison Street Real Estate Capital (HSRE) and the Global Student Accommodation Group (GSA), will see a total of 1,325 student beds added to the GSA/Harrison Street portfolio. The investment brings to […]

More health insurance price cuts have been announced. Irish Life Health said it will reduce the premiums on 15 of its non-advanced plans, with effect from the start of next month. The move is in response to a Government decision to lower the levy on basic policies. The non-advanced plans cover the cost of treatment […]

The move by the Central Bank to tighten lending rules at the start of this year has failed to dampen the mortgage market. New figures show a bounce in the number of first-time buyers seeking mortgage approval. Some 1,500 new buyers sought the go-ahead to take out a home loan last month, up 100 on […]