News

ONE of the biggest savings for households can be made by switching a mortgage to another provider. This does not apply to those on tracker mortgages, which are ultra cheap. For those on variable rates the savings can amount to thousands of euro a year – over the lifetime of a mortgage, savings as high […]

In-demand locations will be subject to rent caps under plans to be announced today, the Irish Independent can reveal. Housing Minister Simon Coveney is to introduce ‘rent pressure zones’ in an attempt to stall the spiralling costs in Dublin and Cork. Latest figures show prices in the capital have jumped by as much as 40pc […]

Companies in Ireland can unlock huge revenue potentials and establish the country as a digital powerhouse on the global stage. But only if leaders are more proactive in making the decision to go ‘digital first’. With European headquarters for Google, Facebook, Paypal, Microsoft, Yahoo and Apple in Dublin and Cork, digital is here. The value […]

Irish construction firms are taking on extra staff, pushing the sharpest rise in employment since February, according to Ulster Bank’s latest Construction PMI. Construction firms continued to record strong growth of activity last month, supported by a further sharp increase in new orders. Simon Barry, chief economist (RoI) at Ulster Bank, said whilst details across […]

The European Union will take action against seven nations including Germany and Britain for failing to police car emissions rules, EU sources have said. It comes after the Volkswagen cheating scandal highlighted suspicious behaviour in the industry. Amid frustration in Brussels over nations’ responses to diesel vehicles flouting pollution limits, the European Commission is resorting […]

With less than two shopping weeks to Christmas, those leaving it late are in danger of being ripped off in the dash to buy gifts. “Traders can make a lot of their money on last-minute shoppers because the person is trying to get something as quickly as they can,” said Fergal O’Leary, member of the […]

More people are taking out loans with credit unions, while there has been a rise in the amount of money saved with the member-owned institutions. The rise in lending comes after loan books shrunk during the worst of the downturn. Lending is seen as a key measure of the financial health of the sector, as […]

Ireland is among the cheapest European countries for mobile bills but still ranks as too expensive for home broadband, Ireland’s telecoms watchdog has found. Comreg says that the average monthly mobile bill fell to €24.32, the first time it has sunk below €25 per month in Ireland. The watchdog’s latest report confirms that Ireland remains […]

The economy performed strongly in the months after the Brexit vote, official figures have revealed. The Central Statistics Office (CSO), whose incredible growth figures earlier in the year were branded “leprechaun economics”, showed Ireland is on course to have the fastest- growing economy in Europe this year. The value of all business in the country, […]

DUBLIN Airport is now the fastest-growing major airport in Western Europe, according to latest figures from Eurostat. Latest statistics show that the capital’s airport is now the 12th most popular hub for arrivals and departures in the entire EU. Significantly, passenger numbers in Dublin grew by 15pc last year, making it by far the fastest-growing […]