News

Construction activity continued to contract in February, but at a slower pace than a month earlier, new data shows. The BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland Construction Index climbed to 47.4, up from 45.9 in January. With any score under 50 representing a contraction, that was the weakest rate of decline in five months. Residential construction […]

Three quarters of Irish consumers feel they are doing as much as they can, within their means, to be sustainable, a new survey from EY has found. The research also discovered that more than half of Irish households think energy providers and Government should take the leading role in the shift to cleaner energy. Just […]

The Chief Executive of Bord na Móna has said the Oweninny Wind Farm, which is set to be Ireland’s largest onshore wind farm, represents a “significant step” towards meeting the country’s renewable energy targets. The Oweninny project is a joint venture between ESB and Bord na Móna representing a total investment of €320m. Wind energy […]

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that the seasonally adjusted Live Register total for February fell by 1.2% to 174,600 people, a decrease of 2,100 from January. The CSO said the unadjusted Live Register total stood at 173,982 people for February. Today’s figures show that 35-44 age group made up the largest number […]

Finance Minister Michael McGrath has today confirmed that NAMA will complete its wind-down by the end of 2025 while the Special Liquidation of Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) is on track to “substantially” conclude by the end of this year. The National Asset Management Agency was set up in 2009 to clean the property crash […]

China’s exports sharply accelerated in the first two months of 2024, official figures showed today, providing policymakers a bright spot as they battle to revive the world’s second-largest economy. Overseas shipments have long served as a key driver of the country’s economic growth, providing vast amounts of jobs for the manufacturing sector. In January and […]

Enhanced clarity, predictability and accessibility on consumer protection obligations are among the key aims of a new Consumer Protection Code being developed by the Central Bank. As part of the process, the regulator has launched a consultation paper on its plans today. Among the proposals is a requirement for firms to incorporate customers’ interests into […]

The service sector here grew at its fastest pace in five months in February after slowing to a near standstill a month earlier, as firms reported rising levels of new business across all sectors, a survey showed today. The AIB Global S&P Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 54.4 from 50.5 in January. The index […]

Minister for Enterprise Simon Coveney has received approval from the Cabinet for legislation which will allow workers to stay in their job until they reach the State Pension age, currently at 66. The General Scheme of the Employment (Restriction of Certain Mandatory Retirement Ages) Bill 2023 strikes out any mandatory retirement age which is below […]

The State collected €12 billion in taxes in the first two months of the year, new figures from the Department of Finance show. That is up 5.5% or €600 million on the same period last year. The increase was driven by income tax, excise and VAT receipts. However, the Department said a technical factor with […]