Business News

The Government has launched a new national semiconductor strategy which aims to boost employment in the sector by 34,500 jobs by 2024. Semiconductors, sometimes referred to as microchips, are used in everything from smartphones and computers, to the latest quantum computing and AI technology. The semiconductor sector in Ireland currently has more than 130 indigenous…

Ireland’s deep economic ties to the US pose “notable downward risks” to the economy despite 3.4% GDP growth this year, according to the European Commission’s Spring economic forecast. The report warns that further US tariffs on pharmaceuticals could dampen investment and cause “significant downside risks” with the economy “vulnerable” to further protectionist policies by the…

There was a 15% rise in motor liability claims among pedestrians last year, while motorcyclists account for just 2% of personal injury claims but represent one in ten fatal claims. Those are among the findings from the Injuries Resolution Board’s latest report, which reviews motor liability accidents and claims in Ireland between 2019 and 2024.…

Average asking prices for rents nationally rose by 3.4% between January and March of this year, going above €2,000 for the first time, according to the latest report from property website Daft. The findings indicate the latest increase is one of the largest in any three months in the last two decades, with average prices…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that 79.8% of people said they got information on news and current affairs from TV or radio on a typical day in 2023. This was followed by newspapers/magazines, both in print and online at 77.7%, and social media at 71.2%. The CSO figures form part of the…

There has been a breakthrough in last minute talks to secure an agreement on an EU-UK post-Brexit reset, according to EU diplomats. EU member states are shortly expected to adopt a new agreement with the UK ahead of this afternoon’s London summit. Three draft texts have been presented to 27 EU ambassadors following talks between…

European Central Bank interest rates may be close to bottoming out but uncertainty was high and the environment was prone to sudden changes that could also alter the policy outlook, ECB policymaker Martins Kazaks said today. The ECB has been cutting interest rates quickly over the past year and the debate over where to end…

The euro zone economy grew slower in the first quarter than initially estimated but employment held up well, indicating that the bloc keeps creating jobs despite years of anaemic expansion, data from Eurostat showed today. Gross domestic product in the first three months grew by 0.3%, below an initial estimate for 0.4%, but that was…

A record €2.5 billion worth of personal loans were drawn down last year. These included loans for cars, home improvement works, holidays and weddings. The figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show that loan values increased by 20% on the previous year, while volumes jumped 13%. In total, almost 230,000 loans were drawn down…

New figures from the Central Bank show that the average interest rate on new mortgages in Ireland continued to fall to March. The Central Bank said the average interest rate on new Irish mortgage agreements in March eased to 3.77% from 3.79% in February. The equivalent euro area average for March was unchanged at 3.33%,…