Business News

Ireland has been ranked as the most competitive country in the euro area but the country has slipped back in its global standing. The latest annual World Competitiveness Rankings from the International Institute for Management Development reviewed 69 economies. It has listed Ireland as the world’s seventh most competitive economy in 2025, down from fourth…

Last week, the Government unveiled its ambitious National Development Plan (NDP) Review 2025, committing nearly €100 billion toward transformative infrastructure by 2030. While this represents a watershed moment for Irish development policy, the nation’s track record on infrastructure delivery remains deeply problematic. Complex procurement processes, bureaucratic bottlenecks and protracted planning procedures routinely stall critical projects.…

If society were a family, the sandwich generation would be the middle child: steady, responsible and too often overlooked. These are adults who simultaneously care for ageing parents and young children, all while managing household budgets, work commitments and rising living costs. As Ireland’s population grows older and childbirth happens later in life, more families…

The White House has confirmed that the 15% tariff agreed between the European Union and the United States includes pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. There had been some confusion over whether or not the products were covered by the trade deal after President Donald Trump said on Sunday that pharma was not included. European Commission President Ursula…

The tariff deal between the EU and the US will secure, stabilise and grow transatlantic trade and investment relations, the European Commission’s Spokesperson on Trade has said. Olof Gill said both sides are “working very hard” to get the details of the agreement signed. Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said the 15% tariffs was…

Analysis: With most house owners facing higher property tax bills, a look at the advantages and disadvantages of the tax introduced in 2013 By Gerard Turley, University of Galway The local property tax (LPT) is in the news again. Councillors in Dublin City Council (DCC) recently voted to raise the rate of tax next year,…

While there is still a lot to be ironed out in the trade deal between the European Union and the United States, there’s a decent level of detail that has been announced. The deal ends months of uncertainty and avoids a full-blown trade war between the two blocs. What’s included in the deal? It introduces…

Estate agents who are members of the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland (SCSI) expect national property prices to increase by an average of 5% over the next 12 months, a dip from the 6% forecast in January. According to the latest SCSI Residential Mid-Year Market Monitor, more than half of agents believe the key factor…

Energy company Flogas is to increase its variable electricity charges by around 7%, with effect from 25 August. Flogas said this marks its first price increase in three years and comes after a 15% reduction in its electricity rates last year. The company said its residential natural gas customers are unaffected by the price hike.…

The framework trade agreement which the United States and the European Union signed yesterday is worse than the trade deal that the United Kingdom reached with the US earlier, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said. The deal imposes a 15% import tariff on most EU goods – half the threatened rate. The US and…