Government sums leave little scope for tax cuts in Budget 2027
Vital public investment has too often been sacrificed to protect current services and minimise tax bills
Energy Crisis
Aughinish Alumina: Government should act urgently, enabled by emergency legislation
It is naive to think Ireland’s interests can be divorced from the outcome of Russia’s war in Ukraine
Aer Lingus loses €34m in first half ahead of planned cuts in staff
Airline blames higher fuel costs and tough competition on North Atlantic routes for shortfall
Heat pump installations must increase twentyfold ‘to meet green targets’
Climate Change Advisory Council also warns against further delay of rises in carbon tax
Trump close to deciding on ‘massive attack’ against Iran after Houthis strike Red Sea tankers
UN’s António Guterres says Middle East being pushed to ‘edge of the unimaginable’ amid mounting fears over conflict’s trajectory
Trump warns of ‘massive attack’ if Iran fails to negotiate
Trump has renewed threats to attack Iranian infrastructure
AI is turning everything into a software project – whether worthwhile or not
A 160-year-old economic theory is key to the AI revolution
Iran issues warning to Bulgaria over plans to host US military aircraft
Oil prices jump 30% this month; US widens scope of strikes on Iran
Wholesale electricity prices fell by 6.2% in June
Wholesale electricity prices decreased by 6.2 per cent last month, but remain much higher than last year
Oil tankers reverse course as Yemen’s Houthis open new front in US-Iran war
Washington continues attacks on Gulf nation with Tehran launching strikes at US sites in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan
Oil prices rise back above $90 as Iran hits tankers
US carries out fresh wave of attacks as the number of American casualties rises
Chipmaker rout delivers dose of reality in markets
Investors have been living in a fantasy this year in the face of troubling global developments
Electricity waste hits €1.6m daily while ‘550,000 suffer energy poverty’
Energy charity seeks national policy on using surplus wind energy to power low-income homes
Cutting excise duties on petrol and diesel is the wrong approach, EU commissioner warns
China racing towards becoming an ‘electro-state’ while European green transition stagnating, energy commissioner warns
AI-related trade a bright spot for Ireland amid Trump tariffs ‘whiplash effect’, says Ibec
But outlook for Irish economy remains ‘volatile’ amid uncertainty around global energy prices
Trump to drop proposed Strait of Hormuz cargo fee as fresh strikes launched against Iran
US president says he will ‘replace’ plan with investment from Gulf states into US amid ongoing exchanges of fire with Tehran
Dublin Airport passenger cap ignores reality of changing climate
Ireland is now a haven from extreme heat events plaguing other parts of the world
US and Iran exchange heavy strikes as Tehran targets facilities across the Gulf
Tehran targets US facilities across Gulf while Washington claims commercial shipping continues through strategic waterway
Retrofit expert SE Systems to create 150 jobs as it plots national expansion
Cork-based company has invested €3m in a new HQ and plans to grow Dublin, Cork, Clare and Donegal presence
Irish inflation falls to 3.4% in June
Latest Consumer Price Index was compiled before the current tit-for-tat attacks between US and Iran
Global economy caught between competing forces of Iran war and AI
IMF says two forces are pushing global economy in opposite directions as it cuts euro zone growth outlook
Global economy is coping with a multitude of challenges, but can it last?
Are we invulnerable or just plain lucky?
Buoyant tax receipts provide cover for runaway State spending
General government expenditure has jumped by 54 per cent since 2019
Cuts to fuel taxes won’t be fully reversed until after Budget, Coalition leaders decide
Cuts are due to expire at end of July, with Taoiseach and Tánaiste saying there will be no ‘cliff edge’
Loveholidays CEO: ‘Ryanair thought all online travel agencies were pirates. But not us’
Donat Rétif did not fly on an aeroplane until he was 20 – now he runs a package holiday firm worth €1bn-plus
AI boom to put gloss on domestic Irish economy despite rising inflation, says ESRI
Think tank has raised its forecasts for inflation, driven by soaring energy prices due to ‘fluid’ situation in the Gulf
Euro sinks to one-year low as falling oil prices ease pressure on ECB
Traders back away from bets on further interest rate rises as economy slows
Expectation on fuel-duty decision shows how hard it is to unwind cost-of-living supports
Inside Politics: Staying safe in Europe during the heatwave, and claims Occupied Territories Bill has been designed to avoid ‘annoying the Americans’
How Europe solved the jet fuel crisis and saved your summer holidays
Plants pushed production to record levels after Iran war cut off Middle East export routes
European Commission approves €15m aid for Irish fishing and aquaculture companies
Scheme is aimed at counteracting increased fuel prices against backdrop of conflict in Middle East
What happens Ireland’s petrol and diesel prices and energy costs after US-Iran peace deal?
Iran war breakthrough means further conflict and prolonged disruption of energy supplies less likely
Energy price shock to squeeze Irish wage growth this year, says Central Bank
Global oil and gas prices now unlikely to return to more normal levels despite putative Middle East peace deal
Consumers spend less in clothes shops – but second-hand spending up 197%
Entertainment spend was up 6%, partially driven by strong growth in cinemas with sales up 53%, figures from AIB show
US and Iran agree tentative peace deal but Israel says it will not withdraw from Lebanon
Deal would ‘not be a one-way ceasefire’, Us official says, meaning that Israel could respond if attacked
Stocks surge as US-Iran deal raises hopes of end to energy crisis
Asian shares climb with Japan’s Nikkei nearing record close
The Iran deal removes a big economic risk for Ireland – if it holds
The deal will ease some pressure on households and the Government but problems will remain
Higher-income Irish households benefit twice as much from fuel supports, ESRI finds
Measures reduce immediate cost increases by about half, but do not fully offset regressive nature of energy inflation, report says
Inflation falls slightly to 3.6% in May as energy costs dip
Observers say rate may fall again next month but rise thereafter as ECB rate hikes feed through and utility bills start to rise
Green motives are great, but climate agenda must also appeal to broader constituency
‘Utility-based mentality’ can get previously reluctant industries on board, says Elina Bardram
What ‘data’ is stored in data centres? My videos for starters
Until recently, I had only a vague idea of my personal responsibility for the situation
District heating schemes could dramatically reduce Ireland’s energy bills
One giant source connected to a network of pipes could cater for an entire neighbourhood’s heating needs
‘A lot of renewable energy is being wasted’: Electricity rules that favour Ireland-Britain power lines are criticised
Industry body warns of waste as regulations favour power lines
Global stocks slide led by meltdown in South Korea as oil prices rise
Steep declines in tech-related stocks follow Wall Street rout on Friday
Irish-French power line could cost €2bn due to delays
Celtic Interconnector, an electricity cable that will run from Cork coast to Brittany, faces issues on two fronts, says EirGrid
EU agricultural policy needs to make clear link between subsidies and emissions reductions
There’s been a virtual standstill on tackling greenhouse gas emissions from farming - despite progress generally across society
Data centres’ energy use being ‘managed appropriately’ by Government, Darragh O’Brien says
Minister for Energy and the Environment has responded to UN report that described Ireland as ‘cautionary tale’
OECD warns of ‘dark scenario’ if Gulf energy crisis drags on
Growth rates would tumble to levels rarely seen outside of big global events such as the Covid-19 pandemic, report says
Iran reviewing proposed agreement to end war with US as Israel continues Lebanon incursion
Negotiations ongoing with deal to extend ceasefire and reopen Strait of Hormuz to be struck over the next week, Trump claims
Plans lodged for north Dublin power plant near M50
Kilshane Energy seeks permission for ‘flexible peaking plant’ to provide ‘reliable source of backup generation’
Yuno Energy boosts charges by €3 a week
Electricity and gas supplier becomes the latest to announce increase
Irish inflation slows in May as energy prices dip
Energy prices are estimated to have decreased by 4.3% in the month, CSO data shows
SSE grew Irish revenue by 36% last year despite losing customers
Company reported ‘an acceleration’ in development of data centres, with energy sold to the sector in Ireland trebling
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices