Archive for November 2021

The body representing Irish SMEs has sharply criticised the UK’s threat to trigger Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol, potentially over the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ). In a letter to the British ambassador to Ireland Paul Johnston, seen by RTÉ News, ISME’s chief executive Neil McDonnell said that since the…

The Taoiseach has said nothing is certain regarding the triggering of Article 16 of the Northern Ireland Protocol by the British government and he warned of the dangers of self-fulfilling prophecies. Yesterday, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said evidence suggests the British government is preparing to trigger Article 16 of the protocol. He warned…

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Stormont’s Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill will launch an initiative to bring together experts on both sides of the border to research how to address climate and biodiversity emergencies. Those involved with the All-Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network (AICBRN) say it will “significantly ramp up collaborative research activity.” The launch…

Unions have lodged a pay claim for a 3% increase for thousands of workers in the community and voluntary sector. SIPTU, Fórsa, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions are launching a campaign today to highlight precarious conditions in the area where the majority of workers are on fixed-term…

New figures from financial technology company Revolut show that spending soared on get-togethers and nights out as Covid-19 restrictions lifted in October. Consumer spending was up by 5% across the board last month and Revolut said that Irish people appear happy to kickstart the economic recovery by spending the additional savings many accumulated during lockdown.…

Growth in construction activity accelerated in October, for the sixth month in a row, Ulster Bank’s latest Purchasing Managers’ Index shows. But construction firms said Brexit, Covid and shortages of delivery drivers and materials contributed to a record lengthening of delivery times and record growth in input costs. The Ulster Bank Construction PMI rose to…

Greta Thunberg famously asked “how dare you?” in a speech in 2019. The emotional question was followed by “we are at the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth”. In the movement towards climate action, is economic growth an opposing force? I asked…

Revenue is to extend the deadline for property owners to file their Local Property Tax returns until 5pm on Wednesday. The decision comes as large numbers of people continue to seek further clarity about the self-assessment valuation process for their property tax ahead of the original deadline of this Sunday. Revenue said so far more…

The Government has approved a 2% cap on rent increases in rent pressure zones (RPZs). A RPZ is a designated area where rents cannot be increased by more than general inflation and applies to new and existing tenancies unless an exemption is being applied. The Residential Tenancies Board said RPZs are located in parts of the country where…

Businesses will have to reduce their emissions by around 40% under the Government’s Climate Action Plan, which also warns failure to act means firms risk being left behind. The blueprint says that the biggest share of enterprise emissions come from a small number of large alumina, food processing, beverages and cement manufacturing companies covered under…