Category Archives: News

Firms spend up to €42,500 to meet Covid requirements, according to CSO

Small businesses spent on average €4,000 on Covid-19 measures to comply with requirements for trading, according to the Central Statistics Office. The findings of its latest survey on the impact of the pandemic on businesses, show the cost of implementing measures varied by the size of the enterprise. Micro enterprises, which have less than 10…

The EU’s €750 billion recovery fund – What is in it for Ireland?

In the ‘deal before dawn’ to secure a multi-billion euro Covid-19 recovery package and a €1.8 trillion budget package to see the EU through the next seven years, how did Ireland play its hand? Our reporter Eleanor Burnhill has been looking at Ireland’s potential gains and losses. Heading into his first EU summit, Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicated that Ireland would…

A run through of the recent housing market trends

A run-through of the recent housing market trends

The latest report by the Banking and Federation Ireland shows a direct relationship between consumer spending and mortgage approvals. Impact of lockdown restrictions In May of last year, the housing market experienced an upward trend shown by a rise in mortgage approvals. This was before the onset of the pandemic. However, when Covid-19 restrictions were…

European stocks start week in red

Europe’s stock markets opened lower, as EU leaders struggled to unite over the terms of a vast 750 billion euro post-coronavirus economic rescue plan. Investor sentiment was also dented as a spike in new Covid-19 infections forced some governments to impose fresh containment measures, notably in Australia, Hong Kong and the United States. In initial…

Martin calling for more details on EU recovery proposal at Brussels summit

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland will make their own contribution to the “own resources” aspects of the €750 billion Covid-19 recovery fund. Speaking in Brussels ahead of an EU summit, Mr Martin said Europe needs to give far more detailed consideration to other “own resources” proposals, including for example a digital tax. “The full implications…

Oil prices fall amid rising Covid-19 cases worldwide

Oil prices fell on Monday, unnerved by the prospect that a recovery in fuel demand could be derailed by a rise in the pace of coronavirus infections around the world. Brent crude LCOc1 was down 25 cents, or 0.6%, at $42.89 a barrel, after dropping slightly last week. U.S. oil was off by 22 cents,…