Archive for October 2021

The latest EU proposal to address problems of post-Brexit trade in Northern Ireland provides a “sensible solution” and a bespoke arrangement which can provide a way forward, Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill has said. On RTÉ’s Morning Ireland the Sinn Féin vice president said the announcement has been “warmly welcomed” by the business…

The Taoiseach has said he cannot guarantee that the 22 October phase of reopening will proceed as planned. Micheál Martin’s comments come as the Department of Health has been notified of 2,066 new coronavirus cases. He said a decision will be made early next week. Mr Martin said a presentation from Deputy Chief Medical Officer…

The pay and conditions of hospitality workers has hit “rock bottom” and people are afraid to speak out about it, an Oireachtas Committee has heard. SIPTU organiser Denis Hynes told TDs and Senators that current labour shortages in the sector were not due to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, but rather as a result of poor…

The Irish Fiscal Advisory Council (IFAC) said the Government has put the economy on a more “prudent path” after Budget 2022. IFAC said that in following its spending rule “even as revenues have surprised on the upside, the Government has the economy on a more prudent path that will reduce borrowing and the debt ratio…

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has announced €1.5bn in extra spending and tax cuts in Budget 2022. He said the measures would tackle the rising cost of living, while putting the public finances on a sustainable path as we emerge from the pandemic. But the Opposition accused the Government of being “out of touch” and…

Workers who pay income tax at the higher rate should see their take home pay rising by around €420 next year as a result of changes announced in the budget. An increase in the standard rate tax band by €1,500 will see the threshold at which they pay the 40% higher rate of income tax…

Budget 2022, which will be announced this afternoon by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe, followed by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath is expected to be a €4.7bn package – with €1bn in new spending and half a billion euro in tax cuts. An increase of €5 in the main weekly welfare payments…

Thousands more carers are in line to receive the Carer’s Allowance under changes expected to be announced in the Budget tomorrow. It comes as an extra €200m in the Social Protection allocation was finalised tonight. The means-test for carers will be broadened to allow couples with a weekly income of up to €750, and single…

Figures from the Department of Social Protection show that for the first time since the start of Covid-19, the number of people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen below the 100,000 mark. Today’s figures show that the weekly payments valued at €25.1m are to be issued to 97,130 people in receipt of…

Construction firms continued to experience strong growth in activity in September, despite the latest Ulster Bank Construction PMI easing for the fourth month in a row. The Ulster Bank Construction PMI – which track changes in total construction activity – posted a reading of 56.3 in September, down from 57.5 in August. Index readings above…