Archive for July 2025

The European Commission has proposed a €2 trillion EU budget for 2028 to 2034, placing a new emphasis on economic competitiveness and defence while aiming to reform the rules around farm and economic development subsidies. “It is a budget that matches Europe’s ambition, that confronts Europe’s challenges and that strengthens our independence,” European Commission President…

Crypto stocks jumped this week as crytocurrency Bitcoin soared past $120,000 for the first time. Today, Bitcoin added about 1% to $117,696, as it stabilised following its 6% pullback earlier this week from Monday’s all-time high at $123,153.22. But why did Bitcoin reach record highs this week? It’s been on a steady rise over the…

Analysis: All you need to know about one of the very taxes where what you pay is directly linked to your future entitlements We’ve all been there. You look at your payslip, see all the deductions and wonder where your money’s going. One of those deductions is PRSI. It’s a small amount, it’s easy to…

Britain’s annual rate of consumer price inflation unexpectedly rose to its highest in over a year at 3.6% in June, official figures showed today, potentially making it a tougher call for the Bank of England to cut interest rates next month. June’s reading from the Office for National Statistics took the annual CPI rate to…

The European Commission has said it was putting forward a new list of US goods worth €72 billion that could be targeted by EU levies if tariff talks with Washington fail. The bloc’s trade chief, Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, announced the proposal, “accounting for some 72 billion euros’ worth of US imports”, at a meeting with…

Bitcoin surpassed $120,000 for the first time today, marking a milestone for the world’s largest cryptocurrency as investors bet on long-sought policy wins for the industry this week. Bitcoin scaled a record high of $123,153.22 before pulling back slightly to trade 2.4% higher around $122,000. Later in the day, the US House of Representatives will…

Business group Ibec has said Budget 2026 must be “sensible and prudent” given the fragile global environment. Launching its pre-budget submission, it urged the Government to take a “measured and strategic approach”. The group has also called for targeted investment in areas that enhance productivity and competitiveness. It said sound economic policy must focus on…

The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on employment came into sharp focus this week. On Tuesday, Minister of State with responsibility for AI Niamh Smyth, told the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence that there will be a certain amount of job displacement because of AI. Also this week, the latest ‘Employment Monitor’ from recruitment firm…

More than 2,100 pubs across the country have closed since 2005, according to a new report. The study, commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland (DIGI), found that an average of 112 pubs stopped trading every year over the last 20 years. DIGI said the report concluded the number of pubs in Ireland is…

There’s no doubt US President Donald Trump’s threat of 30% tariffs is a significant blow to both the European Union and Ireland. Earlier this week, Taoiseach Micheál Martin expressed hopes that Brussels and Washington could agree a framework deal which would pause any escalation in trade tensions. But Mr Trump’s letter to the EU, dated…