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An updated national Climate Action Plan outlining accelerated economy-wide measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will be unveiled by the three Government leaders later this afternoon. It is expected to include new measures to reduce the number of car journeys taken, reduce on-street parking and prioritise active travel and the use of public transport. The…

Consumer sentiment improved in December to its best level for four months as cheaper fuel and an improved economic outlook brought some seasonal cheer to hard-pressed households, a survey showed today. The Credit Union Consumer Sentiment index increased to 48.7 in December from 45.3 in November, the second improvement in the past three months. The…

The possible future introduction of a universal basic income (UBI) would have both positive impacts and drawbacks, according to a new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). A UBI is defined as a universal, unconditional payment that is made regularly, is sufficient to live on, is not means tested and carries no…

New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that people who usually worked from home accounted for 22.5% of people in employment in the third quarter of 2022, up from 7.3% during the same time in 2019. The number of people usually working from home saw a sharp rise since pre-Covid pandemic levels, increasing from…

New figures from the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) show that wholesale gas prices increased by 380% in 2021, while wholesale electricity prices jumped by 260% compared to the previous year. The knock-on effect on retail prices caused more customers to switch providers in an effort to reduce their bills. Today’s data from the…

The European Central Bank will hike interest rates further in the euro zone to combat high inflation, ECB’s Vice-President Luis de Guindos said today. “There will be more interest rate hikes, until when, I don’t know. I am absolutely honest, I don’t know,” De Guindos said. He added that the institution was committed to bring…

New figures from Gas Networks Ireland shows that colder temperatures in November compared to October saw a 13% increase in gas demand last month. But as November was still a relatively mild month overall, gas demand decreased by 7% compared to the same month last year. Today’s figures show monthly increases in gas demand from…

European Union countries’ energy ministers meet in Brussels today to attempt to agree a cap on gas prices – their latest idea to tame Europe’s energy crisis but one that countries are still split over. Country leaders last week urged their ministers to approve the cap today, in a bid to finalise a measure that…

The Government has announced plans for a single application procedure for employment permits and immigration permissions. Currently to work in Ireland, a person from outside the European Economic Area has to first make an application to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for a work permit. They then have to make a second application…

After an absence of more than two years, work Christmas parties are back with a bang. Staff and employers are being reminded that workplace policies and procedures still apply while at the office party. Many companies are throwing lavish social events this year and using parties to give them an edge in the current tight…