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One of the challenges we face in growing our economy is the limited size of our domestic market. Ireland’s entry into the then EEC in 1973, and subsequent adoption of the euro in 2002, opened the door to a large and developed marketplace. As the EU has progressed and expanded the four freedoms – goods,…

Customers rushing back into shops as the lockdown eased in June lifted the value of retail sales back to pre-Covid 19 levels. Retail sales rose by a record 38.4pc in June compared to May, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO). More strikingly, on an annual basis retail volumes were 3.5pc higher in June 2020,…

A Spanish banking giant is to enter the Irish mortgage market in a move sure to put massive pressure on existing lenders to slash their rates. The move came as Permanent TSB cut its variable and fixed rates, and performed a U-turn by making the rates available to existing customers, not just new borrowers. Mortgage…

Switching your mortgage could be one of the most financially savvy things you ever do. The Association of Irish Mortgage Advisors says an estimated eight in 10 Irish homeowners on a standard variable rate could be paying more than they need, so switching to a fixed rate could save you money each month. Switching to…

After the European Court of Justice (CJEU) handed down another major judgement two weeks ago in the “Schrems 2.0” data protection case, discussion has focused primarily on its potential impact on the well-known companies that gather data and transfer it between the European Union and United States. Top of the list is Facebook, the company at the…

The phrase ‘the cheque is in the post’ is set to become redundant. New figures show that the use of cheques in this country has plummeted by almost half in the last four years. The pandemic has accelerated the decline in the use of cheques as contactless payments have been encouraged. In the first three…

DIGITAL payments company Revolut has made its child-friendly money management app available for those who use its free online current account. Up to now Revolut Junior was only an option for those paying a monthly fee for using the Metal and Premium accounts. It is now available for free to all adults who have a…

The Government’s economic stimulus plan, which will be published today if it is signed off by the Cabinet, is a tricky exercise at a time when there is nervousness about rising numbers of Covid-19 cases. It is difficult to reboot the economy if the public remains concerned about a second wave, and no one is…

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…

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…