Archive for May 2025
Annual inflation rate rises to 2.2% in April – CSO
New figures from the Central Statistics Office show that annual consumer prices rose to 2.2% in April from 2% a month earlier. The CSO said this marks the second month in a row where inflation has been at, or above, 2%. The CSO also said the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP), which strips out…
Read MoreChina’s exports top forecasts helped by foreign rush to beat tariffs
China’s exports topped forecasts in April, buoyed by demand for materials from overseas manufacturers who rushed out goods to make the most of US President Donald Trump’s 90-day tariff pause. The fortunes of trade-reliant businesses on both sides of the Pacific now hinge on talks between China and the US taking place in Switzerland this…
Read MoreSenior civil servants to highlight concerns over AI
Senior civil servants are to highlight concerns over the use of artificial intelligence in the public service at the annual conference of the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants. Delegates will gather in Portlaoise to discuss a range of motions put forward by the union’s more than 4,000 managers across 50 branches in the…
Read MoreTaoiseach to discuss EU response to US tariffs with von der Leyen
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will meet the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels this morning. His visit coincides with the EU publishing its proposed countermeasures to US tariffs, which would be implemented if it proves impossible to reach a trade deal with the Trump administration. The agenda for this morning’s meeting…
Read MoreFaster housing delivery could mitigate impact of tariffs
Faster housing delivery could mitigate the impact of tariffs, according to the latest report from Davy. Updated forecasts from the Department of Finance show that economic growth will slow next year due to US tariffs. Davy believe that this presents a compelling rationale for the Government to use all available levers to accelerate housing and…
Read MoreGovernment publishes new AI guidelines for public service
The Government has published new guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public service. The framework advises against the use of free generative AI (GenAI) models. This would include popular chatbot tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek. “Free GenAI tools are very accessible but because they lack suitable management and oversight pose…
Read MoreHow to Turn Data Privacy Compliance into a Business Advantage
For many businesses, data privacy compliance is seen as a legal obligation – a necessary, but burdensome, exercise to avoid fines and penalties. However at KAAS we believe that forward-thinking businesses are recognising that compliance can offer far more than just regulatory protection. When approached strategically, strong data privacy practices can become a genuine competitive…
Read MoreTax take to end of April up 15% on same time last year
Tax receipts for the first four months of the year are up 15.3% on the same time last year, the latest Exchequer Returns from the Department of Finance show. Today’s figures show that the tax take reached €28.6 billion at the end of April. When once-off tax revenues from the Apple tax case are excluded,…
Read MoreUS, Chinese officials to hold trade talks in Switzerland
Senior US and Chinese officials will travel to Switzerland later this week to kickstart stalled trade talks following US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff rollout, according to statements from both countries. The talks mark the first official public engagement between the world’s two largest economies to resolve a trade war escalated by Mr Trump shortly…
Read MoreMotor insurance costs rose by 9% in first half of last year
The average cost of a motor insurance policy increased by 9% (€49) during the first half of last year, when compared with the first six months in 2023. Latest figures from the Central Bank’s National Claims Information Database show that the average premium increased from €567 to €616 over the period. This compares with an…
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