News

The Department of Finance has recorded the highest ever tax take of €68.4 billion, pushing the Exchequer deficit down to €7.3 billion. According to the latest Exchequer figures, tax receipts were up by €11.2 billion (19.7%) on 2020. This was the highest ever tax yield, over €9 billion ahead of the previous highest yield reached…

The Central Bank has today published a revised simplified Standard Financial Statement to assist borrowers in financial distress after a review. The SFS is used by banks and lenders to gather information from distressed borrowers on their current financial situation. Once it is completed, the lender can assess whether it can offer a borrower an…

New car registrations for 2021 were up 19%, according to statistics published by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. Total new car registrations for 2021 finished at 104,932. Registrations were down 10.4% on 2019 figures. New Light Commercial Vehicle registrations in 2021 saw an increase of 32.3% compared to 2020. They were also 13.4%…

Growth in the country’s service sector slowed sharply for the second successive month in December as firms reported that a rising wave of Covid-19 infections was dampening demand, a survey found today. The AIB IHS Markit Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) dropped to 55.4 from 59.3 in November and 63.4 in October. The index hit a…

The Irish advertising market recovered strongly in 2021 from the pandemic hit to spending in the previous year, according to a report from media investment company, GroupM Ireland. The report captures growth of 20% in the advertising market last year following a decline of 6% in 2020 due to the effects of the onset of…

Asking prices for property rose by almost 10% in 2021, according to an analysis by the property listings website, myhome.ie. Asking price inflation came in at 7.4% in the capital, but at 10.6% elsewhere around the country. Quarterly prices also rose by 1.3% nationally in the final three months of the year with Dublin asking…

The introduction of minimum pricing on alcohol in Ireland came into force today. The new law will largely affect alcohol sold in off-licences, shops, and supermarkets. A broad breakdown of the new measures shows a standard bottle of wine cannot be sold for less than €7.40 and a can of beer for less than €1.70.…

The euro is today marking 20 years since people began to use the single European currency, overcoming initial doubts, price concerns and a debt crisis to spread across the region. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called the euro “a true symbol for the strength of Europe”. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde described…

Irish consumer confidence dropped again in December, as concerns around Covid-19 and the cost of living intensified. The KBC Bank consumer sentiment index dropped to 74.9 from 83.1 in November – its weakest reading since February, indicating a clear deterioration in the mood of Irish consumers. December saw the third largest monthly fall since the…

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said that the heightened level of pandemic supports will remain in place until the end of January in line with most recent public health restrictions. Paschal Donohoe said the Government will monitor the current level of restrictions on a daily basis, but that the plan is not to change…