Minister opts for the 'safe pair of hands' approachPerhaps we expect too much of Budget day. On the old medical maxim of "first, do no harm", the 2004 Budget passes the test.Thu Dec 04 2003 - 00:00
Investment project rules set to changeThe Government may be able to plan investment programmes under future budgets without much concern about breaching EU borrowing…Wed Dec 03 2003 - 00:00
Exchequer in surplus after tax surgeThe surge in tax revenue in November has pushed the Exchequer into surplus for the first 11 months and makes it likely that official…Wed Dec 03 2003 - 00:00
Deficit level will shape packageHow high a deficit is the Minister for Finance willing to run next year? This is the key question in determining the impact on…Tue Dec 02 2003 - 00:00
McCreevy to outline major State investment programmeA major five-year investment programme, including new spending on transport, primary schools, the environment and other areas…Tue Dec 02 2003 - 00:00
McCreevy gets Budget boost of Eur500m from capital taxThe Minister for Finance's options for Budget day have increased markedly, due mainly to an unexpected surge in capital gains…Sat Nov 29 2003 - 00:00
Mortgage lending growth continuesMortgage lending growth continues to accelerate, according to new Central Bank figures, and is now running at a rate last seen…Sat Nov 29 2003 - 00:00
Tax relief schemes likely to be sparedThe Budget is expected to contain some good news for business, with the Business Expansion Scheme likely to be extended beyond…Fri Nov 28 2003 - 00:00
OECD calls for reduction in mortgage interest reliefMortgage interest relief should be reduced to cut demand in the housing market, according to the latest economic review from …Thu Nov 27 2003 - 00:00
Ministers' decision marks end of agreementANALYSIS: The stability pact, as currently written, is deadWed Nov 26 2003 - 00:00
Dollar rally keeps momentum as euro pushed below Eur1.18The US dollar has continued to recover from last week's lows, pushing the euro below $1Tue Nov 25 2003 - 00:00
Radical rethink of EU fundingEU funding will be moved away from agriculture towards broader rural development, the Irish EU Commissioner, Mr David Byrne, …Tue Nov 25 2003 - 00:00
Dollar remains weak on nervous day for marketsThe US dollar remains under pressure on the foreign exchange markets, as the bombings in Turkey led to a nervous day on the world…Fri Nov 21 2003 - 00:00
Dollar goes lower as trade tensions increaseThe dollar touched a new low against the euro yesterday and analysts believe trade tensions are likely to keep the currency under…Thu Nov 20 2003 - 00:00
Inflation drops to lowest in four yearsInflation has fallen sharply, with the annual rate dropping to 2.3 per cent last month, its lowest level in four yearsFri Nov 14 2003 - 00:00
New taxation procedures not equitable, says DeloitteNew tax payment arrangements introduced this month do not strike an equitable balance between the Revenue Commissioners and taxpayers…Wed Nov 12 2003 - 00:00
IBEC fears Budget costs will impede recoveryBusiness is concerned that competitiveness may be further damaged through new costs and charges associated with the Budget, according…Tue Nov 11 2003 - 00:00
Higher interest rates remain a long way offIt would be an understatement to say yesterday's Bank of England interest rate rise came as little surpriseFri Nov 07 2003 - 00:00
Resolute services sector persists on its upward curveRecovery is continuing in the services sector, with activity at its highest level for 18 months, according to the latest NCB …Thu Nov 06 2003 - 00:00
Tech lobby calls for introduction of R&D tax credit in next BudgetThe technology sector is pushing the Government to introduce a new tax credit in this year's Budget to benefit companies engaged…Sat Nov 01 2003 - 00:00
Optimistic Fed keeps interest rates on holdThe US Federal Reserve Board has headed off concern about an early rise in interest rates, saying that it expected to hold down…Wed Oct 29 2003 - 00:00
ESRI calls for better analysis of NDP projectsInvestment through the National Development Plan (NDP) can offer very substantial economic returns but better evaluation, planning…Sat Oct 25 2003 - 01:00
Rise in industrial output points to recoveryIndustrial production increased significantly in August, in one of the first signals that international recovery may be starting…Sat Oct 25 2003 - 01:00
State's tax revenue is lowest in OECD in terms of GDPThe tax burden in the Republic fell last year and tax revenue in the State is at the bottom of the OECD league as a percentage…Thu Oct 23 2003 - 01:00
Government in lobbying for changes to EU borrowing rulesThe Government is lobbying for changes in the proposed rules the EU uses to assess borrowing, which could hinder major projects…Wed Oct 22 2003 - 01:00
Confidence in economy continues to climbConsumer confidence has improved markedly for the second month in a row, although a majority are still pessimistic, according…Mon Oct 20 2003 - 01:00
Census shows a State brimming with jobs but with stark divisionsThe impact of the economic boom - and the wide divisions left in its wake - are clearly demonstrated by new details from the …Thu Oct 16 2003 - 01:00
Retail sales growth static in AugustRetail sales growth remained depressed in August, according to the latest figures.Thu Oct 16 2003 - 01:00
Census puts jobless figure much higherEmployment: The census puts the unemployment rate for the State in April 2002 at 8Thu Oct 16 2003 - 01:00
Hurley says euro rise will hit competitivenessA further rise in the value of the euro would damage competitiveness, the governor of the Central Bank, Mr John Hurley, has warned…Wed Oct 15 2003 - 01:00
Conference told there is no need for a tough BudgetA tough 2004 Budget "is neither necessary nor desirable", two leading economists told the Kenmare conference.Mon Oct 13 2003 - 01:00
We want more bang for our spending buckThe public prefers low taxes to higher public spending. So said the results of the recent Irish Times /TNS mrbi survey.Fri Oct 10 2003 - 01:00
Overseas investment soars to €14 bn in second quarterDirect investment from overseas rose sharply to €14 billion in the second quarter, according to the latest balance of payments…Wed Oct 01 2003 - 01:00
Lobby urges rethink on benchmarkingThe Government must get value for money for public sector pay benchmarking and should seek to postpone and reschedule the payments…Tue Sept 30 2003 - 01:00
IBEC calls for taxes to stay the same in Budget submissionThere should be no tax increases of any kind in the Budget, according to IBEC, the business lobby groupTue Sept 30 2003 - 01:00
Exports value continues to run below last yearThe value of exports continues to run well below last year, according to the latest trade figuresFri Sept 26 2003 - 01:00
Report urges rise in retirement ageAn increase in the retirement age to at least 70 and possibly even 75 would be the most effective way to reduce the cost of State…Thu Sept 25 2003 - 01:00
Markets keep their focus on ailing dollarThe greenback is back as the centre of attention on the marketsWed Sept 24 2003 - 01:00
G7 currency signal sends dollar lowerThe US dollar has fallen sharply on foreign exchange markets following signals in favour of "flexible" currency rates from the…Tue Sept 23 2003 - 01:00
IMF warns of rates danger to house boomIreland is one of a number of countries where the housing market could be vulnerable to rising interest rates, according to the…Fri Sept 19 2003 - 01:00
Irish jobs set to rise ahead of OECD averageThe rate of job creation here will remain well above the international average, according to forecasts in a new OECD reportThu Sept 18 2003 - 01:00
Clear plan for infrastructure funding is vitalBusiness Opinion: Any prescription for the future of the economy inevitably calls for improved infrastructureMon Sept 15 2003 - 01:00
EU finance ministers hopeful of French dealEU finance ministers have expressed guarded optimism that a solution can be found to France's breach of the EU budget rules.Sat Sept 13 2003 - 01:00
Back-to-work incentive limited, says ESRITax cuts have only provided a limited incentive for people to move back into the workforce, according to a new study from the…Fri Sept 12 2003 - 01:00
Inflation bucks trend as slight rise recordedInflation rose slightly last month to an annual rate of 3Fri Sept 12 2003 - 01:00
Talks must focus on eliminating trade barriers, says business lobbyBodies representing Irish business have called for progress in dismantling a range of trade barriers in statements ahead of the…Wed Sept 10 2003 - 01:00
More at stake than agriculture in trade talksBusiness Opinion: Our very own "Three Amigos" are riding off to Mexico to represent our interests at the world trade talks.Mon Sept 08 2003 - 01:00
Unemployment falls by 900 in AugustThe unemployment trend turned downwards in August, although the live register total still stands 12,400 higher than at the same…Sat Sept 06 2003 - 01:00
