Consumers face higher energy bills, businesses see lower insurance premiums and how to navigate tax season

Homes and businesses face increased bills for future renewable electricity following the latest round of supply contracts awarded by the State to solar and onshore wind generators. Barry O’Halloran reports.

Pubs, restaurants and hotels are finding it easier to source insurance and at cheaper rates as Government action on the sector takes effect, according to an industry specialist. Dominic Coyle reports

In Money Matters, Brianna Parkins outlines how to not get caught out if you’re filing a self assessed tax return next month.

InvoiceFair, a Dublin-based firm set up in 2015 to allow companies to raise finance on the back of invoices, has rebranded as Financefair as it broadens its products for small and medium-sized businesses after delivering €1.5 billion of funds in its first eight years. Joe Brennan reports.

The outlook for interest rate cuts is changing - so should Irish borrowers be worried?

---

Extend EV grant to second-hand purchases, says PwC

---

Card data suggests it’s not all doom and gloom in the hospitality sector

---

Latest euro zone inflation figures suggest ECB will move slowly on rates

---

Joe also reports that Maslow Capital, a UK-based real-estate lender owned by asset manager Arrow Global, has launched a bridging loan business in the Republic, mainly targeting Irish special purpose vehicles and overseas buyers of property in the State.

First Citizen, the Dublin-based nonbank lender, saw its net profit soar 91 per cent last year to €6.45 million as it benefited from an accounting gain on financial instruments even as lending margins were squeezed as funding costs rose amid rising interest rates globally. Joe has the story.

In her column, Sarah O’Connor argues the transition to net zero will be tough on some workers, and politicians need to be honest about that.

Lidl Ireland has announced a €60 million tie-up with Kildare-based O’Brien Fine Foods to distribute the company’s cooked meat products to its stores on the island of Ireland, in the UK and across mainland Europe. Ian Curran has the details.

Ian also reports that the five-star Merrion Hotel in Dublin returned to profit last year amid a sizeable recovery in occupancy levels following the pandemic.

Staying in hospitality, publican Charlie Chawke’s main business took a €2 million property writedown last year. Ian has the details.

Businesses that wish to avail of a Government assistance scheme for energy bills are being warned that the deadline for applications is Saturday. Colin Gleeson has the story.

Irish Distillers, the spirit-maker behind Jameson, Powers and Midleton Irish whiskey brands, has confirmed a “small number” of jobs will be lost at the company as part of a reorganisation of its wider parent group. Ian has the report.

The chief executive of HealthBeacon, Jim Joyce, quit his role with the Dublin-based medical technology company on Tuesday, after it issued a sales warning amid delays in rolling out big contracts in the US. Joe has the details.

Irish agri-services group Origin Enterprises said revenue rose last year as the company put in a strong performance in declining commodity markets. Ciara reports.

In Commercial Property, Ronald Quinlan reports on a Dublin city centre office block that has had its price cut by a third, while the Comer brothers have won planning permission to build apartments in the long derelict Sentinel Building in Sandyford.

Finally the facility in Waterford formally used by Cartamundi until earlier this year is on the market.

Stay up to date with all our business news: sign up to our Business Today daily email news digest. If you’d like to read more about the issues that affect your finances try signing up to On the Money, the weekly newsletter from our personal finance team, which will be issued every Friday to Irish Times subscribers.