Special Reports

How the EU brought about ‘rapid and profound’ social change in IrelandAcademics, lobbyists and positive change advocates speak to Rita de Brún about the EU’s impact on societal change in Ireland

An Ghaeilge faoi bhláth san Aontas EorpachAistear dúshlánach a bhí ann, ó thús corrach go stádas iomlán rathúil ar deireadh thiar, a deir Pádraig Breandán Ó Laighin

Irish economy transformed by trade opportunities since joining EUAfter 50 years in the EU, our trade surplus is over €60 billion and we have a diversified export base across products and market destinations, writes Deaglán de Bréadún

Flying the empty nest: the joys and variety of grown-up travelSylvia Thompson on travelling as a couple again after years of family holidays

Dialling down the stress on a family holidayWhen travelling with family, it pays to plan ahead, writes mother-of-two Danielle Barron

Travel trends for 2023: Back to the slopes, long haul destinations and moreJillian Godsil predicts what destinations will be popular and how people’s travel habits have changed post-pandemic

Funding the fleets: leasing firms an important source of finance for airlinesIt is estimated that more than 50 per cent of all commercial aircraft in service around the world are leased

Decarbonising aviation will be a challengeHow successful with airlines be in meeting their targets to have net zero emissions by 2050?

Aviation maintenance sector dealing with skills shortagePandemic had a particularly negative effect on maintenance industry, causing many people to switch careers

A Christmas gadget guideKevin Courtney takes a look at some under-the-tree and on-the-desk gadgets for the Christmas season and beyond

A good year for M&A in prospect despite headwinds‘There are definitely deals still being done for good businesses,’ says John Bowe from Mazars

Creating a better future togetherUCD College of Business’s new five-year strategy incorporates the learnings gained during the Covid pandemic

Learning to be a sustainable leaderNatalie Kelly has completed Skillnet’s Sustainable Leaders programme and worked with her company’s management team and employees to embed goals

Shop around, unplug and take your meter readingDon’t wait until the huge bill arrives, take simple steps now to reduce your energy consumption and how much you will have to pay

Public wants bolder climate action Worsening climate disruption is casting a shadow on Cop27 climate negotiations in Egypt hosted by the UN during November

Growing, growing, gone: pros and cons of raising private equity for businessesPrivate-equity investments can allow businesses to grow but founders face having to give up a level of control

Vendor loans can be useful but should be a last resortVendor financing can give rise to certain tax considerations that also need to be carefully considered

The rollercoaster ride of being a start-upIt’s not easy for start-ups to raise capital but Irish businesses are fortunate to have access to a good funding ecosystem

Riding the crypto roller coasterCryptocurrencies can offer greater returns and of course the opportunity for greater losses

Is property investing worth the hassle? Many landlords are exiting the market, but the question is why?

Ethical investment options for investors‘We’ve come a long way, but there’s a lot more in the journey as well’

Ditching the dieselHow electric vehicles are taking over the market

Switching a company fleet to EVsIt can be tricky with cost implications so businesses need to do their research

Charging up Ireland’s EVsIf we want a million electric cars on the road by 2030, how are we going to charge them all?

Treat yourself to a big screen experience – discover Ireland’s most Hollywood-worthy locationsJo Kerrigan retraces the footsteps of giants on a trip through the Irish locations for globally respected artistic creations

Grubs up: Where hospitality industry experts spend their holidaysMel Mullan chats to Ireland’s top chefs and food experts about their tips for a tasteful break in Ireland

All-island event guide, your inspiration for autumnThomas Breathnach looks at a selection of events and activities to inspire your staycation breaks in the upcoming months

How retail has changed foreverStores need to look ‘Instagramable’ and offer an ‘unforgettable experience’ as retail moves towards ‘omnichannel’ trading, say experts

It can’t be a choice between affordability and sustainabilityRetailers also need to have accurate facts and figures to hand when it comes to the environmental impact of their products, as this is what consumers are demanding

Inflation poses challenges for retailersSector is also having problems finding staff, driving up competition for resources and costs

No size too small: Cybercriminals favouring smaller businesses in ransomware attacksWhile gold standard cyber defences may be beyond the reach of many SMEs, there are some simple steps they can take to protect themselves and deter criminals

A career in cybersecurityA third-level qualification in the fields of IT, networking, business information systems, law and technology or computer forensics is recommended

Open for negotiationIs it right in any circumstances to negotiate with cybercriminals and pay a ransom

Lero to invest €2.9m in postdoctoral fellowship programmeFunding to be put towards 16 fellowships

Increased spending on R&D to support sustainable practicesIn Ireland this spending spans a wide range of sectors as sustainability becomes an important competitiveness differentiator

Ireland one of the leading knowledge economiesWe have a thriving tech scene, so unsurprising that the information and communication technologies sector is the pace setter

Reading to babies and toddlersLooking through picture books helps children figure out their everyday world and prepares them for focusing on the more complex symbols of language

‘It’s not what you offer, it’s how you offer it’: How to deal with picky eatingPicky eating is the a normal developmental phase with up to 75 percent of parents dealing with it at some point

First steps: Fun-filled activities for tots and toddlers Swimming, soccer or yoga classes can give your child lifelong skills - and benefit parents too

Man and machine in partnershipExperts say there won’t be a dystopian future where robots take over

Fourth industrial revolution set to transform the way we liveArtificial intelligence set to restructure large sections of our economy and society in the coming years

Demystifying Artificial intelligenceScience fiction is littered with tales of intelligent machines but it could be decades before this type of AI becomes a reality

It could be 2024 or later before OECD corporate tax agreement is implementedEven though the detail remains unclear, experts urge businesses to begin considering implications of the agreement now

‘The two-way US-Ireland trade and investment relationship has never been so strong’Through Brexit, Covid and now Russia’s war on Ukraine, Ireland has remained a trusted partner for US business, says Catherine Duffy, American Chamber of Commerce president

‘As leaders we don’t always need to have all the answers’ Women leaders can be at their most effective when they are being their authentic selves

What kind of accommodation is the best for couples?A key reason couples may choose a self-catering unit is because they want to bring their ‘lockdown puppies’

Self-catering versus the hotel experience? The choice for familiesFor families holidaying in Ireland this summer, there’s a huge choice of accommodation on offer to suit your budget and lifestyle

Fintech sector continues to grow with lots of courses on offer to help develop careersUCD, the National College of Ireland and Dublin Business School are among the third-levels providing master’s courses in fintech

The power is now in consumers’ handsThe modern consumer is hyper-connected to their phone, which means they’re very informed and their expectations are set for instant service and instant value,

Blockchain reshaping businesses worldwideOne of the most significant technology breakthroughs of the 21st century, Blockchain innovation is outpacing existing business models

What will offices look like in 2032?We ask five commentators about their vision for the office of the future

A whole new world (of work)How the work has changed since the pandemic and what the future holds

How supportive is your organisation?Turbulent times and a growing talent shortage means attracting but also retaining staff is a major challenge for organisations everywhere

Mona Eltahawy: ‘You have to moisturise your vulva every day’ The feminist author busts some myths about menopause in the latest episode of The Women’s Podcast

Listen | 50:57

Menopause and the workplaceSurvey finds women uncomfortable telling employer they are taking a day off due to menopausal symptoms

Women continuously tell us that they are ‘going mad’How the menopause can affect mental health and how to manage it

High rise to combat high rents?Experts on how to combat the high cost of living in Dublin city

Trends point to a flexible working futureNot only is remote working here to stay but many employers will offer a range of flexible conditions

Getting connected: Have we made progress with the digital divide?As 5G gains traction with customers high-quality connectivity is supporting demand

Building meaningful connections in the new world of workBlended working can provide an opportunity to socially connect with team-mates

Reinventing the office in a changing world of workThe outdated layout that featured endless rows of desks is now a thing of the past

Your employees are your best ambassadors – use their storiesTake a chance and use the workforce’s social media storytelling to promote your brand