How high can oil prices go?
Government needs to plan in case peace deal on Strait of Hormuz proves elusive and prices surge to anything between $170 and $460 a barrel
John FitzGerald
John FitzGerald columns
Ireland needs to wean itself off fossil fuels and start to unhitch its wagon from the US
In a volatile world we can’t take continued Irish economic success for granted
How can Bawag’s PTSB deal benefit Irish customers?
A key factor in the lack of competition in Irish banking has been that the big three only really operate in Ireland
John FitzGerald: Ireland faces a possible winter recession yet has plundered its war chest
Government fuel package effectively takes from the poor to give to the richer as Strait of Hormuz blockade threatens even higher fuel prices
Ireland is still too small for a nuclear power plant
Energy shock will drive focus on reducing reliance on oil and gas and the answer lies in further investment in renewables
New savings scheme will involve tax cuts for the rich paid for by rest of the population
If there were real competition here between banks, Irish depositors would be substantially better off
Learning from the 1970s oil shock
Temporary fixes to insulate the population from the full costs of an energy price spike won’t work in the event of a longer-term conflict
First generation diaspora shrinks as fewer young Irish people feel the need to emigrate
St Patrick’s Day offers an opportunity to examine the changing nature of Irish emigration down the centuries
John FitzGerald: Ireland was too slow on EVs and retrofitting. Now it’s costing consumers
Short-term support should target the most vulnerable through the welfare system but failure to phase out fossil fuels is costing consumers
North will face major austerity measures if London refuses to keep funding budget overspends
With the UK facing significant fiscal headwinds, Treasury forbearance of Stormont’s lack of discipline is unlikely to continue
Refunding illegal US tariffs is simply unworkable
Although Trump’s tariffs were illegal, repayment would be a minefield, given the uncertainty about who actually lost out
Building the Ark: Ireland needs to invest now to stem the economic devastation from floods
While raising barriers and limiting views around Dublin Bay will be unpopular, they will be essential to avoid huge flood damage
Highly educated emigrants are more likely to return
Housing crisis runs the risk of deterring returning emigrants in the current generation, which will damage the economy
How Ireland’s economy shifted to cater for the surge in college graduates
The Republic has been something of an outlier in how the drop in jobs for those without third-level education has affected the political climate
Ireland needs to abolish mandatory retirement and encourage longer working lives
Increasing the workforce participation rate of people in their 60s could help offset rising exchequer pension and health burdens
Ireland in the crosshairs if European Union ever retaliates to any Trump tariff threat
Effective EU retaliation would sensibly target services from the United States, something that will hit the State’s corporation tax take
Irish farm lobby’s decision to oppose Mercosur could cost them when next EU budget is framed
What happens to the EU payments matters much more to beef farmers than the price of cattle and budget will be under pressure
Historical lessons aplenty for Bulgaria as it enters the euro zone
As the Fed battles political interference, the constitutional independence of the European Central Bank stands as a vital safeguard
From Mary to Éabha and John to Troy, how Irish baby names are moving with the times
Irish parents have chosen more than 1,000 different first names for boys and girls born since 1964
Long-fingering the switch to EVs is potentially disastrous for EU car manufacturers
Faced with challenges from US and China, the EU is currently acting like a rabbit in the headlights with no appropriate strategic response
Ireland has second highest emissions per head in EU and must do more to reach net zero by 2050
We have made good progress on decarbonising electricity and in retrofitting buildings but are moving too slowly on transport
We need Britain to get real about Brexit
Budgets in both Britain and Ireland have postponed difficult decisions in a manner that will reduce their room for manoeuvre when the next election looms
John FitzGerald: The North must deal with its economic and social failings before unity
While many Northern nationalists see unification as a solution to poor governance, that is a fallacy
Nama’s asset strategy was ‘broadly successful’ - report
Bad bank, which is to be wound up later this year, has been accused to paying too much for assets and not maximising profits on their sale
John FitzGerald: Curbing skilled immigration from outside the EU would be a serious mistake
Calls to reduce such immigration to ease pressures on infrastructure would only makes things worse
Coming AI revolution needs a serious Government response
Luddite approach to AI won’t serve anyone as workplace is revolutionised
Scrapping water charges was a mistake that has contributed to the housing crisis
Uisce Éireann left relying on budget funds is the wrong model
Lessons for Ireland from German unification
Any move to unity in the near future could prove serious for an unprepared Northern Ireland economy
Ireland needs to support reforms necessary to boost EU’s competitiveness
Ireland has benefited hugely from its EU membership and now needs to play a constructive role in its reform
Cutting the entire cattle herd to reduce emissions makes no economic sense
Limiting methane emissions is a good thing but agriculture is producing other, more damaging, greenhouse gases
Budget delivers for today but may hold seeds for future regret in Ireland
Very unwise to use up what may be ephemeral corporation tax receipts on long-term tax and spending commitments
Sale of Energia, and all eyes on Budget 2026
The best news, analysis and comment from The Irish Times business desk
The economy is red hot. Tax cuts in the budget are the last thing it needs
We hear a lot in the media about a cost-of-living crisis. This is seriously at odds with the facts
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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