Working remotely is becoming the new normal for many of us. What was a temporary measure due to the pandemic is now permanently changing the way we work. Working from home brings many challenges: lack of space, poor broadband and the mental challenges of confinement. There are also many implications for householders and for household bills. Your energy, telephone and broadband usage might be... Read more

Last Monday was International Women’s day commemorating the cultural, political, and socioeconomic achievements of women. Yet, our Constitution still contains Article 41.2 which contradicts these very achievements: “The State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. The State shall endeavour to ensure th... Read more

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB) recently said that the Euro could be available to European consumers as a digital currency in as little as four years. As a digital currency, your Euros would exist as legal tender on your smartphone without the need for a bank account. Essentially, the consumer has a direct relationship with the ECB as the issuer and guarantor of ... Read more

In 2000 the Electronic Signature Bill was signed into law in Ireland giving e-signatures equal status to ink signatures on paper. Many will remember when Bill Clinton and Bertie Ahern electronically signed an agreement using the new legislation. So, why is it that a significant number of interactions Irish consumers have with Government services and with private sector suppliers still requir... Read more

Recently I was asked to Chair a Government taskforce on SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises). Running a household can sometimes feel like running a small business and some of the conclusions and actions items coming from the taskforce are very relevant to householders. Plus, many One Big Switch members are sole traders or small business owners so the Report published here  might be of relevance ... Read more

The news cycle this week has been heavily focussed on Brexit, it’s hard to argue there’s a bigger news story than the roll out of the COVID19 vaccine.It’s my view that the European Union and Ireland are struggling to roll out a covid vaccination program. Ireland has vaccinated 4.5% of its population and ranks 30th in the Financial Times ranking for vaccine roll out, far behind the US (13% vacci... Read more

MONDAY 18 FEBRUARY 2019   2 in 3 IRISH HOUSEHOLDS SUFFERING FROM ENERGY FUEL POVERTY   A survey of 1,500 Irish households has found that 2 in 3 are suffering from energy ‘fuel poverty’. Fuel poverty is universally defined as a household spending over 10% of its income on energy costs.   Exclusive of taxes, Ireland has the second highest electricity prices in the EU[1]. T... Read more

PRESS RELEASE MONDAY 2 OCTOBER 2017 PEOPLE POWER CAMPAIGN SEEKS 20,000 PEOPLE TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST IRISH COST OF LIVING CRISIS   One Big Switch is back, and is looking for 20,000 people to join their Big Cost of Living Switch campaign to fight back against the cost of living crisis currently gripping Ireland. The Big Cost of Living Switch aims to ease cost of living pressure by em... Read more

    3,500 consumers have joined the Big Energy Switch in the first week of the campaign, a huge show of community support for the nation-wide people power campaign. The Big Energy Switch is looking to recruit twenty thousand consumers to help unlock group discounted electrictiy ad gas in Ireland. The campaign will run for 3 more weeks, with the collective power of the One ... Read more

One Big Switch is today launching the Big Energy Switch, a campaign to cut the cost of electricity and gas in Ireland using people power. The campaign will use the power of group switching to help unlock discounted electricity and gas prices for tens of thousands of Irish consumers. The campaign is aiming to boost competition in the Irish energy market by: Signing up 20,000 consu... Read more