On July 1st, the European Union launched the EU Digital COVID Certificate to re-open travel within the EU. All member states participated, even those states with high vaccine hesitancy rates like Romania, who have just sold us 1 million surplus vaccines. All 27 member States that is, except Ireland. We are delaying our launch until July 19. Ryanair has called on the Government to explain why Ir... read more>

Even though we are still struggling through a pandemic that has reduced GDP, house prices in Ireland have increased by 13% over the last year. And not just in Dublin; prices are up by 18% in Munster, 16% in Leinster and 15% in Connacht and Ulster. What’s more, this is not just an Irish phenomenon.  House prices have increased by 13% in the US, while Germany, Netherlands and the UK have all seen... read more>

Ireland’s compo culture has meant that Insurance scammers could make false claims in Court against businesses, restaurants, travel companies, public bodies, charities, and even private citizens, to win unfair compensation. These false claims meant that insurance premiums went up for everyone, including the vast majority of honest insurance customers. Last week, the passing of the Criminal Ju... read more>

The likelihood of a Trade war between the EU and UK increased this weekend as the EU and US warned the UK over the consequences of failing to implement the UK Withdrawal Agreement. The UK media have called the upcoming Trade War the Sausage Wars. Unfortunately, if it goes ahead, it will increase prices of a lot more than sausages and will very much affect Irish consumers. Bloomberg research ... read more>

The Leaving Cert exams start this week. After two years of pandemic disruption a middle ground is being sought that combines continual assessment with final exams. This is certainly a good idea, very few education systems anywhere in the world stake everything on final exams at the end of a two-year curriculum. Having suffered through the crisis of the pandemic, many sectors of our economy a... read more>