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A memo to establish a new Strategic Housing Activation Office will go to the Cabinet this morning. However, the anticipated appointment of NAMA boss Brendan McDonagh to head up the new agency may not be finalised today. Government sources have indicated that issues around the setting up of the office will have to be “teased…

US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats are creating uncertainty for economies around the world but there is still margin for further interest rate cuts in Europe as inflation in the euro-zone heads lower, European Central Bank (ECB) policymaker Francois Villeroy de Galhau said today. “We are in a moment of great uncertainty. Mr Trump’s polices…

73% of Irish consumers trust cards over all other payment methods, new data shows. The research carried out by Payments Europe reveals that 55% of consumers believe cards are the best payment method when considering safety and security, while 59% choose cards for their convenience and 54% for speed. Given the opportunity, 63% of Irish…

The European Union will do all it can to engage with the United States on trade and reduce the massive uncertainty that is weighing down the global economy, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said, underscoring unity among the bloc’s members. “What we are trying to do in our engagement with the US through the…

The percentage of uninsured private vehicles on Irish roads has almost halved following the introduction of the new Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) system, which is aimed at assisting gardaí to easily detect uninsured drivers. According to research conducted by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI), last year there were 101,881 uninsured private vehicles…

Global finance leaders came to Washington last week seeking clarity on what it would take to get some relief from President Donald Trump’s multi-layered tariff assault and on just how much pain it will bring to the world economy. Most headed home with more questions than answers. Many participants in the International Monetary Fund and…

There was a 2% increase in the number of completions in the first three months of this year in comparison to the same time last year, according to the latest figures on home building from the Central Statistics Office. The CSO said there was a 13.4% rise in apartment building with 1,781 units completed but…

China is considering exempting some US imports from its 125% tariffs and is asking businesses to identify goods that could be eligible in the biggest sign yet that Beijing is worried about the economic fallout from its trade war with Washington. A Ministry of Commerce taskforce is collecting lists of items that could be exempted…

Consumers in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland expect a weaker economy, less favourable job prospects, and higher inflation over the next five years, a new survey suggests. The research – undertaken on behalf of credit unions on the island of Ireland – indicates that people are increasingly concerned by issues around tariffs, infrastructure…

The Government missed its target on new build social homes last year, with a shortfall of more than 1,400. Minister for Housing James Browne said he expects each local authority to do everything possible to meet their targets for 2025. Figures released today show that the target for delivering affordable homes was exceeded. The data…