Posts by splash

Euro zone inflation held steady as expected last month, taking a break in what is likely to be a temporary but sharp spike in consumer prices in the coming months, data showed today.  Prices in the euro zone rose by 0.2% on the month in January and 0.9% compared to a year earlier, in line […]

Bank of Ireland has said that no location will be left without access to financial services or cash facilities after its decision to close 103 branches in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  The bank said the branches that are closing are predominately self-service locations that do not offer a counter service.  The branches […]

Ireland has the second-highest minimum wage across the EU, at €1,724 per month, according to Eurofound. Luxembourg has the highest, at €2,202, the Dublin-based EU agency said in a new survey. Ireland’s minimum wage was raised to €10.20 an hour from January this year for people aged 20 and over. The rate here is recommended […]

The notion that ordinary savers could be charged to leave their savings in a bank has alarmed many — yet this is exactly what would happen if customers are hit with negative interest rates. There are growing concerns that personal customers could be hit with negative interest rates later this year. The upcoming withdrawal of […]

Retailers are negotiating rental discounts of up to 20pc in many cases, as they continue to be affected by Covid-19 restrictions. More substantial discounts are being achieved by shops negotiating new lettings in certain locations, according to agents CBRE in its latest bimonthly market report. “This is creating opportunities for those retailers that are in […]

The Central Bank has contacted a number of insurers on resolving relevant business interruption claims in a ‘proactive and speedy’ manner. It comes as the bank continues its supervisory examination of business interruption insurance issues and in the wake of the recent judgement from the High Court against FBD. The court ruled in favour of […]

Businesses, and especially SMEs, have been alerted of the need to actively claim the zero-tariff rate on UK origin goods.  The Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English, said that under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, tariff duties are eliminated for trade between the EU and the UK where the relevant […]

The Government has decided to extend two measures which were brought in to help businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS) will now stay open for new applications until the end of June. It had been due to close at the end of the year.  The suspension of redundancy provisions relating […]

We like to save money in Ireland and much and all as we’ve generally disliked ‘lockdown’, and all that it has meant in terms of an erosion of our personal freedoms, it has enabled many people to put even more money aside. According to the Central Bank, deposits in banks and credit unions soared this year, […]

A new loan scheme to help small businesses to prepare for Brexit has been launched through Microfinance Ireland. Loans for between €5,000 and €25,000 will be available to companies whose turnover has dropped or is likely to drop by 15% or more because of the UK’s departure from the EU. Firms with a short term […]