# Morning Memo

Last year

2022

# Morning Memo

Newsletter: What's going on with plans to give workers a better work-life balance?

There was fury in the Dáil last night as the government was accused of watering down legislation.

8.7k

Dec 8th 2022, 11:37 AM

# Morning Memo

Newsletter: What's behind the global tech sector job cuts?

Political leaders here are attempting to sound reassuring amid global cuts.

17.1k

Nov 17th 2022, 11:22 AM

# Morning Memo

Analysis: Energy insecurity and our fracking future

The Irish Academy of Engineering has said the government’s report on Ireland’s energy security is “seriously flawed”.

7.2k

Oct 26th 2022, 12:09 PM

# Analysis

Not quite normal: Airport chaos mirrors post-Covid economy struggling to find its level

The airport isn’t the only business that hasn’t been able to cater for rapid increased demand.

11.6k

Jun 3rd 2022, 11:57 AM

# Turbulent Times

Ryanair lost €355 million last year amid 'fragile' recovery in air travel from the pandemic

The low-cost airline said it hopes to return to profitability in the current financial year,

9.6k

May 16th 2022, 7:44 AM

# The Banks

Flurry of announcements caps off noteworthy week for Irish banks and their customers

Stakeholders say the industry is staring down the barrel of one of the biggest logistical challenges in its history.

16.6k

Apr 29th 2022, 12:26 PM

# known unknowns

Question marks hang over Elon Musk's plans after $44 billion Twitter takeover deal

What has Musk said about his vision for the social media platform and what do experts think is actually going to happen?

16.8k

Apr 26th 2022, 5:25 PM

# Morning Memo

The Twittering classes: Elon Musk's $43 billion bid and Twitter's 'poison pill'

Twitter co-founder and board member Jack Dorsey has signalled his unhappiness with the board’s handling of the situation.

14.0k

Apr 19th 2022, 11:33 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

Is your bank exiting the market? Take action soon, experts say. Here's what you need to know

A report by

Ian Curran

Ulster Bank and KBC Bank are in the process of winding down their Irish operations as announced last year.

Concerns have been raised in recent months about the scale of the logistical challenges involved.

Consumer experts say customers have time to sort out new arrangements but they should "take action" soon.

28.5k

Apr 15th 2022, 12:05 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

Raise social welfare rates to shield struggling households from spiralling inflation, experts say

A report by

Ian Curran

The Government is set to unveil a new cost of living package this week.

Current social welfare rates were set last year when inflation was expected to peak at 4.5% annually.

But with prices on the march, household earnings are now expected to fall in real terms in 2022 for the first time since 2013.

Economists say raising core social welfare raise on a temporary basis could be the best way of protecting low-income households.

52.6k

Apr 11th 2022, 12:05 AM

# Taxing matters

Tax receipts climbed in the first three months of 2022 but figures are 'flattered' by Covid

Tax revenues were up over 30% compared with the same period last year when strict public health measures were in place.

8.0k

Apr 6th 2022, 2:50 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Banks 'ill-prepared for the biggest logistical challenge in Irish banking since the euro'

A report by

Ian Curran

Concerns have been raised that the exits of Ulster Bank and KBC Bank could be “the perfect storm” for the remaining banks.

Concerns have been raised that the exits of Ulster Bank and KBC Bank could be "the perfect storm" for the remaining banks.

Over one million customers will have to choose a new provider and switch over their current accounts.

But the Financial Services Union believes significant customer service issues are likely to arise, Ian Curran reports.

73.7k

Apr 4th 2022, 12:05 AM

# energy costs

Electric Ireland to raise electricity and gas prices by over 20% from start of May

Electric Ireland is the latest energy provider to announce a price hike.

41.9k

Mar 30th 2022, 12:58 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Ireland's inflation shock explained: The factors driving up prices here and across the globe

A report by

Ian Curran

“What we have at present is pretty much all being driven by international factors.”

"What we have at present is pretty much all being driven by international factors," one economist said.

Issues around energy, food and fertiliser supplies have all reared their heads as a consequence of the war in Ukraine.

Consumer sentiment has dipped amid rising prices, raising some concern about Ireland's economic prospects this year.

49.7k

Mar 27th 2022, 12:05 AM

# energy crunch

'Panic buying will only make the situation worse,' say Ireland's oil and fuel suppliers

Oil suppliers are limiting the amount they are selling to high volume customers.

16.6k

Mar 8th 2022, 2:58 PM

# Morning Memo

Nervous times for Irish households and businesses as supply anxieties roll through markets

Market ructions, gas rationing and 1970s-style inflation fears hit the headlines.

16.1k

Mar 8th 2022, 12:01 PM

# Ukraine

Ireland 'engaging' with EU on proposal to ban Russian ships from docking at European ports

Russian trade is facing severe disruption as a consequence of sanctions announced this week.

15.8k

Mar 4th 2022, 5:17 PM

# Ukraine

Explainer: How reliant is Ireland on Russian energy - and why are gas and oil prices rising?

“When it comes to a global energy shortage, the implications are far more devastating in developing countries,” one economist said.

65.6k

Mar 3rd 2022, 1:52 PM

# Ukraine

Morning Memo: Western sanctions heap pressure on Russian banks

Russia’s currency has depreciated rapidly in the past few days of trade.

16.4k

Mar 1st 2022, 10:56 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

'Financially, I'm in a pickle': Your stories of coping with the cost-of-living squeeze

A report by

Ian Curran

We asked readers to share their stories with us. Here’s what they told us.

The Journal asked readers to share their stories about the impact of rising prices and household costs.

Irish consumer prices rose 5.7% in the year to the end of December last.

This week, the Government unveiled a package of one-off measures aimed at protecting low and middle income earners.

80.7k

Feb 13th 2022, 12:05 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

Traditional remedies might not work. So how will we cure the surging cost of living?

A report by

Ian Curran

Almost everything is more expensive than it was a year ago, from energy to fuel to bathroom fittings and Big Macs.

Usually, governments might cut public spending and central bankers could hike interest rates in response.

But economists say the logic of traditional remedies is 'debatable' in the unprecedented context of the pandemic.

29.8k

Feb 6th 2022, 12:05 AM

# price pressures

No let up in cost of living surge in January as Eurozone inflation hits a record high

Amid heightened anxiety over inflation, the European Central Bank’s Governing Council will meet tomorrow.

9.4k

Feb 2nd 2022, 12:20 PM

# digital banking

Revolut takes 'first steps' toward offering loans and bank accounts to Irish users

The digital challenger bank is increasing its offering to Irish customers as Ulster Bank and KBC Bank move to exit the market.

37.0k

Feb 1st 2022, 1:28 PM

# supply and demand

As 'unprecedented' inflation bites, the gap between Irish used and new car prices is tightening

In some cases, a second-hand car is being listed with a higher asking price than a new version of the same model.

51.1k

Jan 12th 2022, 6:00 AM

# close contacts

Supermarkets and hauliers struggling with 'higher than normal' rates of staff shortages

Amid industry pressure, the Taoiseach said NPHET will keep the isolation period for close contacts under review.

17.1k

Jan 5th 2022, 3:16 PM

All time

# winter sales

'Some staff reported being spat at': Public asked to respect shop workers as sales begin

Labour shortages and abuse from customers have made the work environment more difficult this year.

26.3k

Dec 26th 2021, 6:30 AM

THE MORNING LEAD

Incoming cold snap looks likely to bring inflated Irish energy bills with it in early 2022

A report by

Ian Curran

The arrival of freezing temperatures in parts of Europe will likely increase European demand for natural gas.

While the forecast for Ireland is comparatively mild, supplies of gas are in relatively short supply across Europe due to a number of factors.

This could further increase wholesale gas prices, in turn, fueling electricity and gas bill hikes as soon as January.

69.2k

Dec 22nd 2021, 12:05 AM

# Trading Places

Brexit drives slump in Irish imports from Britain while cross-border trade flourishes

The food and beverage sector has been particularly affected by the changes, according to the ESRI.

26.2k

Dec 21st 2021, 6:00 AM

# Brexit

Irish trade and politics are being transformed by Brexit - but how? What can we expect in 2022?

We’ve spent the last six weeks attempting to answer these questions at The Good Information Project.

17.7k

Dec 12th 2021, 7:00 PM

Don't miss out: The Journal and UCD Smurfit School are offering an MBA scholarship worth €35k

This is the final week to get application details through our daily Morning Memo business newsletter.

10.1k

Dec 7th 2021, 11:06 AM

# trade winds

Rosslare Europort had one of the busiest days in its history this month - thanks to Brexit

European trade volumes are up close 400% in the first nine months of 2021, according to the port.

The volume of cargo going through the Wexford port has ballooned by 55% this year

A big increase in direct trade with Europe is driving the change, writes Ian Curran

Irish businesses are finding new customers and new suppliers in Europe as an alternative to Britain

57.7k

Nov 28th 2021, 12:05 AM

Looking to unlock your career potential? How the UCD Smurfit MBA is doing things differently

The Journal and UCD Smurfit School are offering a full MBA scholarship to one reader.

3.9k

Nov 23rd 2021, 2:41 PM

# Brexit

Brexit is fuelling a boom in cross-border trade. But why? And what does it mean for the island?

“There’s a whole cohort of Great British businesses going, ‘Do you know what? We can’t be arsed sending goods to Northern Ireland.’”

In the year to September, the value of imports to the Republic from the North grew by 60% to almost €2.6 billion.

The value of goods going the opposite direction rose by almost 50% over the same period last year to €2.8 billion.

The changes have been born of necessity rather than politics or questions of identity, Ian Curran writes.

37.1k

Nov 23rd 2021, 12:05 AM

# Sponsored By UCD

The Journal and UCD Smurfit School have an MBA scholarship worth €35k for one reader

Think you could be MBA material? Find out how to apply here.

7.2k

Nov 16th 2021, 12:33 PM

# Central Bank

Regulator to pursue former Permanent TSB executive in first individual tracker mortgage probe

The bank reached a €21 million settlement with the Central Bank in 2019 in respect of 42 regulatory breaches.

18.2k

Nov 10th 2021, 12:23 PM

# Sean FitzPatrick

Anglo's collapse has had an outsized impact on Irish life and so will Seán FitzPatrick's legacy

The former chairman of the collapsed bank never felt he had anything to apologise for.

25.8k

Nov 9th 2021, 6:48 PM

# budget 2022

Morning Memo: Who benefits most from the tax changes in Budget 2022?

Inflation and the cost of living are the two spectres that haunt the Government’s plans for the next year.

15.8k

Oct 13th 2021, 11:53 AM

# Taxing matters

Explainer: Why is Ireland about to raise its corporation tax rate from 12.5% to 15%?

It could be 2023 or 2024 by the time the new rules are actually implemented.

After months of negotiating, the Government is expected to sign Ireland up to a new 15% global minimum rate of corporation tax.

There is considerable uncertainty about what the changes will mean for the Irish economy and public finances.

But it could be 2023 or 2024 by the time the new rules are actually implemented.

19.8k

Oct 7th 2021, 5:40 PM

THE MORNING LEAD

Supply and demand: What's behind the surge in Irish and European energy prices this year?

A report by

Ian Curran

Demand for gas and electricity has surged this year as economies reopened and businesses ramped back up.

European benchmark gas prices have tripled as a result.

The problems have been exacerbated in Ireland by the temporary closure of two gas-fired power stations.

33.6k

Sep 26th 2021, 12:05 AM

# Energy prices

Morning Memo: Europe's looming 'energy crisis'

European gas prices have tripled this year even before the arrival winter.

10.5k

Sep 20th 2021, 11:57 AM