Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
IRISH GOODS EXPORTS have increased by over €2 billion – including a 16% increase in exports to the UK – despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit, latest CSO figures show.
The data released by the Central Statistics Office for February 2019 shows goods exports to the UK, which is Ireland’s largest trading partner within the EU, increased by €166 million in February – representing a 16% increase on the same month last year.
Total goods exports to the UK amounted to €1.2 billion, driven largely by mineral fuels such as peat and natural gases, along with lubricants and related materials.
Exports to Britain account for 10% of total goods exported from the Republic of Ireland.
Meanwhile, imports from the UK also increased by €265 million to €1.6 billion – an increase of 19% compared to February 2018.
A spokesperson for the Irish Exporters Association said businesses were acutely aware of the need to grow their exports in other markets outside the UK in light of Brexit, despite the latest increases.
“Companies are already massively diversifying and looking for new markets, it just takes a while before that will show in statistics,” he said.
“The UK is a significant market but a lot of companies are looking at other countries in the EU – Germany, France, Spain – to that extent because of Brexit.
They also said they would “expect a decrease” in exports to the UK this time next year with “other countries’ exports to increase”.
Worldwide
Overall, the seasonally adjusted figure for exports decreased by €604 million – or 4% – to €13.2 billion, while seasonally adjusted figures for imports increased by 4% to €6.9 billion.
Ireland continues to operate a trade surplus – exporting more than it imports – to a value of €6.2 billion.
Europe remained the largest trading partner for the month of February 2019, accounting for €6.1 billion worth of total goods exports, with Belgium and Germany being the main countries of destination after the UK – worth €1.6 billion and €939 million respectively.
The USA was the main non-EU destination accounting for €3.7 billion of total exports in February 2019.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
What a strange tradition these presidential pardons are
@Brian Dunne: yeah, its basically saying I’m above the law.
@Brian Dunne: I beg your pardon?
@Ro-your-nan: I never promised you a Rose garden.
@Brian Dunne: in part true but I would have no issue with a pardon for snowden.
@Mjhint: pardoning thugs like himself.
Can’t believe Joe Exotic missed out on a pardon.
@David Carroll: He had the limo waiting outside. Lol. Epic fail.
@David Carroll: All Carol Baskins fault if you ask me
@David Carroll: cheque probably didn’t clear in time
@David Carroll: It’s not over yet….. If he’s a plan to upstage Biden he could be holding out.
But I can’t see what pardoning him would get Trump to be honest so he’s probably out of luck.
Bannon charged with duping Trump followers. To be fair that’s hardly a crime – the typical Trump follower is just screaming out “Dupe me, I’m so gullible” every time they post a comment.
@Martello Mulligan: they are sheep you can milk
@Martello Mulligan: Playing to the gallery, this is so old move on
@Blue Avians: But it’s not “so old.” And I do understand how the duped want to forget. It might help them “move on” if they acknowledge what they’ve perpetrated.
@Martello Mulligan: There was more than Bannon involved in that scheme but from what I can gather only he got a pardon….. Then again, he probably has way more dirt on Trump than the other ones.
@Blue Avians: Its a fact. And recent. Look at those who say they were duped about funds to fight the election fraud that never happened.
@Blue Avians: touched a little nerve did he? Feeling a bit sheepish are we? Baa.
Title should read: Trump pardons man who defrauded Trump voters.
Just goes to show how little he actually thinks of his followers. They were a means to an end.
Why would he pardon a guy that defrauded his constitutes of over a one million dollars for his own gain, wouldn’t trump distance himself completely from it and keep it that way,Bannon and his 2 accomplices basically used trumps name and his campaign to make themselves rich, doesn’t pardoning him make trump loom even worse from all sides .
@THE BIRD: I’ve heard that Trump may believe Bannon may be needed as a Trump strategist in the future. Don’t worry about Trump supporters being disillusioned. Over 60% of Republicans polled still believe the election was ‘stolen’. A former CEO of a company that advertised on Fox News was recorded last year saying Fox viewers are very gullible.
@THE BIRD: Bannon is a <ile human being but he's not s#upid.
He definitely has dirt on Donnie.
Pardon the swamp
@Fr. Fintan Stack: He also rescinded the Executive Order that required executive branch appointees to sign a pledge that they would never work as registered foreign lobbyists, and it banned them from lobbying the federal agencies where they worked for five years after leaving the government.
Guess now they need jobs…..
How many times has it happened here in Ireland people above the law. Catholic church, Garda, Political people. We just as bad
@Sean: We’re worse! A pardon means that at least the system tried to hold the person being pardoned accountable for their bad deeds. We don’t do the accountability bit, never mind the pardon.
Please pardon Julian Assange.
Disgusted with Trump for giving John Delaney a pardon!
He will need to pardon himself.
@Alanjturing: He couldn’t pardon himself as it would insinuate he had did something wrong. But its going to be interesting, a lot of people waiting for his presidency to finish.
@Alanjturing: I’d be surprised if he never pardoned his kids, to be honest.
But it was reported recently that because pardoning himself would open him up to civil suits he felt if he can’t get a pardon, nobody does.
Heresay, but you’d wonder.
I still think Rudy will get one.
While drumpf may have given the disgusting creature bannon a pardon, just remember that is ONLY for federal offenses. He is still going to be charged, bannon that is (well in honesty drumpf too) with state offenses in the great state of New York. Nothing either of them can do about it.
8 hours left. Champagne in the fridges. Brie out maturing. Legal grass rolled.
BLISS
Donnie pardoned some rappers Maybe we give donnie his own rapper name.
2PEACH sounds about right
@Gene Johnston: or N-P3ACH perhaps?
@owentighe: yep)
@Gene Johnston:2Mpeach’d
I have no doubt Bannon will incriminate himself again very shortly… people like him cannot resist it
Pardoned for wearing t-shirts with collars under his shirts?
A lot of Brown Envelopes
@Mary Mc Carthy: A lot of br0wn nosers too
If you were to analyse the list in detail you will see. That these people will all have to back Trump going forward. They are either of use in there professional career or influencers of people or have money. I havent seen the list yet but I bet there is no one on the list who can only offer support and has no other means. Good riddens to him thank God they took the nuc codes off the mad man
Now lets read 100 comments from people who have no clue what they are talking about aside from what they read in something called “The Journal” which is barely more than a little girls diary.
@Chaunce Hayden: 1% of those being yours.
Trump to public; We are the party of law and order!!
Trump to mates; Don’t worry lads if your caught ill pardon you.
No pardon for Bertie?
Does Higgins have power of pardon?
have your say