In order to assist restaurants, cafes and coffee shops, the Government intends to cut VAT in the upcoming budget at a cost of nearly €700 million.  There’s one problem:  restaurants,…

In the debate over the ‘tax package’ in the upcoming budget there is an assumption that the tax base should be further reduced, overall tax revenue should be cut, that…

A number of measures have been justified on the basis of their impact on small business.  Postponing the Living Wage – impact on small business.  Postponing the extension of statutory…

The Government’s fiscal policy is high risk to the point of irresponsibility.  The recently published Summer Economic Statement (SES) attempts to mask this.  According to the  Irish Fiscal Advisory Council…

Voices are growing louder. Government spending is getting out of control:  ‘surging public spending’, ‘rising faster than planned’, ‘fiscal incontinence’; and the killer punch:  public spending has doubled over the…

Fair dues to the Taoiseach – escaping the White House badger pit without getting mauled.  This still leaves the outstanding question:  is our over-reliance on US multi-national investment in the…

The Government intends to launch a drive to ‘de-regulate’ business activity which could put the public interest at risk.  The Programme for Government is filled with commitments:  ‘. . .…

So Donal Trump blinked.  After all the tariff threats to Mexico and Canada, he came up with a ‘deal’ that merely repackages the status quo.  And the alleged main purpose…

Wage inequality in Ireland is one of the highest in the EU.  And it is rising.  Eurostat’s Structure of Earnings Survey measures the ratio of hourly earnings between the 9th…

Look up the word ‘corporatocracy’ in the dictionary and you’ll find a link to the new Programme for Government:  a government heavily influenced by the interests of corporate owners. The new…

A common complaint heard, especially during the recent election campaign, is that while we are a ‘rich country’, there are a lot of people not feeling it.  This is certainly…

As the main parties resume their negotiations for a new government, what are the options for a new policy approach to childcare?  The option of direct provision of childcare services…

Sometimes the debate gets stuck on a small item and ignores the larger issue; that is, it can’t see the forest for the trees.  Take the debate over the mobile…

Back in 2006 the Government cut taxes and increased spending.  It balanced the books by relying on the tax receipts of property related activity.  When the property market crashed, everything…

It seems almost certain that inheritance tax (Capital Acquisition Tax, or CAT) will be cut in the next budget, most likely through an increase in the tax-free threshold.  This would…

‘We do have to focus on that now and be ready, because the key thing I think is we really do need a change of government’ – Ivanna Bacik, TD…

While much focus is on the far right’s racist and often violent agenda, little attention has been paid to the potential impact of their demands on the economy.  These demands,…

There’s a dismal rule in public debate:  if you don’t have evidence to substantiate your claim, make it up – or spin whatever you can get your hands on.  Employer…

Eleven employer organisations, led by ISME, Restaurants Association of Ireland and Retail Excellence Ireland have set up a new group: SaveJobs.  It purports to represent small and medium-sized businesses and…

Budget 2025 is coming early this year.  The Minister for Finance is already outlining what we should expect: ‘Taxpayers will benefit from “substantial” income tax cuts in the next budget,…