Gail Conway

Business Reporter

A Reuters poll found 91% of economists view the odds of a downturn to have increased under Donald Trump's rapidly shifting trade policies

'R' word at centre of investor worries

US tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminium imports have kicked in - ending all country exemptions to the levies in a move is likely to escalate tensions with some of America's largest trading partners.

Business • 13 Mar 25

Shortages of staff and materials at suppliers caused a build-up in constructions companies backlogs of work in February

Employment in construction down in February

Employment fell in the construction sector last month, ending a five-month period of jobs growth, the latest AIB Ireland Construction PMI report shows.

Business • 11 Mar 25

Noel Cunniffe, CEO of Wind Energy Ireland, said from an electricity system point of view Ireland is not on track to meet its Climate Action Plan targets

Grid capacity prevents more wind energy savings

Spending on gas for electricity in Ireland was cut by almost one billion euro last year, as wind energy supplied 32 per cent of Ireland's electricity. These figures come from the latest annual Cutting Carbon, Cutting Bills report from Baringa.

Business • 17 Feb 25

Caroline Hughes, CEO of Conscious Leadership Development, has said that people should redefine what success means, as a very high price can be paid for the success we think we want

'Redefine what success means for you' – executive burnout

"Burnout is like getting thrown off a luxury high speed train and landing in the wilderness." Caroline Hughes was Global Head of Leadership at one of Ireland's largest multinationals, doing a job she adored at a company she loved.

Business • 15 Feb 25

The day before Valentine's day was the second busiest day of the year for buying flowers last year, according to the AIB Spend Trend 2024

Mother's Day trumps Valentine's Day for flower spend

Valentine's spend in florists peaked between 4pm and 5pm on the 14th February last year, according to the 2024 AIB Spend Trend. It found the peak happened as people made a last minute dash on the way home from work, with men accounting for 85% of the spend.

Business • 14 Feb 25

Heather O'Sullivan, the co-owner of John Ross Jewellers in Tralee in Co Kerry

The rise of Palentine's & Galentine's on Valentine's Day

A jewellery shop in Kerry is seeing a huge rise in women customers, saying 90% of their customer base is now female.

Business • 14 Feb 25

Aisling Tuck, Founder and Owner of Naked Bakes, Jim O'Toole, CEO of Bord Bia and Robert Ryan, CEO Lidl Ireland and Northern Ireland at the launch of Lidl's Supplier and Business Partner Impact Report for 2024

Lidl €600m investment plans for 35 new stores and RDC

Lidl Ireland is planning a €600m investment in 35 new stores and a new Regional Distribution Centre over the next five years. The retailer is set open twelve stores over the course of the next twelve months across the country.

Business • 13 Feb 25

Lanzarote and the Costa Del Sol remain the most popular destinations in Spain with Irish holiday makers

2025 travel trends - adventures, booking and cruises

January is always the busiest month for booking holidays. However, this year a slow start after the Christmas holidays and two weather events impacted trading, according to Paul Hackett, CEO and founder of Click&Go holidays.

Business • 03 Feb 25

Dara Deering, the CEO of Home Building Finance Ireland

HBFI grows loan approvals to €2.7 billion

New figures from Home Building Finance Ireland show it has grown total loan approvals to €2.7 billion at the end of December 2024, an increase of 61% on the €1.66 billion at the end of 2023.

Business • 29 Jan 25

Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director of Britvic Ireland, said they are excited to join the Carlsberg Group

Britvic Ireland formally joins the Carlsberg Group

Carlsberg has today announced the completion of its acquisition of Irish soft drinks maker Britvic Ireland, following its purchase of parent company Britvic PLC.

Business • 17 Jan 25