David Murphy

Economics and Public Affairs Editor

James Browne came up with a politically ham-fisted plan

Coalition botches top role as it grapples with housing

Minister for Housing James Browne faces a monumental task, after a dreadful year for housing in 2024, when the Government missed its target for residential construction.

Business • 03 May

60% of enterprises invested in capital in 2023 compared to 64% before the Covid-19.

ESRI: Small and medium firms investing less post pandemic

The scarring effects of the pandemic has resulted in small and medium firms investing less in their businesses, according to the Economic and Social Research Institute.

Business • 02 May

Good prices are estimated to have increased by 0.6% in the last month and by 3.1% in the past year, new CSO figures show

Higher food prices push inflation up to 2% in April - CSO

Inflation rose by 2% in the 12 month period to April of this year, driven mainly driven by higher food prices.

Business • 30 Apr

The study examined CEOs' salaries and benefits at organisations including An Post, Eirgrid, ESB, Uisce Eireann, RTÉ and the DAA.

Overhaul of pay system for state body CEOs recommended

A report into the pay of chief executives at commercial state bodies has recommended overhauling the existing system of remuneration for company bosses.

Business • 29 Apr

Preliminary GDP figures show an increase of 3.2% in the first three months of this year compared to the last quarter of 2024, CSO figures show

Early CSO estimates show GDP growth of 3.2% in Q1

Preliminary figures for Gross Domestic Product, a measure of the economy which includes the contribution from multinationals, shows an increase of 3.2% in the first three months of this year compared to the last quarter of 2024.

Business • 29 Apr

The report says Airbnb represents 10% of the rental market in 38 out of 166 local electoral areas.

Airbnb not the root cause of rental issues, report shows

A new report has found no evidence linking increasing numbers of properties listed on Airbnb and falls in new tenancies in the wider rental market.

Business • 25 Apr

The Government has targeted a total of 41,000 new homes in 2025

Home completions up 2% in first quarter of 2025 - CSO

There was a 2% increase in the number of completions in the first three months of this year in comparison to the same time last year, according to the latest figures on home building from the Central Statistics Office.

Business • 24 Apr

The Irish Academy of Engineering highlighted what it called 'the absence of a plan to deliver the 350 large energy infrastructure projects needed in the electricity sector'

Engineers question Govt's 2050 decarbonisation target

An all-island body representing engineers has questioned the feasibility of the Government's target of decarbonising the electricity sector by 2050.

Business • 24 Apr

Donald Trump has repeatedly threated a specific tax on drugs made outside the US and suggests it could be in the region of 25%

4 myths about Trump's tariffs and how they affect Ireland

RTÉ's Economics and Public Affairs Editor David Murphy examines some of the key issues around how US President Donald Trump's trade policies could play out.

Clarity • 19 Apr

The NESC said the lack of action on transition to clean energy will add to costs for Ireland

Rise in electricity costs amid move from fossil fuels

Ireland faces the threat of higher electricity prices as it transitions away from fossil fuels to renewables, a new report by the National Economic and Social Council has found.

Ireland • 18 Apr