David Murphy

Economics and Public Affairs Editor

Denis O'Brien's Esat Digifone won the licence for the state's second mobile phone company in 1996

Comcast drops action against O'Brien, Lowry and State

A consortium which bid for the controversial second mobile phone licence granted by the State has dropped its legal action challenging the award of the licence in 1996.

Business • 26 May 25

Work to begin on large-scale data centre in Arklow

Work is to begin later this year on the first of two large-scale data centres in Arklow, Co Wicklow, which will create 715 permanent jobs as well as 2,600 roles during construction.

App • 12 Jun 25

The project has a total investment of €3.5 billion

Work to begin on large-scale data centre in Arklow

Work is to begin later this year on the first of two large-scale data centres in Arklow, Co Wicklow, which will create 715 permanent jobs as well as 2,600 roles during construction.

Ireland • 09 May 25

Also on the list is bourbon whiskey, wine, cider, cars, bicycles, boats, smartphones, cattle, soya, olives and very limited pharmaceuticals

EU puts aircraft and bourbon on proposed countermeasures

The European Union has confirmed it is proposing to introduce tariffs on a "broad range of industrial and agricultural products" imported from the US which would be worth €95bn.

Tariffs • 09 May 25

Minister for Housing James Browne is also considering a Housing Agency report on potential rent pressure zone changes

Housing czar must be 'forthright', minister says

Minister for Housing James Browne has said anyone who is appointed to run the Housing Activation Office will have to be "forthright about any conflicts of interest".

Politics • 07 May 25

Growth in the domestic economy would be down 1 percentage point and employment growth would be 0.5 of a percentage point lower, according to the Finance Department's new projections

US tariffs of 10% would hit GDP growth next year - dept

Continuing US tariffs of 10% would reduce Gross Domestic Product, a measure of economic growth which includes multinationals, by 1.5 percentage points next year, according to the Department of Finance.

Business • 06 May 25

The Department of Finance's document will be brought to Cabinet

Dept's economic forecasts to take US tariffs into account

The Department of Finance will publish economic forecasts for Ireland to take account of tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.

Business • 07 May 25

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 25

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 25

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 25