Aengus Cox

Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Over two million driver numbers have already been collected by insurers

Driver number needed for new car insurance from today

The new legal requirement for motorists to provide their driver number when renewing or taking out motor insurance is in effect.

Ireland • 31 Mar 25

The IFA said delays in payments are causing hardship to farmers

'Progress' over delayed ACRES payments to farmers - dept

The Department of Agriculture has said progress is being made to clear a backlog of payments due to farmers under the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme initiative that incentivises them to improve biodiversity on their lands.

Ireland • 28 Mar 25

The changes will come into effect from 2 April, with the exception of two products where the change will take effect from 4 June.

PTSB reducing interest rates for savers

PTSB is reducing the interest rates for savers on new personal and business fixed-term variable deposit accounts by 0.5%.

Business • 26 Mar 25

6,185 complaints were made to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman last year (file image)

Over half of FSPO complaints in 2024 about banking

Just over half (3,404) of the 6,185 complaints made to the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman last year were about banking, with customer service and disputed transactions the main reasons for such complaints.

Business • 26 Mar 25

Brian O'Driscoll and fitness coach Caroline O'Mahony were served with compliance notices last year

O'Driscoll served compliance notice over social posts

Former rugby star Brian O'Driscoll and fitness coach Caroline O'Mahony were the two social media influencers served with compliance notices by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission for breaching consumer law by failing to disclose the commercial nature of their social media posts.

Ireland • 25 Mar 25

The study suggests the typical listed price across in the first quarter of the year was €346,048

Asking prices for homes rise by average of 3.7% - report

Asking prices for homes nationally rose by an average of 3.7% during the first three months of 2025, according to the latest Daft.ie House Price Report.

Ireland • 25 Mar 25

The Dept said social farming programmes help farmers to 'connect with the wider community'

Dept issues tender for national social farming programme

The Department of Agriculture has issued a public tender for a national social farming programme.

Ireland • 24 Mar 25

The Governor will be meeting with Housing Minister James Browne in the coming weeks for what he called a 'long-scheduled meeting'

Banks have capacity to lend more for housing - Makhlouf

The Governor of the Central Bank has said the Government should take stock of the interventions it has already made in housing before easing any lending rules for developers.

Business • 24 Mar 25

The Central Bank said the new provisions will apply from March 2026

Central Bank announces new consumer protection code

The Central Bank has published a new consumer protection code aimed at modernising the set of rules that businesses must abide by when dealing with consumers.

Ireland • 24 Mar 25

In the last year, wholesale dairy production costs have risen by nearly a fifth

Dairy farmers can 'no longer absorb' cost, raising prices

Dairy farmers say they can no longer absorb a significant spike in the cost of production of milk products, and that consumers will have to accept rising prices for the likes of milk, cheese, and butter.

Agribusiness • 18 Mar 25