Aengus Cox

Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Minister for Finance Pachal Donohoe said the VAT cut will support more than 150,000 jobs across the country

VAT for catering, hairdressing to be cut from 13.5% to 9%

The Government is reducing the VAT rate for food and catering businesses, and for hairdressing services from 13.5% down to 9%.

Budget 2026 • 07 Oct

The Tucson pump subject the safety alert

Electrocution risk from 114,000 circulating pumps - CCPC

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has issued an urgent safety alert over 114,000 circulating pumps installed in heating systems in Irish homes that could present a serious risk of electrocution.

Business • 06 Oct

No one-off measures expected as cost of living looms

Days out from Budget 2026, the Government was holding firm on its line that there would not be a repeat of the one-off measures seen in recent years to address the rise in the cost of living.

Budget 2026 • 07 Oct

Online payment concept. Over shoulder view of a woman accessing a mobile banking app on her smartphone, highlighting the ease of digital finance management. Internet bank, money transaction, fintech,

Irish banks to launch instant payments across euro zone

Bank customers are being advised to prepare for changes in how they send and receive money, with the introduction of SEPA Instant Payments and Verification of Payee (VoP) from this month.

Business • 03 Oct

Just €3.9m of €190m energy support fund paid out - C&AG

Just €3.9 million out of a €190 million fund set up to support consumers dealing with spiking energy costs has been paid out, the State's spending watchdog has found.

Business • 30 Sep

OPW paid €20m to lease 2 buildings that stayed unoccupied

A review of State spending for last year has found the Office of Public Works (OPW) paid around €20 million to lease two buildings that remained unoccupied afterwards.

Business • 30 Sep

Three black and white cows stand in a field

Bovine TB budget exceeded each year since 2020 - C&AG

Annual expenditure on the State's bovine TB eradication programme has exceeded its budget each year since 2020, according to a report from the State's spending watchdog.

Ireland • 30 Sep

Health insurance policy brochure with paperwork. There is also a stethoscope, mobile phone and digital tablet in the image.

46% of Irish population now have health insurance - HIA

The number of people with private health insurance rose slightly between April and June, despite a significant spike in the cost of premiums.

Business • 30 Sep

Group of people about the cut the ribbon on a new manufacturing facility

Kerry sets up new Biotechnology Centre in Leipzig

Irish food ingredients multinational Kerry Group has established a new biotechnology centre in Germany.

Business • 24 Sep

Crowds attending day one of the National Ploughing Championships at Tullamore, Co Offaly

5 takeaways from the National Ploughing Championships

After three days at the National Ploughing Championships, Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Correspondent Aengus Cox runs through five key takeaways from the event and the challenges facing farmers the length and breadth of the country

Analysis and Comment • 22 Sep