Brian Finn

Business Journalist

Brian Finn is a Business Journalist and presenter with RTE News across radio, television and online.

The primary focus of a Central Bank is to keep the pace of consumer price increases at or close to its 2% target

Interest rates rise again - what does it mean?

The European Central Bank (ECB) has raised interest rates again today.

Business • 27 Oct 22

For around two thirds of companies, growing their overseas market presence was their biggest priority for the year ahead

Exporters plan to enter new markets despite uncertainty

Global market uncertainty, energy and supply chain issues and skills shortages were among the top challenges cited by exporters ahead of Enterprise Ireland's International Markets Week.

Business • 12 Oct 22

The Budget included measures to help households and businesses with increasing energy costs in the form of €4.1 billion in once-off measures

Energy price spikes to continue for firms next year

A combination of further cost pressures and expected reduced demand from consumers will present a challenge to businesses over the winter months, the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland warns in its latest SME Market Monitor.

Business • 12 Oct 22

The Irish craft and design sector is described as being very significant to the overall economy with up to 18,000 enterprises employing over 50,000 people

Consumers urged to support local designers and makers

Consumers are being urged to consider buying Irish-made crafts and designs amid the ongoing cost-of-living squeeze, as spending in the wider economy retrenches.

Business • 11 Oct 22

Around two thirds of workers here said they planned to ask for a pay rise over the next year compared to around three quarters globally

Over half of workers here plan to switch employer - PwC

More than half of Irish employees say they plan to switch to a new employer over the next year, according to a survey by PwC.

Business • 11 Oct 22

The MCGPI is a comprehensive study of 44 global pension systems, accounting for around two thirds of the world's population

Low sustainability weighs on pension performance

Ireland's pension system ranking has dropped one place to 14th in the 2022 Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index.

Business • 11 Oct 22

The outlook takes account of the negative impact that higher energy prices and general inflation are having on consumer spending

Davy downgrades growth outlook but no recession

Stockbroker Davy has revised downwards its outlook for economic growth for next year but expects that the economy will avoid recession.

Business • 10 Oct 22

The rate of input price inflation accelerated to a three-month high on the back of higher energy, raw materials and transportation costs

Construction activity growth for first time in 4 months

There was a return to growth in activity in the construction sector in September following three months of contraction, the latest monthly report from BNP Paribas Real Estate shows.

Business • 10 Oct 22

Insolvencies were up by around a third in the three months to the end of September, today's figures show

Insolvencies up, start-up activity down in 3rd quarter

There was a decline in company start-up activity in the late summer, according to the latest figures from CRIFVision-Net.

Business • 10 Oct 22

That compares with a deficit of €6.2 billion in the same period last year.

The Department said the €14.1 billion improvement in the Exchequer balance was primarily driven by a decline in Covid-related expenditure and by strong growth in tax revenue.

Tax revenue to end of September just under €58bn

Overall tax revenue for the first nine months of the year came in at just shy of €58 billion, the latest Exchequer Returns from the Department of Finance show.

Business • 04 Oct 22