Brian Finn

Business Journalist

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

Christopher Lloyd and Michael J Fox in the 1985 movie, Back to the Future

Back to the future - mortgage market stuck in the 80s

First time buyers took out mortgages last year at the highest level since 2007 last year, according to the Banking & Payments Federation. But the overall mortgage lending figures for house purchase are stuck at 1988 levels - despite vast population and wealth growth in the meantime.

Analysis and Comment • 28 Jan 24

4.7 billion people are expected to fly in 2024 - more than any year in history

Jet deliveries to drive airline revenue growth in 2024

The value of new aircraft deliveries globally is set to rise by over 15% to around $100 billion this year as the industry continues to bounce back from groundings of aircraft globally for long periods during the Covid pandemic, and amid unprecedented demand for flights from consumers.

Business • 26 Jan 24

Activity in 2023 was driven by strong demand from first-time buyers with volumes and values among that cohort reaching their highest level since 2007

Mortgage drawdowns decline but first time buyers active

Overall mortgage drawdown volumes declined in 2023, new figures from Banking and Payments Federation Ireland show, but the reduction was driven largely by a falloff in switching and remortgaging activity.

Business • 26 Jan 24

Michael Mainelli said the City was continuing to attract global capital despite the departure of the UK from the EU

City of London continues to thrive post-Brexit - Mayor

There has been no long term effect on trade in the City of London from Brexit, the Lord Mayor of the City of London has said.

Business • 25 Jan 24

Air freight markets will remain relatively weak in 2024, with a recovery in volume growth offset by soft rates, the report notes

Airline passenger totals set to surpass pre-Covid level

Passenger traffic on airlines globally is set to equal or surpass 2019 levels this year, an analysis of the aviation sector by PwC has concluded.

Business • 25 Jan 24

The report pointed to a fall in general construction inflation last year to just 2%, down from 12% in 2022

Nearly 30,000 units held up in planning or legal review

Up to 29,000 housing units are being held up in the planning process or in judicial reviews, a new report from construction consultancy Mitchell McDermott has found.

Business • 25 Jan 24

While inflation is on a broad downwards path across the economy, the cost of healthcare and its provision have continued to mount

No end in sight for health insurance premium hikes

It's peak renewal season for health insurance. Following a raft of policy price increases in 2023 on the back of medical cost inflation, there is no let up in sight with more premium increases expected across the market in the weeks and months ahead.

Business • 21 Jan 24

Sinéad Donovan, President of Chartered Accountants Ireland and Mark Gargan, President of CPA Ireland

Accountancy body members to vote on amalgamation

Members of the accountancy bodies Chartered Accountants Ireland and CPA Ireland are to vote on a proposal to amalgamate the two organisations.

Business • 17 Jan 24

Minister of State Neale Richmond, John Magee, LEO chairman, Carol Gibbons from Enterprise Ireland, David Butler, MD of Quality Building Materials, Debbie Crowley, Funky Monkey, Sean Kehow, MD of Machinelab, Aoife & Seamus O'Reilly, Milestone Pavement Tech

LEO supported firms boost job numbers despite challenge

There was a 6% increase in the number of jobs created by companies supported by the Local Enterprise Offices last year, the latest annual figures for the LEO network show.

Business • 16 Jan 24

The surrounding Dublin area had the highest occupancy levels at 85% as of October 2023

Higher hotel prices not deterring customers

More than 1,800 new hotel rooms came on stream here in 2023, bringing total stock to an estimated 66,200, an analysis by Deloitte has concluded.

Business • 15 Jan 24