Dan O'Brien

With imminent elections primed to transform the European political landscape and an Irish economy humming along nicely, hitting the fiscal accelerator was unnecessary. But with debt levels low, Ireland is in a strong position to handle any bond market woes.

The public is paying more tax, the state is spending more money and businesses are increasingly frustrated. Budget 2027 should be about broadening the tax base and lowering rates.

Ireland has emerged from another global economic shock in relatively good shape, with its relationship with the US looking secure and the energy hit proving manageable. But France could become the big economic risk of 2027.

The impact of AI on jobs appear to be slight and slow – for now. Competition for workers between employers in the growing construction and hospitality industries is a bigger factor shaping Ireland's economy.

Irish people – including younger workers – are saving more than ever before. The destruction of their wealth, largely on bank deposits exposed to inflation, is the biggest justification for the introduction of personal investment accounts.

Rents and household energy have raced ahead of incomes, while electronics, clothing and groceries have become more affordable. The contrasting trends reveal much about how the Irish economy really works.

Like most nations', Ireland's fertility trend points to a reversal of population growth in the coming decades. This doesn't necessarily mean prosperity will suffer, but it all depends on difficult decisions.

Beyond Andy Burnham's expected premiership, a Reform-Conservative coalition would walk away from the Windsor Framework, reviving the border dilemma faced by Ireland since Brexit.

The debate over the Occupied Territories Bill and the future of Aughinish Alumina raises a question that policymakers can no longer avoid: How should Ireland balance legal obligations against economic and strategic realities?

Why are voters turning against establishment parties when living standards remain historically high? The latest Eurobarometer poll suggests the answer may lie less in people’s real lives than in the dark mood created by modern media and online discourse.