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.
Personal taxes set at their current levels during the financial crisis are unfair – particularly when we examine what has been done with the resulting State revenues.
Something seems to have changed in the past ten days. If it brings more scrutiny to how successive governments have continued to unthinkingly throw taxpayers’ money at problems, it will be for the best.
The combination of factors that led to a joint spike in energy prices and general inflation four years ago is not repeated this time around – yet prices, including those of energy, are rising.
Western economies are much less dependent on oil prices than during the Iranian revolution of 1979. But as Trump heads to China, geopolitical turmoil could be far from abating.
As oil and gas markets react to escalating tensions, the key question for Ireland is whether higher energy prices will trigger another inflation shock – or remain contained.
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