Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 23 November

Forward Look                                

  • Index provider Standard and Poor’s have forecast that Ireland will avoid recession next year and continue to outperform other advanced economies while running budget surpluses through 2025.

  • On December 5, Paschal Donohoe will stand for election for a second term as President of the Eurogroup.

  • Planning has begun for a referendum on diaspora voting rights for future Presidential elections. A civic forum will take place next Spring in Dublin.

  • Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has confirmed that Heather Humphreys TD will take the Justice Minister post while Helen McEntee TD takes maternity leave from the end of November. This will not impact the expected cabinet reshuffle on December 17.

  • The European Central Bank has warned the property market in the EU is at a turning point. They warn indebted households are at serious risk due to high inflation, low growth and tighter financial conditions.

  • The Government has approved a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The sale of nicotine inhaling products will be prohibited from vending machines, temporary premises and event places for children.

  • Despite nearly €500m of the Government’s housing budget for the first nine months of the year not being spent, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar TD says this year’s overall housing target will be met.

  • The National Minimum Wage will be raised from 1 January 2023 to €11.30 per hour. Stephen Donnelly TD has made it clear in an interview with the Irish Independent that he would like to remain in his position until the next general election.

  • Climate and Environmental Minister Eamon Ryan TD has called on Ireland to use its corporation tax take to contribute to the ‘loss and damage fund’ created at COP27 for the most vulnerable nations to global warning.

  • Energy firm SSE Airtricity has said it will forgo profits this year due to spiking energy prices and greater focus on customer support programmes, despite making €17m profit in the first half of the year.

  • Tomorrow, the Central Statistics Office will publish its third-quarter labour market survey.

  • Leading tech conference AI Con, hosted by Kainos, will be held on Thursday 1 December at Titanic Belfast.

Other Stories this week

  • Sinn Féin has published its policy paper Schools as Catalysts for Climate Action amid criticism that the party lacks any substantive climate action policy.

  • Ireland has risen from 14th to 7th place in PwC’s EMEA ranking of countries where private business can thrive.

  • At Fine Gael’s Ard Fheis on Saturday Tánaiste Leo Varadkar praised Micheál Martin’s time as Taoiseach.

  • Taoiseach Micheál Martin has made a statement that the UK government was “correct” to defer a fresh Stormont election.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 24 November, American Chamber Thanksgiving Day Lunch, Clayton Hotel, Dublin.

  • 25 November, Research Excellence Awards, Shelbourne Hotel.

  • 1 December, Ibec’s Business Leader’s Conference, Galmont Hotel, Galway.

  • 1 December, Business Post Property Summit, Croke Park, Dublin.

  • 1 December, National Food and Drink Business Conference, Blanchardstown Sports Arena.

  • 7-8 December, Dublin Chamber London Trade Mission.

  • 17 December, Leo Varadkar TD becomes Taoiseach.

Consultations