Brown O’Connor Communications Weekly Look Ahead – Ireland Wednesday 30 November

Forward Look                                

  • Preliminary talks on Cabinet reshuffle are to begin later this week. It’s understood the focus of initial talks will be on the decision of which Department will work best in the long term to house those fleeing from Ukraine.

  • Sinn Féin is down four points in the polls in the most recent Red C survey. It is the party’s first decrease in over a year.

  • Siún Ní Raghallaigh is the new chair of RTÉ. Ní Raghallaigh is the former chief executive of Ardmore Studios and a founding member of TG4.

  • A new consolidated Planning Bill will be brought before cabinet early next month. It will radically overhaul the planning process by speeding up An Bord Pleanála process and reduce the number of judicial review challenges.

  • Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD is set to serve a second term as Eurogroup President due to no other candidates coming forward. Current Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath TD will serve as Ireland’s representative to the group.

  • New research from Fintech group Wise business revealed that 7 out of 10 SMEs in Ireland fear closure over the next year. 76% of businesses polled believe the baking sector requires greater competition to meet their needs.

  • 660 Irish based businesses will have to report to the Department for Equality after findings showed men at Irish based companies are earning significantly more than their female colleagues.

  • European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will address both houses of the Oireachtas tomorrow.

  • A planned increase in motorway tolls will be delayed until July 1, 2023. The decision was made by the three Coalition leaders on Monday night.

  • Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD has said he would be in favour of a universal levy to replace the TV licence.

  • On Thursday, IBEC’s Business Leaders Conference and the Irish Business and Finance Awards will take place in Galway and Dublin, respectively.

Other Stories this week

  • The Government has regained a majority in the Dáil after Neasa Hourigan TD and Patrick Costello TD were readmitted into the Green Party last week after losing the whip for six months.

  • The Central Bank has put a 60% borrowing limit on Irish property funds.

  • The Economic and Social Research Institute think tank has reported that Ireland’s productivity levels have grown to 40% above Northern Ireland’s in the last twenty years.

  • Yesterday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD brought an update on the Shared Island Initiative to Cabinet. He outlined the €132m spent to date on cross border initiatives such as the Narrow Water Bridge and Ulster Canal projects and further upcoming plans.

  • Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe TD has lifted the €500k pay cap on pay at the Bank of Ireland and allow bonuses of €20k in the banking sector overall.

  • Ireland and France have signed the €1.6bn Celtic Interconnector agreement. This will join both countries’ energy grids and will supply energy from whichever country’s is cheapest at the time.

Upcoming key political and business events

  • 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